Couple night ago I attended The Toronto Magic Company show at Super Wonder Gallery in Little Italy. So good!
Read on…
Blog
TV: Brené Brown: The Call to Courage
April 19th, 2019You know the thing is I’ve slowly and intuitively figured out a lot of what Brené Brown is saying just from my interactions with people especially in business. She just has the research to back it up and prove it.
That’s the beauty of listening to your gut…you know something to be true; you just can’t explain it.
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A Copperhead Road Adventure
April 9th, 2019Today’s Adventure: I spoke to Steve Earle. Both on the record and off the record he regaled me with stories about the piano he had growing up, Nashville, hanging out with Willie Nelson, Guy Clark and so many old school cats.
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Trailer Alert: Joker
April 3rd, 2019Excuse me Usher but I got confessions.
Read on…
My Summer Lair featuring Cory Doctorow (Radicalized)
April 2nd, 2019Trailer Alert: Avengers: Endgame (Special Look)
April 2nd, 2019In 1986 I committed Optimus Prime to the ground.
In 1991 I silently watched a T-800 lowered into molten steel.
In 2015 I witnessed Brian O’Conner drive off into the Sunset.
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#SetTheVCR for Sunday, March 31 to Saturday, April 6, 2019
March 31st, 2019Behold all the seasons and shows I’ve missed for various nonsensical reasons giving me another opportunity via another season. It remains to be “seen” if I’ll watch. That’s the nice thing about tv…you often get a second chance even if you don’t deserve it.
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Netflix Is 45 Not 23
March 26th, 2019How much credit should we give Netflix or rather their machine learning algorithm?
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Getting Dirty With The Dirt
March 25th, 2019As the Saints of Los Angeles Mötley Crüe warrants a documentary however for now The Dirt their biopic on Netflix is Straight Outta Compton for White People. (I haven’t see Bohemian Rhapsody…haven’t been on airplane for a bit…maybe when it’s on Netflix?)
The Dirt (while a deeply flawed movie…it’s not even good in parts) is a disheartening symbol of how sanitized and sterilized our pop culture has become. And is becoming! Remember when rock n roll (and comedy!!) were dangerous? Those were good times. Sigh.
Read on…
#SetTheVCR for Sunday, March 24 to Saturday, March 30
March 24th, 2019This is one of those weeks where “we’re in the golden era of television” is a hard sell. Still undaunted I’ve found some television worthy of your VCR.
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We Need A Word For….#3
March 22nd, 2019There needs to be a word for that devastating moment when you’re out with your girl maybe it’s Friday night; maybe at a party and a song comes on…THAT song comes on and you use your most upbeat sky punching tone to telegram “yes! oh this song yes!”
Read on…
He’s Good For A Laugh
March 20th, 2019Over drinks a friend shares she started seeing a boy. Oh? How is that going? She tells me a bit…seems like it’s going well: the boy is no laughing stock.
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Dynamite Denny
March 17th, 2019Easily the highlight of my Toronto Comicon experience was my conversations with Denny O’Neil. Who if you don’t know is the creator credited with coining the name Optimus Prime (he’s known as Convoy in other parts of the world) and restoring Batman following the comical 66 tv show…in the late 60s/early 70s Denny along with other his DC Comics collaborators basically established a Batman by nerds for nerds.
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Overheard at Toronto Comicon 2019
March 16th, 2019Since Friday night I’ve been attending Toronto Comicon. Here are some moments I’ve overheard…
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Trailer Alert: Avengers: Endgame
March 14th, 2019Alright new Avengers: Endgame trailer!
You gonna have the balls to call a movie Endgame than you better also have the balls to end the game of some Avengers. Cue the grave digger from Kraven’s Last Hunt.
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The Red Flag of Neverland
March 8th, 2019You know lost in the whole Michael Jackson Leaving Neverland mess is how utterly arrogant we’ve become.
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Cavalier About Fear
March 7th, 2019Gimme some time this weekend…I’ve been writing for years long before #MeToo and subpar Michael Jackson documentaries…about that tenuous link between pop culture and morality. I came outta the church where playing cards and rock n roll were evil…so I spent that time writing and sorting out my thinking because what the church was saying wasn’t aligning with my experiences.
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Chapter and Spider-Verse
March 6th, 2019At the Yonge-Dundas Cinema and the couple in front of me are contemplating date-nerd-night.
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Give Up The Ghosting
February 26th, 2019Last night armed with a large lasagne brick I watched I Survived I Kissed Dating Goodbye the apology documentary to the Christian bestseller I Kissed Dating Goodbye. Shortly after noon today I had a My Summer Lair phone interview with the documentary subject and author of the vexing book: Joshua Harris.
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Dating Is Dated
February 25th, 2019So…tonight I sat down with a large lasagne brick and watched I Survived I Kissed Dating Goodbye the apology documentary to the Christian bestseller I Kissed Dating Goodbye. I’ve got an upcoming My Summer Lair interview with the documentary subject and author of the vexing book: Joshua Harris.
Read on…
#SetTheVCR for Sunday, February 10 to Saturday, February 16
February 10th, 2019Hope you like comic book tv shows…Walking Dead returns and it is joined by Doom Patrol and Umbrella Academy. Gonna be a busy year for comics books and tv.
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Tea for Chapter Two
February 9th, 2019Nothing like a snowy winter Friday night to reflect on what you’ve lost…and what you’ve gained; with the closing of Pacific Junction Hotel bar and Girth Radio.
I know I give a lot of credit to the bar and it was indeed our secret weapon; it was how I was able to have fish and chips with Maestro Fresh Wes…which was cool and fun. I never thought I’d get to do stuff like that. How could I?
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The Horror of Consumption
February 8th, 2019A couple of nights ago I put on pants and attended a screening of Horror Noire: Blacks in American Horror Films from the 1890s to Present.
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RE: Super Bowl LIII
February 3rd, 2019So I watched the second half of the Super Bowl. Tom Brady is 6 for 9 in the Super Bowl.
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Admirations of Administrations
February 1st, 2019Watching Project Blue Book (it’s like a light-beer X-Files you know?) and it’s got all the good stuff…aliens and unexplained phenomena and government conspiracies and men in trench coats and fedoras “cleaning up messes” like patriotic janitors except reality keeps intruding…President Trump’s so bad you know nothing’s getting covered up.
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Project Time Travel Guards
January 30th, 2019Yo…I’m digging Project Blue Book. The writing could be tighter and the atmosphere creepier (the characters never feel like they’re in danger and even Batman gets licks you know?) but here’s something I’ve been thinking about.
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TV: Teen Titans Spotlight On
January 14th, 2019Are you at work?! Sigh.
Why did you show up to work if Titans isn’t finished?!
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#SetTheVCR for Sunday, January 13 to Saturday, January 19
January 13th, 2019It’s cold outside so…no need to put on pants. Let’s stay inside, brew some tea and see what’s on tv.
Read on…
#SetTheVCR for Sunday, January 6 to Saturday, January 12 2019
January 6th, 2019Ah January! While the rest of us plan resolutions, sign up for gym memberships, repair relationships…our media doesn’t typically inspire the first month of every year…on television and at the movies. So yeah…if you’re gonna sell the whole this is golden age of television don’t include January.
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Go With The Flow?
December 31st, 2018Resolve right now to longer be a stool pigeon in 2019 but rather:
Do What You Love
Love What You Do
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#SetTheVCR for Sunday December 30, 2018 to Saturday January 5, 2019
December 30th, 2018Everything goes back to normal; no more Christmas specials or Lifetime movies about romantic wishes coming true starting Tuesday January 1…so any shows you watch will be back in business as per their regular time slots. I didn’t include any of em here but they are there.
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Ice Ice Jingle Bells
December 19th, 2018That distinct disappointment…
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#SetTheVCR for Sunday December 16, 2018 to Saturday December 22, 2018
December 16th, 2018This week is bookended by the American Dream and the subtle darkness of capitalism. We start strong with Bruce Springsteen’s Netflix special (so worth seeing…his Broadway show is sublime) and then…conclude with a Suge Knight documentary. On the surface it appears like Suge and Bruce are 2 different individuals but really they’re just trying to survive as best as they know how. America ain’t easy.
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A Dick About Christmas Music
December 13th, 2018At the risk of opening this Pandora’s Box…
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Trailer Alert: Godzilla: King of the Monsters
December 10th, 2018Monster Fight Club!!
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The Bedazzled Nerd
December 7th, 2018They mocked us. Said we weren’t cool. Rejected us. They exiled us…probably to what they imagined is a wood-paneled basement.
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Trailer Alert: Captain Marvel
December 6th, 2018A much better Captain Marvel trailer!
Still conflicted though…
As I didn’t enjoy Kelly Sue DeConnick’s Captain Marvel run and I don’t consider Captain Marvel as a character all that engaging…there’s at least some solid space ruckus…I can get into that and Skrulls are always good for a Freaky Friday laugh or two. Still not opening weekend PantsWorthy though.
(Speaking of pants…at the risk of getting your knickers in a bunch: I’d much rather a Captain Britain Marvel movie than a Captain Marvel movie: never mind her bullocks.)
Ant-Man as an analogy is apt…both Marvel movies Ant and Captain operate at about the same level of expectation. Low stakes for Marvel after the intense pressure of Avengers (the budget and the ROI on Avenger movies alone!). Or I guess one could include the intense pressure we saw recently with Black Panther.
According to the Hollywood Reporter Disney wisely and effectively spent $200 million marketing Black Panther as a “cultural touchstone” even though it was just another Marvel movie.
Granted Marvel’s Captain Marvel is better than DC Comics’ Captain Marvel still cue the hype/predictable tweets and social media white noise…like all our pop culture this’ll be a “referendum” on diversity (which so far has been effective marketing). Thankfully there’s no CONsensus on that. So it’ll be interesting to see the track Disney takes with Captain Marvel…maybe follow up Black Panther with yet another “Momentous Event In Pop Culture History!” jam. Look a woman superhero! (How many times can you play that card?)
Look my issue isn’t with the cheezy marketing or the Captain Marvel movie per say it’s the character…I’m not a fan of Captain Marvel. 2 more hours with her when we don’t get along is like scoring that dude on the airplane who talks the whole flight missing all the valid leave me alone cues. Sigh…I guess we gotta do this.
In comics it’s much easier to skip the tie-ins (they often don’t count or move the story forward). In this space case Captain Marvel is connected in some way to the upcoming Avengers 4 movie that’s why I used the analogy of being stuck with her on a flight. I kinda hafta do this.
Doesn’t help the screenplay credits 4 people which is not always a good sign…still it is a Marvel movie. So…
I better get a pad and a paper and make 2 columns…not sure how this’ll internal debate turn out.
Captain Marvel is out March 8, 2019, far more importantly Avengers 4 is out on May 3, 2019.
Let’s Do This Judas.
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Listen to Girth Radio @ W • T • F
NBA Season 73: Denver Nuggers (106) at Toronto Raptors (103)
December 4th, 2018My third Raptors game this season…freshtastic opportunity to check out the Denver Nuggets who are one of the top teams in the West. (Yes it’s weird to say that out loud during the Steph Curry Warriors era! Even more strange is the LA Clippers are also up there with Denver. What…yo?!)
Read on…
Hidden Gem: DJ Earworm “United State of Pop 2018”
December 3rd, 2018Awwww yeah! The only true Holiday Tradition I willfully honour (aside from being grumpy because it’s so damn cold) is DJ Earworm’s Annual United State of Pop Mash Up.
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Small Talk: Casting Superman
November 30th, 2018Recently did an interview connected to Superman’s 40th Anniversary…the 1978 Christopher Reeve movie?
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Gratitude Is Sexy
November 22nd, 2018Happy Thanksgiving!!
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Mental Health For The Commonwealth
November 13th, 2018We’ve added snark to the cycle of reaction to shootings. The horrible event would unfold; a nation expresses grief and shock; eventually we’d demand better “common sense laws” and then…when nothings happens we’d move on.
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Goodbye Stan Lee
November 12th, 2018Expected but still devastating: Rest In Peace Smiling Stan Lee: December 28, 1922 – November 12, 2018.
Read on…
My Summer Lair featuring Adnan Ahmed (Altered Skin)
November 5th, 2018Endangered Species 8472
November 4th, 2018Came across this crazy stat/fact.
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Show Stoppers & Popcorn
November 2nd, 2018It’s November 2nd…the last 2 months of 2018 are a crap carnival coming soon to a cinema near you…
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Those Small Hands Carry Much Candy
November 1st, 2018Shoutout to all the hard working children who worked last night’s night shift using their small hands to collect all the candy while I sat on the couch watching NBA games.
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Vote or Else!
October 23rd, 2018The Toronto municipal election is (mercifully) over while the American midterm elections on November 6 are upcoming. This is the political eye of the storm.
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Rising The City of Ruins
September 11th, 2018I see every experience through a pop culture lens: as September 11, 2001 unfolded I expected a fierce album from Bruce Springsteen…maybe Bob Dylan would get back in the ring and put em up. That dark day demanded our best.
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Leaving Is Believing
September 8th, 2018Do you want the mashed potatoes or the asparagus?
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Bonus Universe
September 5th, 2018Sometimes you inhabit that magical universe where you eat a spicy pulled pork burrito the size of your head and when all the good stuff splurts outta the burrito’s butt it wonderfully lands on the wax paper wrapper. Bonus?
The good stuff plops right onto your fork…all you gotta do is lift it to your mouth.
Most times you live in that witch like universe where you eat a spicy pulled pork burrito the size of your head and when all the good stuff splurts outta the burrito’s butt it lands on your shirt…still rolling down and onto your jeans. Bonus?
The good stuff plops right onto your shoes not that it matters because heartburn from the spicy pulled pork burrito the size of your head has kicked in.
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Trailer Alert: Halloween
September 5th, 2018And Summer is done: fall is death’s waiting room as the icy plague creeps across the land; muting hope and freezing life under a bleak barren winter landscape.
Eh…least we get free candy on Halloween plus all that dressing up! And bonus this year we get a Halloween movie.
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TV: The Shop
August 29th, 2018Only a guy who self-appointed himself as the king before he wins a championship could produce a show where he sits on a throne presiding over a heavily edited ceremony. LeBron James’ latest tv effort The Shop aired on HBO on Thursday August 28 at 11pm.
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RIP: John McCain
August 25th, 2018So…John McCain. His generic political “maverick” narrative overlooks a fascinating contribution to our pop culture.
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Trailer Alert: The Man in the High Castle Season 3
August 24th, 2018The One I’ve been waiting for!! The Man in the High Castle Season 3!
The other sci-fi alternative universe show I watch Counterpart (oddly also set in Berlin…) also pulls in no viewers…less than 1 million. We could literally all gather at a con to discuss the episodes.
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Lazy Sunday
August 19th, 2018There’s some Thing special about lazy Sundays: a comfy couch, a fantastic book…not wearing pants and a rock solid friend.
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Behold The Cosmic Cube
August 15th, 2018So…Cosmic Cubes: where exactly is the on switch?
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Swears Do Compute
August 13th, 2018So remember the calculator classic 5318008?
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Host Haiku In Session With…Bend Sinister
August 9th, 2018
As inspired by listening to Bend Sinister’s Foolish Games
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Small Talk: Casting A Dead Poets Teacher
August 7th, 2018Reading a Robin Williams biography by Dave Itzkoff (it’s so-so…really it’s hard to capture Robin’s dynamic energy on a still page) and I’m at Dead Poets Society casting. For the role of John Keating the teacher…
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The Big Butt Out
August 2nd, 2018The whole “last straw” movement was so weird in the first place…I dunno how it got traction.
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Small Talk: Sammy’s Doppelganger
July 13th, 2018Today I Learned:
“A doppelgänger or doppelganger is a paranormal double of a living person.”
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A Nerd Prayer
July 11th, 2018“Please be good, please be good, please be good…” is the prayer of every nerd whenever a movie or tv show adaption is announced.
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Oh That Good Tired
July 10th, 2018I’m tired.
It’s that good tired…where you stayed up way past your bedtime to read one more chapter, one more page.
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#SetTheVCR: A&E’s Michael Jackson Cultureshock
June 25th, 2018We lost Michael Jackson on June 25, 2009.
Monday June 25, 2018 at 9pm we get A&E’s Cultureshock: Michael Jackson’s Final Curtain Call which clearly revisits MJ’s final days. Single Tear.
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Host Haiku In Session With…Brooklyn Doran
April 26th, 2018
As inspired by listening to Brooklyn Doran’s These Paper Wings
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#NewBookAlert: April 9-13, 2018
April 14th, 2018My weekly collection of new and notable books for your pop culture pleasure and edification: #ReadMoreTweetLess.
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Host Haiku In Session With…Chelsey Bennett
April 12th, 2018
As inspired by listening to Chelsey Bennett’s No End EP
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#NewBookAlert: April 2-6, 2018
April 7th, 2018My weekly collection of new and notable books for your pop culture pleasure and edification: #ReadMoreTweetLess.
Read on…
#SetTheVCR: Sunday March 18, 2018 to Saturday March 25, 2018
March 18th, 2018#SetTheVCR for Sunday March 18, 2018 to Saturday March 24, 2018:
Read on…
#NewBookAlert: March 12-16, 2018
March 17th, 2018My weekly collection of new and notable books for your pop culture pleasure and edification: #ReadMoreTweetLess.
Read on…
#SetTheVCR: Sunday March 11, 2018 to Saturday March 17, 2018
March 11th, 2018#SetTheVCR for Sunday March 11, 2018 to Saturday March 17, 2018:
Read on…
#NewBookAlert: March 5-9, 2018
March 10th, 2018My weekly collection of new and notable books for your pop culture pleasure and edification: #ReadMoreTweetLess.
Read on…
#SetTheVCR: Sunday March 4, 2018 to Saturday March 10, 2018
March 4th, 2018#SetTheVCR for Sunday March 4, 2018 to Saturday March 10, 2018:
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#SetTheVCR: Sunday February 25, 2018 to Saturday March 3, 2018
February 25th, 2018#SetTheVCR for this upcoming week Sunday February 25 2018 to Saturday March 3 2018
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#NewBookAlert: February 19-23, 2018
February 24th, 2018My weekly collection of new and notable books for your pop culture pleasure and edification: #ReadMoreTweetLess.
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#SetTheVCR: Sunday Feb 18 2018 to Saturday Feb 14 2018
February 18th, 2018#SetTheVCR for this upcoming week of Sunday February 18 2018 to Saturday February 24 2018
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#NewBookAlert: February 12-16, 2018
February 17th, 2018My weekly collection of new and notable books for your pop culture pleasure and edification: #ReadMoreTweetLess.
Read on…
Legacy of Michael: An 80s Retrospective
February 17th, 2018Today in 1963 Michael Jeffrey Jordan was born in Brooklyn, New York City. I think about that dude every. single. day. Not as a person…if you think he’s a jerkface or an asshole it doesn’t matter I don’t care. Being a nice guy or a jerk are not deal breakers; s’utterly irrelevant. But as a Gold Standard of total excellence…6 and oh in championships. Utterly imposing his will; ruthlessly making all the necessary sacrifices to be great.
Read on…
Legacy of Michael: An 80s Retrospective
February 17th, 2018Today in 1963 Michael Jeffrey Jordan was born in Brooklyn, New York City. I think about that dude every. single. day. Not as a person…if you think he’s a jerkface or an asshole it doesn’t matter I don’t care. Being a nice guy or a jerk are not deal breakers; s’utterly irrelevant. But as a Gold Standard of total excellence…6 and oh in championships. Utterly imposing his will; ruthlessly making all the necessary sacrifices to be great.
Read on…
Valentine’s Day Baby
February 14th, 2018While today is capitalism’s official Day of Atonement it is important to remember not everybody is celebrating love much less has any in their lives.
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#SetTheVCR: Sunday Feb 11 2018 to Saturday Feb 17 2018
February 11th, 2018#SetTheVCR for this upcoming week…recently a friend asked about my tv habits.
I Set The VCR every Sunday for the upcoming week; kinda stockpiling tv so I have options every night. Some weeks are better than others.
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#NewBookAlert: February 5-9, 2018
February 10th, 2018My weekly collection of new and notable books for your pop culture pleasure and edification: #ReadMoreTweetLess.
Read on…
The Horror of Page 666!
February 8th, 2018Page 666 of Stephen King’s IT is disappointing.
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My Summer Lair featuring George Stroumboulopoulos (House of Strombo)
January 30th, 2018#NewBookAlert: January 2018
January 13th, 2018My weekly collection of new and notable books for your pop culture pleasure and edification: #ReadMoreTweetLess.
Read on…
Down With Pants in 2018
December 29th, 2017Today’s Helpful PSA: While the 17th Annual No Pants Subway Ride takes place on Sunday, January 7, 2018 National No Pants Day is always on the first Friday in May…May 4, 2018.
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TV: Mr. Mercedes
December 28th, 2017Yo…late last night I wrapped up Season 1 of Mr. Mercedes. Mr. Mercedes is one of the best Stephen King-to-TV adaptations of all time.
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The Alternative Universe Blueprint
December 27th, 2017Yesterday I finished reading Jason Lloyd’s The Blueprint: LeBron James, Cleveland’s Deliverance, and the Making of the Modern NBA which offers fascinating insights into the salary cap, contract clauses and how trades work. However one Fun Fact was world altering crazy.
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My Summer Lair featuring Roland Lazenby (Showboat: The Life of Kobe Bryant)
December 26th, 2017Host Haiku In Session With…Caren
November 30th, 2017
As inspired by listening to Caren’s Self-Titled EP
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Trailer Alert: Blood in the Snow Film Festival
November 8th, 2017Wrapped up day 1 of Horror-Rama…saw a dude who was a perfect Freddy…hat, ratty sweater, that face…knife-glove run into Pennywise the Dancing Clown and they hugged and laughed like they don’t go around murdering children. Gonna have some sweet night terrors tonight.
And I chatted with magician Ryan Brown who performed some close up magic tricks for me! So cool; dude performs illusions in a haunted house…Screamers every year. Yo…
Lastly I attended the packed panel-announcement for the 6th annual Blood in the Snow Film Festival. BITS is a Toronto film festival “celebrating the best in contemporary Canadian horror, genre and underground film.”
Blood runs (get it?) November 23-26 at the Royal Cinema with after parties at the Monarch Tavern and this year features a poster gallery at Super Wonder Gallery. Hanging at Horror-Rama was a reminder of the dark and lovely aesthetic of horror movie posters. You instantly know a good one when you see it.
The panel-announcement was hosted by BITS programmers Kirk Haviland, Jason Tannis and Carolyn Mauricette. (Girth Radio’s good friend Jen Gorman who is now the Festival Coordinator was around as well, always fun to talk horror with her…the entire BITS team have a deep and infectious passion for this genre. Five high em when you see em during the festival.)
This years line up is all killer no filler; some movies that stood out:
Red Spring…a post-apocalyptic (I’m already in) world run entirely by vampires and the humans are dwindling. Get them humans!
Buckout Road…about the most haunted road in North America (which is curious…what is the most haunted road in North America?)
Blood Child…this one cuts deep!! “a young woman who resorts to the South East Asian black magic practice of raising her own ghost child in order to get over a devastating miscarriage. But the child wrecks an unspeakable evil upon the household once the woman finds herself pregnant again..” Raising a ghost child!! 100% in.
There’s also Darken which a sci-fi horror movie that takes place in a parallel universe (fascinating…), The Child Remains (lotta kids coming back for revenge this year…) and Kill Order (trailer is not yet ready but the premise sounded fresh…). Plus a short film showcase. Plus cool educational panels.
There’s lots of excellent happenings at this year’s BITS. Expect some Girth Radio interviews, photos and more as we get closer to the festival.
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Listen to Girth Radio @ W • T • F
Host Haiku In Session With…Civil Wray
October 19th, 2017
As inspired by listening to Civil Wray’s Self-Titled EP
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Bloodsport: Story vs Narrative
October 6th, 2017So this is a slightly odd post; just file it away under The More You Know. As epic events unfold…the Vegas shooting, the recent hurricanes…pick any gut-punch from the past 5 years one element they all have in common is they produce lots of social media documents typically videos and photos.
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Hidden Gem: The Photophonics “Easy”
September 5th, 2017Following a few inspired listens the following stream of consciousnesses…I dunno what any of it means it’s just what came out.
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Close Encounters of Some Kind
July 2nd, 2017Today…today we have a moment of silence to reflect on the brave souls who perished in the service of exploration. Often we do not know their names but we can celebrate their curiosity which propelled them; fueling their seemingly endless journeys across the stars.
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Host Haiku In Session With…Sun K
June 30th, 2017
As inspired by listening to Sun K’s Bleeding Hearts
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Better Batman Than Sorry
June 14th, 2017So…Joel Schumacher apologized for Batman and Robin. Which is nice I guess but ultimately it doesn’t erase them from history. Joel’s Batman movies continue to exist in life and worse in my head…where’s that handy Men In Back eraser thingie: Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Bat-Mind.
Read on…
Over The Hill King: the epilogue of LeBron James
June 13th, 2017Tonight. Tonight we “witnessed” the epilogue of LeBron James. He was never a goat but he was always an ass. It is done…there is no highlight, no stat, NO THING that permits any comparison to Michael Jordan. Or Kobe. Or Magic. Or Kareem. Or Bird. On and on and on it goes…
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Hidden Gem: U2 “The Little Things That Give You Away”
June 12th, 2017Yo…finally got around to watching U2’s Kimmel appearance…the new song is strong: The Little Things That Give You Away (clearly Bono is a pre-twitter writer).
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The Heat Is On!!!
June 10th, 2017At the risk of sounding like Glenn Fry: The Heat Is On! First gloriously hot Summer day: the Sun with all its heat and potential and promises is here.
So beautiful; go outside and collect that warm hug.
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Twilight Zone vs Comfort Zone
June 9th, 2017I answered the following question honestly but now I’m having second doubts. A Dad asked me if Sausage Party was appropriate viewing for his 7 year old. Think he and the kid were confusing it with various Pixar movies: talking fruit and all that.
(It’s an odd service I provide…recent questions from diligent parents include: Can I take my kids to Guardians of the Galaxy 2? and is there a lot of talking/exposition in Wonder Woman?)
Come Fourth: The LeBron James Disappearing Act
June 1st, 2017If you’re gonna continue to embarrass yourself (and soil your good family name) by attempting to compare LeBron to Jordan tonight see for yourself.
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The Big What?
May 23rd, 2017My immigrant parents from Egypt…they understand the harsh social conditions that facilitate horror scenarios like the Manchester Arena bombing.
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15 Minute Stories
May 19th, 2017Ran into a friend who had spent some time with Chris Cornell. Rather than the traditional and exuberant Yo! all I could issue was a sorrowful Yo you know with an ellipsis: Yo…
Read on…
Goodbye Chris Cornell
May 18th, 2017Yo…listening to NPR News before Fresh Air and they’re prattling on about Trump before finally revealing Chris Cornell passed on. Like it was a P.S. of some sort. Man: first things first.
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Host Haiku In Session With…Dani Strong
May 18th, 2017As inspired by listening to Dani Strong’s Time to Breathe
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Small Talk: The Indiana Pacers
May 17th, 2017So last night…I feel dumb saying this but I learned: “the Pacers, whose team name refers to the pace cars in the Indianapolis 500.”
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Illuminated Chronicles: Why Pop Culture? (TED Talk)
April 28th, 2017“Why must we be so serious about what divide us and trivialize what bring us together?”
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Trailer Alert: Genius (Albert Einstein)
April 19th, 2017Premiering on April 25, 2017 at 9pm National Geographic will air its first scripted event: Genius a 10 part mini-series on the inspiring and troubling life of Albert Einstein. So In!
Read on…
Freedom Of Breach
April 5th, 2017I got in trouble for my last post because…I used the word retarded.
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Small Talk: Alternative Universe Casting
April 4th, 2017So…one of the books I’m currently consuming is Powerhouse: The Untold Story of Hollywood’s Creative Artists Agency…they’re one of the most powerful talent agencies in the world. I picked it up as a business book; curious about the finer points of deal making when millions are on the line (my independence is more valuable than your acceptance). But! One of the book’s surprises is the casting stories.
If you think Eric Stoltz in Back to the Future or Tom Selleck as the Terminator is weird (yo Cameron why would a homicidal robot travel back in time only to grow a moustache?!) try these casting tales:
Read on…
Host Haiku In Session With…Catey Shaw
March 23rd, 2017
As inspired by listening to Catey Shaw’s Music
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Stupidity Is The Father of Innovation
March 12th, 2017It’s 2017…
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Small Talk: U2’s Joshua Tree Grammy
March 9th, 2017Today marks the 30th anniversary of U2’s The Joshua Tree…which won a grammy for Album Of The Year.
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The Future of Pee
March 2nd, 2017Is there such a thing as an interactive-digital-urinal? Like you could download an app connected to those urinals and it would translate your pee…like a Fitbit for your bladder.
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Trailer Alert: Mike Birbiglia – Thank God For Jokes
March 1st, 2017The next month or so Netflix is all stand up specials…so excited!
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i spy with my little eye…racism
February 28th, 2017A sad commentary on our times…I shared the following moment on Facebook:
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Get Your Foot In The Door
February 24th, 2017Front Door or Back Door…there are 2 ways in:
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White Playhouse Mystery Science
February 22nd, 2017Obscure Reference Time! One of the set designers for Netflix’s Mystery Science Theater 3000 revival is Wayne White.
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Trailer Alert: I Am Not Your Negro
February 22nd, 2017It is difficult to convey the profound impact James Baldwin has on other writers…and on the discussions and debates we continue to have about race and racism. He died in 1987; yet we’re still grappling with the complex issues he so eloquently expressed in writing and speaking.
I come from comic books; from sci-fi and all too often encounter nerd-centric click-bait posts on diversity. Not only have we grown comfortable championing facile notions of diversity often to the cheers/likes/retweets of our passionate echo chamber (Yes Men for true) we lazily challenge the numbers not the issues.
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AKA National Nut Up Day
February 19th, 2017Laziest All-Star Game ever…symbolic of NBA’s weak Get Along Gang mentality: it’s Show Business not show friends.
Break is over…put away your Kit Kat; it’s Crunch time!
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Host Haiku In Session With…The Kents
February 16th, 2017As inspired by listening to The Kents’ Waking EP
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What The Ross…
February 14th, 2017Terrence Ross is GONE!! I repeat and celebrate…Terrence Ross is dealt.
I don’t care about scoring, rebounds, assists…if you’re an NBA playa without the Will To Kill you’re useless: Jordan has 6 Rings; Kobe has 5 they’re excellent murderers.
Talk about no love lost…
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Illuminated Chronicles: Tribeca Talks: Directors Series – J.J. Abrams with Chris Rock
February 10th, 2017I’m a Chris Rock fan…that is when it comes to comedy. His interview skills always leave the viewer wanting. Remember The Chris Rock Show…which wrapped in 2000. (Man time is flying faster than Superman saving Lois!).
And as for J.J. I’ve issues with him. I refer to his Star Trek as Star Wrecked because it was silly and guilty of being unnecessary. Super 8 doesn’t even come up in this talk and the first Cloverfield was an utter piece of crap. So no love lost between me and J.J. So Be It.
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Trailer Alert: The History of Comedy
February 8th, 2017I know…it’s a bit weird to check out The History of Comedy on CNN. And no there’s no Trump involved…as funny as that is. This original CNN mini-series exploring the history of comedy and what makes our funny bones sing premieres on Thursday, February 9, at 10 p.m. EST on…well CNN. Cue James Earl Jones.
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Host Haiku In Session With…4Korners
February 2nd, 2017
As inspired by listening to 4Korners’s Music
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Trailer Alert: Abstract: The Art of Design
February 1st, 2017Tinker Hatfield is featured in Abstract: The Art of Design a Netflix mini-series premiering on February 10. Yo: Tinker Hatfield, son…it’s time for tea. Oh and yes…Jordan is in it as well. Time for tea for true.
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Hidden Gem: More or Les feat Wordburglar “Hate Rap”
January 30th, 2017Recently featured More or Les as an In Session With Girth… guest; super stoked to get into his fantastic album Blow the Fuck Up But Stay Humble. And we do…eventually; after hobo ramblings about comics and the Doctor. I ah, sorta got all sidetracked; I got distracted by a bright blue police box. My bad.
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Host Haiku In Session With…Kid Koala
January 26th, 2017
As inspired by listening to Kid Koala’s Music To Draw To: Satellite
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Trailer Alert: Becoming Warren Buffett
January 25th, 2017This is weird but not really. Big Sean’s well penned verse in Detroit Vs. Everybody reminds me of Warren Buffett. Oh you know saying that out…I guess that is weird. So Be It.
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Hidden Gem: Tom Chaplin “Hardened Heart”
January 23rd, 2017Damn…the honesty of a junkie!
Tom Chaplin (Keane’s frontman) has returned (in more ways than one) with a solo album The Wave.
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Racism LOL
January 20th, 2017It’s hard to convey but the racism the media typically reports on isn’t the universal racism visual minorities experience.
A number of my visual minority friends have experienced funny racist encounters. I have a couple. It’s typically somebody so determined to be racist but doesn’t have enough “knowledge” to be properly racist. Talk about ignorance. I understand racism is rooted in ignorance but man be racist properly.
Like put some time and effort into your hate! Have some pride…watch a doc, read a book, brush up on your stereotypes…just don’t go through the motions.
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Trailer Alert: Beware the Slenderman
January 18th, 2017Fake news is not an issue.
National Enquirer has been around since 1926 serving its loyal readership stories on Elvis sightings, earth’s women serving as Eves by having alien babies, dating impending apocalypses and as times and tastes evolved standard celebrity scandals. All useful for prompting X-Files plot points; not overly impactful in real life.
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Hidden Gem: Kid Koala (featuring Emili?ana Torrini) “Collapser”
January 16th, 2017Kid Koala (aka Eric San) has generously shared a sublimely ambient track from his fifth studio album Music To Draw To: Satellite, to be released via Arts & Crafts on January 20, 2017. Based on this track alone I cannot wait for this album to drop:
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Illuminated Chronicles: Stop Asking For Easy
January 13th, 2017In the oval office Obama has a plaque thing that says: “Hard Things Are Hard.” Hashtag No Guff.
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Host Haiku In Session With…Coins
January 12th, 2017
As inspired by listening to Coins’ Daft Science
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Trailer Alert: Neal Brennan’s 3 Mics
January 11th, 2017So if you want a fascinating behind the scenes evolution of Neal Brennan’s superb Netflix comedy special 3 Mics track down The Meltdown with Jonah and Kumail.
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A Major Tom Moment of Silence
January 10th, 2017On January 10, 2016 David Bowie passed away…
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Pop Culture Habits
January 3rd, 2017Been approached by a few friends (always better to be approached by friends instead of Jehovah’s Witnesses!) who want to write more…journal more; some listen to music more. Basically they want to more more.
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Illuminated Chronicles: Run The Jewels Visits Portlandia
December 30th, 2016It’s 2016…practically 2017 so how do you drop an album now? Run The Jewels visits Portlandia for some “helpful” album drop suggestions…let the LOL commence:
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Illuminated Chronicles: Ascension
December 30th, 2016Over Christmas break I checked out Ascension a 2014 Syfy mini-series on Netflix.
Back in the 60s JFK launched an inter-generational space shuttle…it was going to take 100 years for it to reach its destination: Proxima Centauri. (The show was inspired by the real-life concept of Project Orion which Kennedy ultimately killed). Of course…things don’t go well and it’s all sparked by a murder.
Some of the writing is a bit cheezy, typical tv writing…but there are some fresh moments too. Only lasted 6 episodes then died (don’t ponder the ending too much as Syfy confirmed: “We were very happy with Ascension as an event series, but with so much high profile development in the works, we have decided not to pursue a full series.”).
You can knock it off in a lazy winter weekend.
Here’s the trailer:
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Listen to Girth Radio @ W • T • F
Ziggy Was Here January 8, 1947 – January 10, 2016
Goodbye Carrie Fisher
December 27th, 2016We lost a fantastic writer today.
Yes I’m aware the great celebrity reduction for Carrie Fisher will always be Princess Leia.
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Patient Zero Caught Christmas Spirit
December 25th, 2016Merry Christmas!
Uncle Sammy’s War on Coal
December 23rd, 2016Talking to a small child in 2016…
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Boutique Bubbles
December 19th, 2016Man…bubbles are surreal…
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One Rogue: A Star Wars Story
December 16th, 2016So??! Do the Rebels successfully steal the Death Star schematics?! Yes Rogue One…The Titanic, the Apollo 13 etc. of Star Wars opens today with its expected ending. (Doctor Who calls em fixed points in time).
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Christmas Sneer
December 13th, 2016Bah! They Got Me!
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Star Wars The Blockbuster…
December 12th, 2016Since some of you are gonna put on pants and check out Rogue One…
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Host Haiku In Session With…Piper Hayes II
December 1st, 2016As inspired by listening to Piper Hayes’ Goodbye Mister Nice Guy
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November 27th, 2016
I’m constantly surprised and grateful for the fantastic opportunities that come my way. Since high school I’ve set out to be creative (code for I want to play everyday) and not be bound by medium. I’ve recently been offered to co-host Back Issue Bloodbath a Geek Hard podcast focusing on comics. Basically over adult beverages we get into it…talking about issues (in every sense of the word). Magic!!
I got miles to go crafting my audio voice…writing now that I can Fight Club anybody and win. So I’m thankful for this challenge to shine skillz that pay the billz.
If this at all interests you (or other benevolent nerds in your life) subscribe on itunes/google play. This sucker is gonna heat up like Jiffy Pop!
My first episode is below…thanks for reading. As You Were.
In this episode of Back Issue Bloodbath I surprise the gents with a wild and crazy about Black Science! Which is totally different than Weird Science: thankfully (or sadly) we did not have to wear bras on our heads.
Listen NOW!
Check out my earlier appearances on Geek Hard‘s Back Issue Bloodbath as a guest:
Episode #39
Episode #14
Episode #13
Episode #12
Episode #11
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Host Haiku In Session With…The Autumn Stones
November 24th, 2016As inspired by listening to The Autumn Stones’ Escapists
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Host Haiku In Session With…Neon Dreams
November 17th, 2016As inspired by listening to Neon Dreams’ To You EP
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Host Haiku In Session With…Conan & the Romantyks
November 10th, 2016
As inspired by listening to Conan and the Romantyks’ Out It Comes
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Cubs Win!
November 3rd, 2016So the red team that everybody (especially online types) thinks is racist was defeated by the blue team who haven’t had a significant victory in over 100 years. That sums up the World Series as much as it does this craptacular current election.
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Host Haiku In Session With…The Tired Flames
November 3rd, 2016As inspired by listening to The Tired Flames’ Pyrolysis
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Fighting To Be Heard
November 1st, 2016One of the funniest aspects of hanging out in NYC this past week has been Americans apologizing for the election. Even if I don’t bring it up…soon as they find out I ain’t a local. They’re so embarrassed…lotta we’re not really like this hand wringing.
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Halloween Body Count
October 31st, 2016Early September I saw Lights Out (couple of sweet moments…check it out). However the body count was low…2 cops (who were collateral damage and not related to the horror at hand and 1 proper killing from the horror-monster (well…and 1 suicide but again mainly collateral damage)).
All the new horrors (the James Wan horrors…Insidious’, Conjurings etc.) low body counts; that seems to be the latest horror trend. It’s like they make you invest in the characters or like the plot.
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TBT: Lou Reed
October 27th, 2016Graffiti I saw in NYC in 2011:
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Host Haiku In Session With…James Clark Institute
October 27th, 2016As inspired by listening to James Clark Institute’s Yesterday’s Misadventures
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Host Haiku In Session With…Aiko Tomi
October 20th, 2016
As inspired by listening to Aiko Tomi’s Music
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Host Haiku In Session With…Veronica
October 13th, 2016As inspired by listening to Veronica’s Music
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A Season With…Sammy?
October 8th, 2016I’m watching Showtime’s A Season With… which is just fascinating.
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Host Haiku In Session With…Owen Meany’s Batting Stance
October 6th, 2016As inspired by listening to Owen Meany’s Batting Stance’s Owen Meany’s Batting Stance
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Freakonomics For True
October 3rd, 2016One sure sign we’re in a rescission is the lack of discarded underwear in 7-11 parking lots…in this economy ain’t nobody leavin underwear behind.
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Birthday Appreciation
September 29th, 2016THANK YOU for all the
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Host Haiku In Session With…Torero
September 29th, 2016As inspired by listening to Torero’s Torero
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Birth Year Readings VI
September 28th, 2016Round 6! I ah…somehow astonishingly read 80 books last year. I kept a list so I clearly did it I just dunno how I did it. That is surreal…although it’s equally surreal how little that actually dents all the fantastic books that get published every year…or have already been published.
Undaunted I press on…I dunno if I can bat 80 books this year but I will continue to let my curiosity dictate my choices while hoping for moments of synchronicity. At times it feels like I’m stockpiling ideas like a redneck stockpiles guns. I’m not yet certain what form all these ideas echoing in my head will become in the real world. They’re gonna be something…they hafta be. But what?
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Dark Tower’s Movie Quest
September 27th, 2016Heard this last night on Sirius…dude does a good breakdown on where Dark Tower movie is at…includes interviews with Stephen King, Elba and others.
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New Age Astrology
September 27th, 2016According to science your astrology signs are now incorrect. If that’s upsetting to you in this age of enlightenment and era of reason clearly you’re a witch and should be tossed into the river to see if you float.
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Hillary’s Crooked Path To The White House
September 26th, 2016Neal Brennan has that fantastic line/observation: “The main reason black people like Hillary is because she dresses like Steve Harvey.” Hah! Amazing. I find some of her outfits are also Doctor Evil-ish. Kinda fitting I suppose…tonight Neal and I were right.
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Host Haiku In Session With…Finger Eleven
September 22nd, 2016As inspired by listening to Finger Eleven’s Five Crooked Lines
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Late Night 80s Teen Hosts
September 19th, 2016Turns out the late night tv hosts effortlessly fit neatly into stereotypical 80s/90s teen movie tropes.
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Host Haiku In Session With…Ken Yates
September 15th, 2016As inspired by listening to Ken Yates’ Huntsville
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Host Haiku In Session With…May Cheung
September 8th, 2016As inspired by listening to May Cheung’s Departure
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Illuminated Chronicles: DJ Shadow feat. Run The Jewels “Nobody Speak”
August 26th, 2016Now this is how you create a fantastic music video!
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Host Haiku In Session With…The Young Novelists
August 17th, 2016As inspired by listening to The Young Novelists’ Made Us Strangers
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My Summer Lair featuring Kevin A. Boyd (Fan Expo)
August 16th, 2016Host Haiku In Session With…J Matthew
August 11th, 2016As inspired by listening to J Matthew’s Music
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This Heat: A Helpful Guide For Visual Minorities
August 10th, 2016How to Discuss The Weather with your friends and co-workers…A Helpful Guide For Visual Minorities:
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Transformers Trauma
August 8th, 2016On August 8, 1986 The Transformers: The Movie opened.
Man just how good was The Transformers: The Movie? Leonard Nimoy, Judd Nelson, Casey Kasem, Robert Stack and Orson Welles. All that glorious Ruckus.
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Geek Hard Gratitude
August 7th, 2016Suicide Squad Knowledge
August 5th, 2016If you’re gonna put on pants (DOWN WITH PANTS!!) and check out Suicide Squad this weekend know the following:
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Host Haiku In Session With…Yolanda Ho
August 4th, 2016As inspired by listening to Yolanda Ho’s Music
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The New 52 Reading List
August 1st, 2016The New 52 DC’s big bang began on August 31, 2011 following the conclusion of Flashpoint and commencing with Justice League #1 (at the time helmed by Geoff Johns and Jim Lee a fantastic one-two punch that like a Summer romance didn’t last long). On May 25, 2016 the Rebirth one-shot was released signalling the end of The New 52 and the, well rebirth of DC’s universe. Again.
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Host Haiku In Session With…Sonja Seiler
July 21st, 2016As inspired by listening to Sonja Seiler’s Music
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Host Haiku In Session With…Pyramid Tropic
July 16th, 2016As inspired by listening to Pyramid Tropic’s Music
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Host Haiku In Session With…Kelvin Wetherell
July 14th, 2016As inspired by listening to Kelvin Wetherell’s The Jackknife Letters
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Shirt Off Update Memo
July 12th, 2016Saw the new Bourne movie…do I have to provide a Shirt Off Update?
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Host Haiku In Session With…Ghost Caravan
July 9th, 2016As inspired by listening to Ghost Caravan’s Music
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Host Haiku In Session With…A.A. Wallace
June 30th, 2016As inspired by listening to A.A. Wallace’s Waking EP
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My Summer Lair featuring Jeff Chang (Who We Be)
June 14th, 2016Trailer Alert: O.J.: Made in America
June 8th, 2016Sammy Younan
Girth Radio Presents…
“The first eight years of schooling was with all white people. So that helped me to understand how white people think. I think that transition is what helped me bridge the gap, because that’s what my success has really been about: bridging the gap between the black community and the white community.”
Read on…
Goodbye Muhammad Ali
June 3rd, 2016I saw this iconic image as a kid…I dunno where or how. Instantly I recognized this wasn’t a fight: this was a lifestyle.
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Vulcan Nerve Pinch
June 3rd, 2016Fun Fact: In the original Star Trek series (Kirk, Spock etc.) did you know the Vulcan Nerve Pinch was used 34 different times.
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My Summer Lair featuring Dave Merheje (Stand-Up Comedy)
May 24th, 2016Nerd Emotions
May 23rd, 2016Last night found some pants and watched Captain America: Civil War.
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Host Haiku In Session With…Avalanche City
May 19th, 2016As inspired by listening to Avalanche City’s We Are for the Wild Places
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Host Haiku In Session With…Old Man Canyon
May 19th, 2016As inspired by listening to Old Man Canyon’s Delirium
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Host Haiku In Session With…Leslie Hudson
May 12th, 2016As inspired by listening to Leslie Hudson’s The Redhead League
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Host Haiku In Session With…No Sinner
May 5th, 2016As inspired by listening to No Sinner’s Old Habits Die Hard
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Magic Money
May 1st, 2016Last night I had the sublime opportunity to hang out with a number of prominent magicians!! (One of em was Johnny Carson’s favourite magician…I’d never met anybody who met Carson so that was fascinating).
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Code of Silence
April 30th, 2016You endure the awkward silence on a date so you can get in a relationship with a girl who when she’s upset with you will give you the silent treatment. #ModernRomance
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Pantsworthy: Hot Docs – April 30, 2016
April 30th, 2016Big Day in Hot Docs land.
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Hidden Gem: Evvy “Collide”
April 25th, 2016Has this song been in a movie? One of those Jason Sudeikis indies where he seduces a pretty girl who doesn’t have it all together (but thinks she does) with his good hair and refined beard:
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Illuminated Chronicles: Gregg Popovich Video
April 22nd, 2016The Spurs-under Gregg Popovich-are the NBA’s greatest magic trick: fans wanna know how they do it. How do they pull it off? There’s nothing I can say about Gregg Popovich that hasn’t been said: every superlative is accurate and more importantly he’s going to walk away with at least 5 rings. Well done, good sir.
To understand how the magic is performed FIBA released a video of Pop speaking at a coaching seminar and boy does he drop knowledge. In the first minute he refutes the notion of magic: “it’s about organization, it’s about discipline, it’s about building the blocks; about relationships with your players.” That’s…it?
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Get That Baby
April 20th, 2016Today in 1889 Hitler was born in present-day Austria.
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Hidden Gem: Astronauts, etc. “Odessa”
April 18th, 2016Extraordinary. Strongly moody, deeply impressionistic…this is what’ll sound like if you could take a dj into outer space:
My Summer Lair featuring Andrew Young (Geek Hard)
April 12th, 2016Hidden Gem: Wild Belle “It’s Too Late”
April 11th, 2016The lyrics:
I’m not asking for lots of fancy toys
I don’t need a lot of fancy toys
Someone to keep me warm at night
I’ve a friend who basically prayed this…she’s been married and warm for the past 5 years. It’s not too late for you…
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Where No Woman Has Gone Before
April 9th, 2016Whenever a girl says she needs “space and time” she sounds like she’s going to board the Starship Enterprise for a 5 year mission to explore strange new worlds, to seek out new life and new civilizations.
Well at least you look fantastic in red…
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Listen to Girth Radio @ W • T • F
Ziggy Was Here January 8, 1947 – January 10, 2016
Illuminated Chronicles: Kobe….Don’t Love me. Hate me.
April 8th, 2016This Wednesday Kobe will play his final NBA game. No other player since Jordan has defined Sinatra’s My Way:
And now, the end is near
And so I face the final curtain
My friend, I’ll say it clear
I’ll state my case, of which I’m certain
I’ve lived a life that’s full
I traveled each and every highway
And more, much more than this, I did it my way
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Black Panther: The Potential of Patience
April 7th, 2016How is Black Panther an icon? Same thing with Wonder Woman…iconic without any storytelling substance. I can’t grasp that flimsy and ultimately foolish premise.
Black Panther has been around since the 60s and done (to quote Stupid Flanders) diddly-squat. Black Panther debuted in 1966; Spider-Man in 1962. Who’s had more impact on the culture?
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Hidden Gem: Maggie Szabo “Tidal Waves and Hurricanes”
April 4th, 2016Take thumping drums, a voice rich in soul and toss in a scorned woman and you have the Tidal Waves & Hurricanes video. I feel bad for the guy, not sure what he did but he did something wrong. And boy is he paying a hefty price. Glad it’s not me and I can pantslessly enjoy this video as part of Maggie’s monumental journey.
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80s Goals
April 1st, 2016I’m only working this hard so that one day…one special day I’ll be famous enough to dress up in my best 80s pastel coloured outfit and be forever immortalized in a Reading is FUNdamental poster.
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Hidden Gem: Catey Shaw “The Ransom”
March 28th, 2016This is a quintessential Hidden Gem. That voice…that rhythm…the playfulness in the song: oh yeah:
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“Good” Friday…Happy Easter!
March 25th, 2016Got caught “stealing” chocolate Easter eggs from a child’s massive stash by the 6 year old child and her 3 year old brother.
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Hidden Gem: Fadaul Et Les Privilèges “Sid Redad”
March 21st, 2016The Youtube description of this song sums it up perfectly: “Middle East & North Africa’s own James Brown!!!” (They added the 3 !s not me).
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Sixty-Nine 101
March 16th, 2016There are 2 phases of life we all go through…
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Hidden Gem: Emma-Lee “Worst Enemy”
March 14th, 2016Always a sucker for that big brassy female voice.
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Illuminated Chronicles: O Pioneers! (Levi’s Commercial)
March 11th, 2016This 2009 Levi’s commercial stays with me…I’m always on the hunt for creative and visual ways to communicate poetry. I’m a poet as much as I am a prophet…the free verse poem is my weapon of choice to confront a cold calculating culture. Yet in this modern society of guns and rough violence it’s almost like I am walking around with a sword. En Garde isn’t Avant-garde. Or is it?
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Nicknames Affection
March 8th, 2016Ladies…Cuddle Bugs…Kittens…Babes…Honey Bunnies…Sweethearts…Queens…Angels…Hot Mamas…Cupcakes…Better Halfs…Peaches…Hot Stuff…Main Squeezes…Girls…Sugars…Buttercups…Little Ladies…Firecrackers…Beloveds…Women…
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Hidden Gem: Lucius “Madness”
March 7th, 2016How I discovered Lucius…
In early 2013 Mike from PledgeMusic emailed to say “got this amazing band Lucius to play at 6pm.” Dude’s got a fantastic ear so I dutifully located my pants and headed to Tequila Bookworm to check out their CMW industry set.
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Rules of Engagement
March 7th, 2016Over at my friend’s house when she disciplined her small child by asking him to stand in the corner.
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TBT – Last Night’s Culture Snap: Hangin with Henry Rollins
March 3rd, 2016Chillin with Henry Rollins! I umm, forgot who he is, that’s why I am smiling. So fired…
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Host Haiku In Session With…Eternia
March 3rd, 2016
As inspired by listening to Eternia’s Day & Night
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Hidden Gem: French Montana feat Kanye West & Nas “Figure It Out”
February 29th, 2016Kanye is making everybody with a website who monitors metrics over quality rich; his nickname should be money (all due respect to Jordan). What with his insightful twitter diatribes and “journalists” playing Web MD constantly diagnosing his “mental health issues” websites are churning out content and “analysis.” Overlooked in the superfluous parroting “Kanye is a douche-bag” rhetoric is his musical gifts:
The End of the LeBron James era
February 28th, 2016If (when???) the Warriors win a championship this year it’ll officially mark the end of the LeBron James era.
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Out of Nowhere: Steph Curry vs Batman
February 27th, 2016Steph Curry’s jaw-dropping 32/35 footer to win the game and hearts of NBA fans while stabbing OKC in the front has now established him as a Premier Player.
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Host Haiku In Session With…Michael Bernard Fitzgerald
February 25th, 2016As inspired by listening to Michael Bernard Fitzgerald’s Waking EP
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Hidden Gem: Sarah Neufeld “The Ridge”
February 22nd, 2016An Arcade Fire solo project! Sweet:
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Host Haiku In Session With…Featurette
February 18th, 2016As inspired by listening to Featurette’s Crave Vol.1 & 2
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Garbage Time: 2015-2016 NBA Season Report Card
February 17th, 2016All-Star Weekend has come and gone. It was freezing and for reasons nobody can properly articulate Sting performed. The coolest aspect of All-Star Weekend was the Jordan store at Yonge-Dundas. S’gone now without a note on the dresser. Damn.
Last half of the 70th NBA season…let’s get down to business. Some of the storylines I was following when the season started are unfolding…
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Science vs Hiccups
February 16th, 2016All this technological progress, human advancements in science, the radical evolution of medicine and psychology…it’s 2016 and yet that all goes out the window soon as you get hiccups: you just get bombarded with old wives’ tales.
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Hidden Gem: Reuben And The Dark “Heart in Two”
February 15th, 2016So…how was your Valentines?
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Host Haiku In Session With…Merival
February 11th, 2016As inspired by listening to Merival’s Lovers
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Trailer Alert: All Things Must Pass
February 10th, 2016All Things Must Pass (a documentary on the rise and fall of Tower Records) is a cautionary documentary with 2 key takeaways:
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Modern Political Platforms
February 9th, 2016At what point…
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Hidden Gem: Basia Bulat “Infamous”
February 8th, 2016A friend of mine…she likes to sing in the car picked me up one day to get some tea. She had Basia Bulat’s fantastic Oh, My Darling totally cranked. Wow, who is this? She wasn’t sure how to pronounce her name but she passed her on to me, along…generously with the cd we were listening too. Tea and tunes does it for me every single time.
Since then we’ve seen Basia Bulat live (she did not disappoint!) and I’ve continued with her (the singer and my friend; they’re both lovely). Basia followed Oh, My Darling with Heart of My Own and her biggest release yet in 2013 she dropped Tall Tall Shadow. And now: we get new music from her in 2016! Ah-maz-ing!
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Canadian Reactions to the Superbowl…
February 7th, 2016The following are some basic Canadian Reactions to the classic American spectacular known as the Superbowl…
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Illuminated Chronicles: Sam Cooke “A Change Is Gonna Come (Official Lyric Video)”
February 5th, 2016Just in time for Black History Month…Sam Cooke’s estate released a lyric video for the powerful and prophetic civil rights anthem A Change Is Gonna Come. If you ah…don’t know much about history this video should catch you up:
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Host Haiku In Session With…Ivana Santilli
February 4th, 2016As inspired by listening to Ivana Santilli’s Late Night Light
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Trailer Alert: Michael Jackson’s Journey From Motown To Off The Wall
February 3rd, 2016Your opinions on Michael Jackson are entirely irrelevant. I’m sure you have them; I’m sure you’re passionate about them…comments are below: go nuts but they’re totally irrelevant.
MJ’s powerful contributions to our culture (beyond the standard pop culture contributions like the music and fashion) easily overshadow your thoughts: his actions speak louder than your words.
Spike Lee’s latest MJ doc…his follow up to Bad 25 is an opportunity to properly and authentically document Jackson’s crucial cultural contributions: Let The Record Show!
Michael Jackson’s Journey From Motown To Off The Wall premiered at Sundance at January’s end will now air on Showtime on February 5th at 9:00PM.
MJ’s journey from Motown to Off The Wall is crucial for him as an Artist and especially for us as culture. This is what I mean I say your MJ opinions are irrelevant:
In 1981 MTV refused to air Super Freak Rick James’ biggest hit; MTV focused on (white) rock and rejected videos by black performers (primarily R&B as rap was still in its formation…Blondie’s Rapture (often credited for giving rap it’s genre name) was released in 1981 several months before Super Freak. Rapture aired on MTV…white rock for the win.
That was the state of the union MJ recognized as he prepared to release Thriller in 1982 his eagerly anticipated follow up to Off The Wall. Fortunately he was already battle-tested courtesy of Off The Wall.
Before MTV and its racist ban on music/videos by black performers like Rick James came Disco Demolition Night aka the day disco died: July 12, 1979. An anti-disco demonstration held during a baseball double-header in Chicago’s Comiskey Park celebrated rock by literally crushing disco: Disco Sucks. It was (is?) a rejection of gay culture and black culture Trojan horsed as an emphatic rejection of disco…one loud hedonistic rock celebration. (The standard ongoing tensions that permeate American culture…Disco Demolition Night concluded with a riot, of course. How far have we come since 1979…30 seconds on social media reveals progress hardly worth celebrating…)
“On July 21, 1979, the top six records on the U.S. music charts were disco songs; by September 22 there were no disco songs in the US Top 10 chart.” Disco Sucks!
(By the way how amazing is it to look back and realize that KISS the very epitome of rock n roll (can’t get more rock n roll than Love Gun!) was on Casablanca Records which featured records by Donna Summer, Lipps Inc., Village People plus many more disco types…the more successful KISS became the more rock fans were indirectly supporting disco! Pop culture makes us all hypocrites).
Disco died on July 21, 1979 and Michael Jackson (with the talented Quincy Jones) delivered the eulogy on August 10, 1979 via Off The Wall. Creatively separated from the Motown Jackson 5 era MJ wanted to make a emphatic statement: a sonic manifesto to put listeners on notice. Off The Wall was extremely effective at establishing MJ’s adult and musical identity, further cementing Quincy’s reputation as a genius and putting listeners on notice.
(Popular 1979 hits include but are not limited too: Rod Stewart’s Da Ya Think I’m Sexy?, Tragedy by The Bee Gees and the never out of style classic You Don’t Bring Me Flowers by Barbra Streisand and Neil Diamond!)
Critical acclaim, American Music, Grammy and Billboard awards, successful sales…the third best selling album of 1980…even establishing a bold record: Jackson became the first solo artist to have four singles from the same album peak inside the top 10 of the Billboard Hot 100 all amazing but…not enough; not even close, not for MJ.
Proving once again how you define success is irrelevant (I told you from the start your opinions on MJ are entirely irrelevant) Jackson was disappointed Off The Wall was not bigger. This disappointment was the fertile ground from which the seeds for Thriller grew.
Thriller brings us back full circle to MTV and their ban on videos by black performers. MJ affectionally became the Jackie Robinson of pop music. His Thriller work could not be ignored and helped desegregate MTV but also many rock stations. That’s huge: we still live in that ripple effect.
MJ had to experience Motown to get to Off The Wall which lead to the end of disco and the start of Thriller the birth of short films disguised as music videos and most importantly the desegregation of our music media like MTV and rock stations.
MJ man…MJ.
Sammy’s Status: Considering how we just lost Bowie this is another sobering reminder of all that we’ve had…and lost.
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Listen to Girth Radio @ W • T • F
Ziggy Was Here January 8, 1947 – January 10, 2016
Hidden Gem: Sia “Unstoppable”
February 1st, 2016Sia is back…with the infectious confidence and strut of a bold lion. 2014’s 1000 Forms of Fear is her best work yet; early indications This Is Acting her 2016 album extends her winning streak.
Illuminated Chronicles: Pusha T Vice Autobiographies
January 29th, 2016Early indications were 2015 belonged to Big Sean with the noise Dark Sky Paradise was making. That album is fantastic and doesn’t disappoint. This year…2016 Pusha T is putting the free market on notice with King Push – Darkest Before Dawn: The Prelude to…King Push. Which should be out sometime this year.
As such you have to let the people who you are before they can give you a thumbs up or thumbs down in the Show Business arena.
Vice launched Autobiographies a new series that wants to know more about the magic trick than the magic.
Upcoming guests include Vince Staples, Cillian Murphy, Empress Of, Jackie Cruz, Ty Dolla $ign, Joshua Oppenheimer, Alex G, A$AP Ferg, Wilson Tang, Bully, Bubba Wallace, D.R.A.M., Venus X
Not a lot there for me; I’m happy Pusha’s episode kicks it off…doubtful I’ll be back.
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Host Haiku In Session With…Laila Biali
January 28th, 2016As inspired by listening to Laila Biali & The Radiance Project’s House of Many Rooms
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Hidden Gem: Saul Williams “The Noise Came From Here”
January 25th, 20162016 starts with an emphatic and fantastic bang with the release of Saul Williams’ MartyrLoserKing on January 29. Here is The Noise Came From Here one of 3 or 4 singles he’s released online to promote the album:
Did you see Saul Williams when he opened for k-os on November 20, 2015?
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Trailer Alert: The X-Files Returns!
January 24th, 2016Tonight…set your VCR (#SetTheVCR) for 10:00-11:00 PM EST for X-Files returns! Cue the undead hand punching its way out of the grave: may God have mercy on our souls. Like using Tinder as a dating app…oh how I want to believe this will be good.
I fear revivals like a monster of the week and yet like a Lone Gunman I’m compelled to check it out and get to the truth. Problem is I trust no one. Hopefully it’s not a Fluke…man. (That was the last one, I’m done now).
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Netflix’s Comic Book Guy
January 23rd, 2016Like the way you increase/decrease your security settings with a pop up blocker Netflix should allow viewers to increase their movie recommending algorithm up to video store clerk snobbery status…just like having The Simpson’s Comic Book Guy in your ipad:
from
Mild Disgust Setting: “Really?” when you select a “guilty pleasure”
to…
Belligerent Contempt Setting: “Did your mother drop you a lot as a small child? You idiot: if you watch this they’ll think it’s popular and make a sequel. Is that what you want? You want to ruin society because you have lousy taste?”
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Affiliations: 80s Synth
January 22nd, 2016New Pet Shop Boys today…Inner Sanctum.
Bit meh, we’ll see how the rest of the album is; hope they tour too…they put on a freshtastic live show. Course as an 80s child it’s expected I get amped when I hear synth beats.
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Snoop Dogg’s adidas Talk Show: Turf’d Up
January 22nd, 2016We’ve lived through the East Coast-West Coast rivalry, the Cola Wars, a couple of battles for Late Night and now it appears in 2016 we’re in the early stages of The Sneaker Wars: adidas vs Nike. Which for the most part has been a cold war:
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Trailer Alert: Legends of Tomorrow – Tonight!
January 21st, 2016Alright let’s get into it:
1) My Philosophy: I don’t drink the kool-aid this is the golden era of television…there’s a lot more tv options for true but most of it is not golden.
2) My Legacy: I dropped Smallville around the second or third episode, same with Arrow. Shield…barely lasted the first episode. Jessica Jones got stuck at episode 5, probably won’t go back. Haven’t checked out Flash (though the bits I’ve seen already put it ahead of Arrow).
All this to say Legends of Tomorrow has an uphill climb. It premieres tonight at 8:00pm on CW.
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Host Haiku In Session With…For Esmé
January 21st, 2016As inspired by listening to Esmé’s Sugar
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Hidden Gem: Hillsong United “Oceans (Where Feet May Fail)”
January 18th, 2016This is out of character for me, posting a Hillsong. So much so my sister asked, as I was writing this…what’s wrong with you? Ha.
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Illuminated Chronicles: adidas – Your Future Is Not Mine
January 15th, 2016In 1925 Al Capone at 26 became the new Boss of a sprawling criminal network. At the height of his seven year mob-reign Capone seemed untouchable. Keyword: seemed. A lot can happen between today and tomorrow.
As a modern Eliot Ness adidas’ is facing their untouchable Al Capone in Nike. Nike is…well, Nike and they own about half of the market share of fresh kicks. adidas is facing a daunting task: Nike seems untouchable.
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Host Haiku In Session With…Jon Corbin
January 14th, 2016As inspired by listening to Jon Corbin A Few Words More & Good Times Part 4
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Trailer Alert: Day Job Documentary
January 13th, 2016What defines you…your 9 to 5 or…your 5 to 9? What do you tell people you do at parties (assuming you go)?
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Hidden Gem: Babe Parade “Swims”
January 11th, 2016I can’t articulate what it is about bands from California they have this Sun-soaked sound that makes my east coast living heart happy.
It’s easy to name bands from California, just as easy it is to name bands from New York City. Still add Babe Parade to your Cali list with this deft entry:
Bowie: January 8, 1947 – January 10, 2016
January 11th, 2016Far too early and way too raw to begin articulating Bowie’s infectious value and courageous contributions. I dunno that anybody can: his life and his work defy orderly summary. He was and is a large stone thrown into planet Earth and the size of the ripple effect is staggering: I’ve always had affection for the weirdos.
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Tim Burton vs Edward Scissorhands
January 9th, 2016Following the success of Batman in 1990 Tim Burton began working on Edward Scissorhands…I’m reading Last Night at the Viper Room: River Phoenix and the Hollywood He Left Behind (no spoilers I don’t wanna know how the book ends) by Gavin Edwards.
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Illuminated Chronicles: Conan’s Ride Along Gang
January 8th, 2016Another classic Conan remote…though this one surpasses the cheerfully awkward Steven Yeun & Conan Visit A Korean Spa and the excellent Dave Franco & Conan Join Tinder: That one was my favourite until today…
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AKA Rocky 7: My Creed
January 7th, 2016Made the mistake of watching Rocky 7 aka Creed…so dumb: it’s Rocky’s Hilary Swank Karate Kid. (Least that had Michael Ironside).
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Celebrity Sex Tapes Award Season
January 6th, 2016Celebrity sex tapes should have an Academy Award category.
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Coming Soon…Summer 2016 Movies Status: Jan-June
January 5th, 2016So for the kids keeping score, based on all these recently issued trailers, the hype and the hustle…here’s where I stand with many of the upcoming 2016 movies from January to June (the nice Hollywood people are scrambling; blockbusters are released all over the place now, though January is still the black hole of death):
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Hidden Gem: Radiohead “Spectre”
January 4th, 2016Radiohead and James Bond…the game is afoot!
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No Permission Slip
January 2nd, 201610:55 A-Musings (2016)
January 1st, 2016Good times, good grief! I’m still trucking with these pithy observations…such as they are. Look you didn’t pay cover, so where’s the harm! Missed a 10:55 am observation posted via @mypalsammy never no worries I got you covered like a snuggie:
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Illuminated Chronicles: Kevin Smith…Why vs Why Not?
January 1st, 2016Kevin Smith…yeah, Kevin Smith: our generation’s Spalding Gray. He drops some fantastic and inspiring dimes in this video:
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That’s a Wrap 2015!
December 31st, 2015Smell Ya Later 2015! Let’s Get It On 2016: The Game Is Afoot!
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This Sad Kreskin End
December 31st, 2015Last Day Of The Year!
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Host Haiku In Session With…Tennyson King
December 10th, 2015As inspired by listening to Tennyson King’s Tennyson King EP
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RE: The Terminator Franchise…
December 9th, 2015Terminator is serviceable
T2 is formidable
Terminator 3 is despicable
Salvation is forgettable
Genisys was regrettable
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LL Cool App Love
November 27th, 2015LL Cool J is leaving a lot of money on the table by not creating an Around the Way Girl dating app to compete with Tinder:
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My Thanksgiving Services
November 26th, 2015Happy American Thanksgiving!
As a Canadian free from family obligations I am available this weekend for the following services:
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The Path of Patience
November 24th, 2015Anybody have any spare patience? I’ve run out of my mine…
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The Internet Is Forever
November 23rd, 2015Cleaning up my Evernote files and I found this…did I write this or did I cut and paste it from a comedian or something? Maybe a tv show? No idea:
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Host Haiku In Session With…Christina Martin
November 19th, 2015As inspired by listening to Christina Martin’s It’ll Be Alright
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Grafton X Rage
November 8th, 2015Angrily started one of the Summer books I’ve been impatiently awaiting. (Lotta issues wrapped up in that short statement!).
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Rainbow Puke
November 2nd, 2015Q: If one was to eat rotten Skittles…would that give you food poisoning?
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Automatonophobia
October 31st, 2015Cutting through the Eaton Centre I witness a retail clerk manhandling a mannequin. Roughly jerking her clothes down, gripping her swimsuit areas…the clerk is neither efficient or gentle.
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Gettin Infographic
October 15th, 2015Is there an accurate and helpful infographic between smoothly turning on channel 175 “The Fireplace Channel” for when she comes over and getting some?
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Mental Spring Cleaning #1: The Old System
October 5th, 2015If you grew up in the earth was flat paradigm era…you get to the edge of the sea and fall off or worse face monsters transitioning to the the earth is actually round is not easy much less smooth. That the day started out Sunny and now it is raining and requires an umbrella; that’s easy to adapt too. Unpacking/rejecting paradigms, spitting up kool-aid, facts from fiction…so much emotional and intellectual work. Yet I cannot continue to carry earth is flat ideas into my future. This is my mental spring cleaning…
***
Growing up——pre-internet, pre-social media——The Plan was to make an excellent living writing. Yes: despite the odds, maybe in spite of the odds.
Books at first then work my way into Hollywood and later Marvel Comics: The Plan was simple and fun. The ongoing fuel of this powerful trajectory was of course bestsellers: that’s how you make Big Money. The Stephen King way to fame, fortune, storytelling, Hollywood and comics. This was a viable plan with built in naps!
The Old School method to publish a book was to secure an agent who would then peddle your books and pimp your talents to publishers.
I didn’t like this system: I didn’t agree with it nor did it make sense.
You’re adding a middleman who is going to take a cut of your small pie. Financially this makes no sense. Even if you factor in how well an effective agent executes and is the reason I have a pie in the first place.
But first you had to work to get to an agent, some sort of nebulous qualifications of being published, marketable and I dunno what else. Same silly paradox as you can’t get a job without experience and you can’t get experience if you don’t get a job. Remember that one? So annoying!
Hustle to secure an agent or hustle for myself and spend that time marketing myself, writing, making contacts etc. I can’t do both; not well. It’s not easy to be drafted by the NBA but at least the path is clear as is the work and sacrifice involved.
Then finally when your agent gets you into a publisher the publisher may not be keen on supporting your book; you may be on the guest list and you can pass the velvet rope but don’t expect bottle service!
I’ve no issue marketing my book but a little help would be…well; helpful considering I’m marketing a book that’s the exact size and format of every other book in Borders/Chapters. What an idiotic system.
Why would I subject myself to that…to all that frustration and failure? And it’s not that I am special or I believe I am Steven Above The Law Seagal. Rather like high school calculus I wasn’t presented with a compelling reason to justify committing to this system. This all felt and came across like a “Because I said so!” parental command. (Also acceptable: “As long as you’re under my roof you’ll live by my rules!”)
12 publishers passed on Harry Potter. 12. 12 publishers who failed to spot talent…maybe they had a bad day or perhaps a wise editor recognized the value and pushed for it but was unsuccessful. These stories don’t inspire or deepen my confidence in The Old System.
It doesn’t matter how successful or rich Harry Potter became after finding a proper home it still had to endure The 12. I’m frustrated and I’m not submitting the book!
Today I’m using a blogging platform with a Publish button…how utterly cool is that! The desperation, the frustration of attracting attention…that made The Old System feel like a beauty pageant while not entirely eliminated is much reduced. Happily so. Uber hasn’t totally replaced cabs…it’s just another option along with public transportation. To have that many options now…to reach the destination is freshtastic.
It’s like clicking on Google maps…do you want to reach your destination by public transportation, walking, car? How do you want to get there. The Old System remains; even if the gatekeepers have far less influence and status.
I recognized I couldn’t embrace the future until I’d released the old way I was brought up. I had to let go of the earth is flat, there is only one way to get published. That freedom of thought, of business makes me so nimble. It’s incredible and intoxicating. This new perspective presents the future as a wide open expanse…like when you move into a brand new home and the future isn’t in the rooms. The rooms can feel so large yet full of potential: you can do anything, paint the walls any colour, arrange the furniture. Amazing.
I want to do more mental spring cleaning!
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Sammies
October 1st, 2015What are the qualifications to getting a sandwich named after you?
Read on…
Host Haiku In Session With…Head of The Herd
October 1st, 2015
As inspired by listening to Head of The Herd’s Birds on the Roof
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Host Haiku In Session With…RUN
October 1st, 2015As inspired by listening to RUN’s Music
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Birth Year Readings V
September 28th, 2015Round 5! I’ve no interest in a Fitbit so reading is pretty much the only aspect of my life I’m curious about tracking. Since September 28, 2011 I’ve read 199 books! Which is mildly impressive (“Hello Ladies!”)…and yet it doesn’t dent all that is constantly published, what else I’d like to consume and the dark and strange corners my curiosity pushes me into…asking better questions is far more fun than getting answers: I’m born in the wrong era I’d totally fit in on a Star Trek 5 year mission. Onward, forever forward I go.
To Recap:
Year 4: September 28, 2014 to September 27, 2015 I read:
360 comic books
56 books
100 comic book trades/graphic novels
Year 3: September 28, 2013 to September 27, 2014 I read:
442 comics
65 books
115 comic book trades/graphic novels
Year 2: September 28, 2012 to September 27, 2013 I read:
466 comics
43 books
100 comic book trades/graphic novels
Year 1: September 28, 2011 to September 27, 2012 I read:
486 comic books
35 books
99 comic book trades/graphic novels
And now…here’s where I’m at with Year 5:
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RE: Cognitive Surplus by Clay Shirky
September 12th, 2015Yes! From page 41 of Cognitive Surplus by Clay Shirky:
“Trentway-Wagar was arguing that because carpooling used to be inconvenient, it should always be inconvenient…Curiously, an organization that commits to helping society manage a problem also commits itself to the preservation of that same problem, as its institutional existence hinges on society’s continued need for its management. Bus companies provide a critical service—public transportation—but they also commit themselves, as Trentway-Wagar did, to fending off competition from alternative ways of moving people from one place to another.”
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Sequel Lust
September 9th, 2015We had our big nerdfest over the weekend…nerd b.o. and hot girls in cosplay. I’m sharing because this occurred during the Mr. Robot panel: Q&A moderator Jonathan Dekel brought up a text message he received from Pump Up the Volume director Allan Moyle asking Christian Slater if he’d be willing to play Hard Harry again.
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Movie: Sinatra: All Or Nothing At All
September 5th, 2015Spent the day dozing, reading comics and consuming Sinatra: All Or Nothing At All a 4 hour HBO retrospective on the man and the legend.
What a life. Dude needed a 4 hour doc because he defied the typical celebrity reduction. Whenever a celebrity passes away they get reduced to this one movie or these handful of songs. Not Frank Sinatra.
As a musician and Artist he basically issued concept albums. He recognized the contributions blacks had made to popular music.
Sinatra rejected the status quo…he believed bigotry was a disease. Try speaking out against that in the 50s. And didn’t just hang out with Sammy…Miles Davis, Belenfote and others. That’s like Entourage history!
He created Reprise records where Artists could keep their own masters: astonishing business idea.
He mashed Lauren Bacall, Ava Gardner etc. (granted some of that was while he was married so he loses some points for being a crappy husband still you gotta admire his taste).
Yet the aspect I find the most utterly fascinating…he was on his own! Sinatra became popular in the late 40s, as the depression and World War II were ending. Who was popular at the time…Glen Miller? You think kids had Glen Miller posters on their wall?!
Youth culture didn’t properly flourish until the 1950s that post-war boom where suddenly everybody had money and Happy Days. So Sinatra basically had nobody on his walls, he had no guides no idea how this would all turn out or what his fame would be like.
He got famous…without a Sherpa. Now that is inspirational.
Greatest Of All Time. We don’t have celebrities like Frank Sinatra anymore…overflowing with talent; thoroughly uncompromising: fashioning a legacy not just a career and some worthless tweets. Just because the times change doesn’t mean we hafta as well.
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Listen to Girth Radio @ W • T • F
Be Curious
September 4th, 2015
Shepard Fairey Obey Toronto
August 30th, 2015Slapped onto the back of the Gladstone Hotel is an inspiring message from Shepard Fairey:
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My Summer Lair featuring Jerome Skeete & Philip Leung (Hum)
August 22nd, 2015My Summer Lair featuring Sherren Lee (Benjamin)
August 20th, 2015Host Haiku In Session With…Junia
August 20th, 2015As inspired by listening to Junia’s My Favourite People
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Host Haiku In Session With…The New Electric
August 13th, 2015As inspired by listening to The New Electric’s Music
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Host Haiku In Session With…Brews Willis
August 6th, 2015As inspired by listening to Brews Willis’ Party’s Over
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Sonic Bastards
August 5th, 2015I wonder what happened to the Papa Don’t Preach Kid…
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Host Haiku In Session With…Look Vibrant
July 23rd, 2015As inspired by listening to Look Vibrant’s Music
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This Amazing Alan Moore Quote
July 19th, 2015I never know how I find stuff online or where I mentally wander about…often online it seems like I’m just window shopping.
Anyways I stumbled onto this cool Alan Moore interview which ofters this outstanding insight…100% YES!
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The Sound of 80s Love
July 19th, 2015When you play the following ballads in this order I Want To Know What Love Is, Waiting for a Girl Like You, Hello, Lady In Red, Careless Whisper, Keep On Lovin’ You they actually form 1 connected 80s love story like the Marvel movies.
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Host Haiku In Session With…Five Alarm Funk
July 14th, 2015
As inspired by listening to Five Alarm Funk’s Abandon Earth
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Last Night’s Dream…
July 13th, 2015Not sure what I ate right before bed…skipped my customary cereal (currently Honeycomb) still I had a dream Julia Roberts and I went on a road trip. I dunno how to interpret something like that…I ain’t a fan: it’s Closer and Notting Hill from her and that’s that…not even Pretty Woman.
A Streetcar Named Desire…A Modern Romance
July 11th, 2015On the streetcar is a girl (kinda) standing in front of a boy, asking him to love her.
Behind me she says on the phone: “Chris I just saw somebody wearing a Keith Richards t-shirt and it just got me even more excited for the Stones concert. I can’t wait to experience this moment with you…will you come with me?”
Summer Commandments
July 11th, 2015These are the days of our youth, loaded with boldness blessed with fortune.
Celebrate all these endless days of Summer in peace, wonderment and ruckus!
Never look back, surge forward.
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Host Haiku In Session With…Daniel Wesley
July 9th, 2015As inspired by listening to Daniel Wesley’s I Am Your Man
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Host Haiku In Session With…Black Lips
July 9th, 2015As inspired by listening to Black Lips’ Underneath the Rainbow
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Seeing You Too
July 7th, 2015Last night at U2…the band pulled up out of the crowd Acrobat a local tribute band.
Host Haiku In Session With…Little Junior
July 2nd, 2015As inspired by listening to Little Junior’s Music
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Movie: Terminator Genisys
July 1st, 20151 short meeting, cigars are already done…then Terminator Genisys…I wanna see the Arnold vs Arnold fight. Better be balls to the wall ruckus.
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Documentary: R.E.M. By MTV
June 30th, 2015Watched this and I highly recommend it…God my heart aches, I miss R.E.M.
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RE: James Clarke talks digital and his new PepsiCo gig
June 29th, 2015Still trying to figure out how to build Girth Radio and engage corporations…the companies who can hand over money in a dollar sign sack. I’ll even take a pillowcase really…
My Final Confession
June 29th, 2015Confession: I haven’t watched the final Letterman episode. I will just…when I am ready. Had the same issue with R.E.M.’s final album…took months to finally get into it.
Host Haiku In Session With…Fiona Bevan
June 25th, 2015As inspired by listening to Fiona Bevan’s Talk to Strangers
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At Girth Radio
June 23rd, 2015Got my Coke…
Got my mic…
I can’t wait to get this Girth Radio Party started!
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My Summer Lair featuring Andrew Keen
June 23rd, 2015My Summer Lair Chapter #9: You know when you see a movie trailer and think: “Man that looks funny, I so gotta see that!” and you put on pants and go and…it’s not funny: it’s cancer serious or the movie is not what you expected. The trailer let you down…it lied to you.
Host Haiku In Session With…Ivory Hours
June 11th, 2015As inspired by listening to Ivory Hours’ Morning Light
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Hidden Gem: Coleman Hell “2 Heads”
June 1st, 2015One of the lovely ladies from Audio Blood turned me onto this outstanding song…that voice, that banjo and those claps: I dunno how but this works!
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Hidden Gem: Betty & Oswald “King of The Fools”
May 25th, 2015I met this band at a CMW BBQ: rather fittingly with a dancey groove that’s got more pep than an entire rally, the smooth Total Blender blending of a male voice with a female voice and sadness and sorrow that this delightful tune is shorter than Gary Coleman (too soon?).
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Host Haiku In Session With…Oh Land
May 21st, 2015
As inspired by listening to Oh Land’s Earth Sick
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Hidden Gem: The Ecstatics “Float”
May 18th, 2015Wow…just wow! This song is made for volume and fist pumping and high fives!
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Host Haiku In Session With…Twin Forks
May 14th, 2015As inspired by listening to Twin Forks’ Twin Forks
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Keys To The Future
May 13th, 2015As per my custom this morning I got off the subway a few stops earlier: I emerged outside to absorb some delicious Sunshine before being trapped indoors all day.
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Hidden Gem: Tom West “Easy, Love”
May 11th, 2015From the recent In Session With Girth…Tom West there’s something…sublime, easy about this song. Plus its connection to surfing instantly sparked many formidable images.
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Host Haiku In Session With…Demi Louise
May 7th, 2015
As inspired by listening to Demi Louise’s Songs From My Bedroom
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Hidden Gem: Garrison Starr feat. PJ Pacifico “Gin And Juice”
May 4th, 2015Ah yes, Snoop Dogg’s Gin and Juice, one of hip hop’s finest anthems. Sing it you know it:
“Rollin down the street, smokin endo, sippin on gin and juice / Laid back with my mind on my money and my money on my mind.” Yes Guy!
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Host Haiku In Session With…Tom West
May 3rd, 2015As inspired by listening to Tom West’s Oncoming Clouds
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Host Haiku In Session With…The Autumn Portrait
May 3rd, 2015As inspired by listening to The Autumn Portrait’s Tired Love
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Host Haiku In Session With…Marta Pacek
April 30th, 2015As inspired by listening to Marta Pacek’s Voodoo Dolls and False Alarms
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Host Haiku In Session With…Sarah Burton
April 30th, 2015As inspired by listening to Sarah Burton’s Make Your Own Bed
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Hidden Gem: Milo Greene “1957”
April 27th, 2015Yo, that’s just fresh music:
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Host Haiku In Session With…ACR
April 23rd, 2015As inspired by listening to The Addington County Revue’s The Addington County Revue EP
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Hidden Gem: Eytan and The Embassy “Everything Changes”
April 20th, 2015The tagline for the Everything Changes video is simple: 18 Costume Changes — 1 World Record — 0 Edits! Surreal.
Read on…
Host Haiku In Session With…Midday Swim
April 16th, 2015As inspired by listening to Midday Swim’s Midday Swim
Read on…
Hidden Gem: Perfume “Spending All My Time”
April 13th, 2015And now…for some Japanese pop!
Read on…
TV: Daredevil
April 10th, 2015I watched the first episode of Netflix’s Daredevil. Whew: they got lots of it right!
Read on…
Host Haiku In Session With…Sam Cash
April 9th, 2015As inspired by listening to Sam Cash’s Stand Together, Fall Together
Read on…
Hidden Gem: Wake Owl “Gold”
April 6th, 2015From Wake Owl’s outstaning Wild Country EP. The entire EP is a Hidden Gem however I’m gonna focus on Gold. Because it is.
Read on…
Host Haiku In Session With…Century Thief
April 2nd, 2015As inspired by listening to Century Thief’s Reverie
Read on…
Hidden Gem: Juliana’s Daughter “Baby, Come Back to Love”
March 30th, 2015This sweet song by Juliana’s Daughter appears in Episode #2 of Someone Not There web series: “Second Chance.”
Read on…
Sherlock’s Greatest Challenge
March 28th, 2015This Moffat quote is phenomenal:
Read on…
The Real NBA Season
March 27th, 2015Final NBA game of the season (for me). Tonight against the Lakers.
Read on…
Host Haiku In Session With…Whitney Rose
March 26th, 2015
As inspired by listening to Whitney Rose’s Heartbreaker of the Year
Read on…
Hidden Gem: Lemolo “Beautiful Night”
March 23rd, 2015Beautiful Night is classified as Dream Pop which in it’s own way…is a fantastic definition of love. When love is rolling along, when it’s good like food it’s dreamy, ethereal and as effervescent as a pop song.
Read on…
Host Haiku In Session With…Lydia Persaud
March 19th, 2015
As inspired by listening to Lydia Persaud’s Lost and Found EP
Read on…
Hidden Gem: Chelmsford “Elations”
March 16th, 2015You can see Chelmsford “play” in Someone Not There Episode #2: “Second Chance.”
Read on…
Hidden Gem: Declan O’Donovan “Where You Are”
March 9th, 2015It’s that voice…Declan O’Donovan sings each note coated in anguish…it’s clearly raining on his picnic:
Read on…
A Star Wars Tourist
March 7th, 2015My Comic Book Dealer tossed in Darth Vader #1 and #2 into the monthly mix since I enjoyed Jason Aaron’s Star Wars. Sigh. On it goes…
Read on…
Host Haiku In Session With…LYON
March 5th, 2015As inspired by listening to LYON’s Music
Read on…
Hidden Gem: Joey O’Neil “Play Dumb”
March 2nd, 2015Fun Fact: Joey O’Neil can play…wait for it…the kazoo! Kazoos are cool (#KazoosAreCool). Why she isn’t at the top of the Billboard charts with an ability like that remains one of life’s mysteries, akin to what’s in your Taco Bell taco. (Better not to ask…)
Host Haiku In Session With…K.I.D
February 26th, 2015As inspired by listening to K.I.D’s K.I.D (Kids In Despair) – EP
Read on…
Hidden Gem: Freedom Or Death “This Crowded Room”
February 23rd, 2015Still getting personal with the Someone Not There soundtrack, this time Episode #4 “Best Friends.” (You know, I’ve haven’t had a proper best friend, like a proper together taking selfie BFF. Is that strange or normal or hopefully both?)
Read on…
Smell Ya Later!
February 23rd, 2015Prologue:
This tale occurred in June 2006 while I was working at a University. You see every graduation, would be held on immaculate grass, with ice cream sandwiches for the happy educated families following the diploma ceremony. Not one to let a sweet Summer day pass–especially with free ice cream, yo–I’d leave my desk to join the festivities. Hey your company has perks these were my perks.
Host Haiku In Session With…Robyn Dell’Unto
February 19th, 2015As inspired by listening to Robyn Dell’Unto’s Little Lines
Read on…
Hidden Gem: Young Beautiful In A Hurry “Flirting with Disaster”
February 16th, 2015Young Beautiful In A Hurry have a spectacularly solid track on the Defiance soundtrack. (I’ve never watched the show…or Fallen Skies either of them any good?) Feed your ears some yummy sonic candy…
Read on…
Illuminated Chronicles: Drake ~ Jungle
February 13th, 2015Drake’s short film, Jungle, is now online…directed by Swiss newcomer Karim Huu Do and scored by Drake’s regular producer, 40. Clearly the best way to influence your mythology is clearly to create it:
Read on…
Host Haiku In Session With…Jerry Leger
February 12th, 2015As inspired by listening to Jerry Leger’s Early Riser
Read on…
The Girth Radio Mystery
February 11th, 2015My latest (and greatest?) adventure? What kind of adventure you ask? Driving around in a van solving mysteries perhaps? (I wish! Does anybody do that anymore…)
I’m running a radio station actually: Girth Radio!
Read on…
Outta Compton & Outta Documentaries
February 10th, 2015Busy hip hop day…we got the Straight Outta Compton trailer…the N.W.A biopic and news that 2 Live Crew have reunited. Wonder if the tour is called as Old as They Wanna Be. #RimShot
Read on…
Hidden Gem: Larra Skye “Neverending Nostalgia”
February 9th, 2015Ah yes…Neverending Nostalgia, anybody whose lived in the 80s knows what this feeling is like. Acid washed jeans and Choose Life t-shirts aside, Neverending Nostalgia is totally ideal for the Someone Not There web series.
Read on…
Host Haiku In Session With…HotKid
February 5th, 2015As inspired by listening to HotKid’s Music
Read on…
Hidden Gem: Nicole Simone “A Well Kept Secret”
February 2nd, 2015Continuing spelunking the spirited Someone Not There web series Episode #1 “The Launch” closes with this emotive sonic elegy, formerly by Late July.
Fittingly concluding Episode 1, we leave Roland and E friends for certain lovers perhaps stuck in vulnerability. It’s so strange how we can know someone so well and yet be fearful to voice the desires of our heart. Secrets draw power from being in the dark.
That’s their plight and tomorrow when Episode 2 airs you can see where they’re at.
For now…it’s A Well Kept Secret:
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Listen to My Summer Lair @ W • T • F
Host Haiku In Session With…CAIRO
January 29th, 2015As inspired by listening to CAIRO’s A History of Reasons
Read on…
Hidden Gem: Juliana’s Daughter “In Which She Melts”
January 26th, 2015From Someone Not There web series Episode #1 “The Launch” comes this spectacular track by Juliana’s Daughter.
Such a treat to be able to include in the web series soundtrack (thank you Janice!!). Listen to that chorus: “I melt like butter around you / And my heart’s aflutter around you.” Shucks. That’s a mixtape special.
As gentle and as effortless as clouds, In Which She Melts instantly creates a beachhead on the shores of your heart: capturing it not with force but with a distinct and noble peace. Hyperbole? Or earnest joy?
That’s up to you:
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Listen to My Summer Lair @ W • T • F
Host Haiku In Session With…The Lovelocks
January 22nd, 2015As inspired by listening to The Lovelocks The Lovelocks – EP
Read on…
Hidden Gem: David Newbould “Lucinda”
January 19th, 2015One of the funnest aspects of being one of Girth Radio’s curators is uncovering hidden gems. We honestly need an honest infographic for how much music is being made and how much is not being discovered. It’s as criminal as a Batman villain.
Reading is FUNdamental…The Unwritten Volume 9: The Unwritten Fables
January 14th, 2015How does Mike Carey & Peter Gross’ Unwritten keep the quality so high and yet delightfully complex with every trade? Magic? Voodoo? Talent?
Unwritten is the Scotch of comic books…it’ll just improve with age. Crazy how good and smart this series is, panel for panel. I dunno how people read Unwritten monthly. I “need” the trades to absorb all the depth of the story, it’s so dense. (Morning Glories another excellent dense comic book series is the same…way too dense for monthlys!)
Read on…
Hidden Gem: Shawn William Clarke “Sunday Quiet”
January 12th, 2015Here’s all you need to know about the following Hidden Gem:
Read on…
Hidden Gem: Lorde “Team”
January 5th, 2015Let’s get down to business, because business is good.
This track from Lorde, Gaga’s current single Do What U Want, few other singles floating on cyber space clouds are ouija board channelling the 80s. See business is good. For such a maligned, parodied and ridiculed decade it’s influence on our current Arts and Crafts is splendid. These days all I want to do is dance.
10:55 A-Musings (2015)
January 1st, 2015I figure things out by doing; I’d rather figure out how to swim by jumping into the pool. Like every strategy that comes with advantages and disadvantages. It does mean I work more slowly.
Talking with an Artist recently the penny dropped…I never went to art school; clearly…when I draw something I still have to explain what it is like a small child: it’s a turtle. What do you mean turtles aren’t purple?!
Read on…
The Imitation Game
January 1st, 2015As per tradition I went to check out a movie on January 1st. This is probably the last time I do that. January 1st used to be still life like an ancient painting. Everybody was out. Rude! It’s a byproduct of the 24/7 capitalist lifestyle: what we’ve reaped from sowing. Sigh. One tradition ends, another begins?
May We 2015 Well…
December 31st, 2014So 2015…
Read on…
Our December Sun…
December 1st, 2014December is National How The Hell Did We Get Here? Month.
Read on…
How To Say Good-Bye on Facebook
November 30th, 2014So Strange: on Facebook I have 2 dead friends. And every so often somebody will write on their walls and they’ll appear in my feed.
It’s startling. It’s like you’re back…and I just got used to our silence. In between all this Facebook life of babies, relationships beginning and ending, memes and cutting edge sarcasm creeps this unsettling subtle death.
Shoulda Seen It Coming…
November 7th, 2014Know what scares me?
Read on…
Canadian Satan
October 31st, 2014Friend of mine recently became a Canadian citizen. He had to master that whole thing…learn about the history, how a bill becomes a law, the divinity of maple syrup etc. All useful information required to be an effective Canadian.
Read on…
Host Haiku In Session With…Turbo Street Funk
October 23rd, 2014As inspired by listening to Turbo Street Funk’s To The Street
Read on…
I Was Predestined To See Predestination
October 22nd, 2014So last night I saw a super cool MESSED up movie. My friend J Rock and I hashed out the end…we think we understood how it ended…or do we?
Read on…
Kobe & I Have Contradictions In Common
October 21st, 2014This ESPN Kobe Article:
Read on…
Racism Feels Like…
October 21st, 2014You ever been dumped and a friend foolishly tries to convince you that you have worth and you’re utterly special?
Read on…
Sonic Highways First Impression
October 18th, 2014So Sonic Highways…that new Foo show on HBO? Skipped my usual Saturday morning cartoons and fired that up instead.
2 things:
Read on…
Happy Turkey Day (In Canada)
October 13th, 2014Happy Turkey Day: I’m grateful for all the conventional jazz: my health, family, that I don’t live in a refrigerator box etc. Those don’t need a special day, s’kinda like Valentine’s Day nonsense: if you ain’t putting in daily time at the gym you ain’t gonna be healthy.
Read on…
Birth Year Readings IV
September 28th, 2014Round 4! Since I’ve started tracking most of what I read I find it fascinating: I might be the only one. Heh…So Be It. Some adventures are smaller than others. In Round 3 I hit my one and only goal: more than 52 books in 1 year. I’m satisfied now, not sure that I could top that or keep going at that intense level: I’ve Been to the Mountaintop!
To Recap:
Season 3: September 28, 2013 to September 27, 2014 I read:
442 comics
65 books
115 comic book trades/graphic novels
Season 2: September 28, 2012 to September 27, 2013 I read:
466 comics
43 books
100 comic book trades
Season 1: September 28, 2011 to September 27, 2012 I read:
486 comic books
35 books
99 comic book trades
Currently I am reading:
Read on…
Host Haiku In Session With…Piper Hayes
September 24th, 2014As inspired by listening to Piper Hayes’s Ain’t Nothin’ Like
Read on…
The Samuel L. Jackson Memo
September 13th, 2014Saw Big Game today! Samuel L. Jackson in a Finland/UK production. Kinda odd but overall it worked.
Read on…
My Summer Lair featuring Pat Mills
September 9th, 2014How To Crash TIFF Parties
September 5th, 2014Alright look if you want to get into Film Festival parties/events etc. the weakest point of security is smokers.
Read on…
My Nerd Adventures
August 31st, 2014At Nerd-Fest! So much good times!
Read on…
That Time I Met Batgirl
August 30th, 2014At the nerdfest…trying to figure out the map so I can visit a friend’s booth. This little girl totally decked out as Batgirl slides next to me…”Hi! I’m Batgirl.”
Read on…
She’s A Pro (S’not What You Think…)
August 29th, 2014Comic Con To English…
Read on…
Started Sherlock…
August 17th, 2014Ok so I just sat down with 2 falafel sangwiches and fired up Sherlock.
Read on…
My Summer Lair featuring Owen Craig of Panel Culture
August 12th, 2014My Summer Lair Chapter #3: Owen Craig is 1 of 3 Panel Culture hosts…a Toronto podcast that “brings you the latest comics news and reviews.”
Finished X-Files
August 4th, 2014On a dark and cold January evening, the 10th…I started re-watching X-Files. And I just finished. 9 Seasons or 202 episodes. Plus 1 feature film. Whew. What a long ruckus filled journey.
Read on…
Go Guardians of the Galaxy!
August 1st, 2014Going to Guardians of the Galaxy this weekend? Go, you’ll have all kinds of clothes on fun. But!!!
Read on…
My Summer Lair featuring Dan Page
July 29th, 2014My Summer Lair Chapter #2: Dan Page is the Director, Programming and Content Acquisitions at TELUS. Trying getting all that on a business card. He flew to LA to screen over 40 TV pilots in 6 days.
Extreme couch potatoing!
My Summer Lair featuring Lucas Siegel of Newsarama
July 22nd, 2014My Summer Lair Chapter #1: Face Front True Believers…
Host Haiku In Session With…Young Doctors In Love
July 21st, 2014As inspired by listening to Young Doctors In Love’s World’s Greatest Rock and Roll Band
Read on…
Mind The Gap: On The Quest for Love & Conversation
July 12th, 2014What’s the evolution of the interview? The conversation?
What’s the next iteration in how we celebrate, authenticate, legitimatize and authorize our favourite Cultural Contributors?
The…Joker?
July 6th, 2014So late last night, near Queen St. I ran into the Joker…60s Batman tv show Joker. Purple coat tales and all. It was a solid effort.
Read on…
Canadian Patriotism
July 4th, 2014To all my Americans…
Read on…
Host Haiku In Session With…Shawn William Clarke
July 2nd, 2014
As inspired by listening to Shawn William Clarke’s William
Read on…
Father’s Day
June 15th, 2014August 2001…first time I visited London.
Read on…
Happy National Doomed Day
June 13th, 2014Happy Friday the 13th!
Let’s celebrate our endless invincible youth by camping at Crystal Lake with big boobed blondes while enjoying unwieldy premarital sex in the woods and smoking copious amounts of weed. What’s the worst that can happen…right guys?
The Admiral’s Neighbourhood
May 31st, 2014Caught the end of this, I dunno what special on NBA TV. They had amazing footage of David Robinson.
Read on…
Goodbye Maya Angelou
May 28th, 2014Awww man. I didn’t grow up with grandparents so I let people like Maya Angelou adopt me. That sucks.
Read on…
Ops Tea
May 15th, 2014Had a short business meeting in Starbucks; they had ads all over the store for Oprah Chai Tea.
Read on…
this is what it sounds like…
May 14th, 2014We used to gaze up at the stars with awe and wonder….
We struggled to reach the moon and paid in full the high cost to befriend the cosmos.
Read on…
Moms, Mothers
May 11th, 2014It’s utterly fantastic that we have a day to pause and reflect on the extraordinary strong and beautiful women in our lives.
The first person we ever meet and the only person in our lives who ends conversations with “because I said so.”
Read on…
Hire & Fire
April 26th, 2014So this is exciting…my company NewMusic Ten is growing and I get to hire some new faces. Only…I’ve never hired anybody before. The talented people I work with are all Super Friends. So this is the first time I have to like, post the job, read resumes and do, like job interviews. And so far, this entire process is utter bullshit.
Read on…
NBA Playoffs 2014!
April 18th, 2014Tonight is my Christmas Eve as I eagerly await the start of the 2014 NBA Playoffs.
Read on…
Model Dreams
April 10th, 2014Sweet moment on the streetcar:
Read on…
Hip Hop Proverbs #13
April 7th, 2014According to Rihanna the parking lot is a metaphor for friendship. It’s in the parking lot that we search for our car and where we yearn for love and friendship. Knowing what you want is only the first step–of many–towards achievement. In the parking lot of life Rihanna has your back:
Read on…
Google Jokes
April 1st, 2014Considering Google’s penchant for April Fools jokes, I’m disappointed that today of all days Google Maps won’t divulge the location of Paradise City where, I’m told, the grass is green and the girls are pretty.
Read on…
Hip Hop Proverbs #11
March 24th, 2014Challenges can be intimidating but it’s only because we don’t have perspective. Climbing a hill isn’t a big deal when it’s next to a mountain, right? Next time you’re faced with a challenge, never no worries, today’s Hip Hop Proverb offers you the inspiring perspective to get’er done.
Read on…
Hip Hop Proverbs #10
March 17th, 2014Great advice is timeless. Carpe Diem for the Urban Jet Set via this timeless Hip Hop Proverb:
Read on…
Someone Not There Episode #4: Video
March 12th, 2014Confession: I’ve never understood binge watching.
We’ve entered into this newfangled era of pop culture where it’s become essential to absorb tv shows as rapidly as possible. A sort of Millennium Falcon hyperdrive version of keeping up the Joneses. Netflix is adding new stresses to relationships, when one partner brazenly jumps ahead in a series, leaving the other behind. It’s all too hectic and the antithesis of entertainment.
Work is, understandably a valid source of stress, tv watching should be a shelter from that stress. A moment of No Pants Time. (Neil Postman would probably disagree but he’s not around so let’s just go with that belief).
Hence I applaud the courage of the Someone Not There Team for releasing each of the 5 episodes weekly. It gives the fortunate viewers time, you can chill in that world properly. Anybody who’s been a tourist knows how awful it feels to rush through all the major sites. To be able to breathe and lounge is a rare luxury. And like being a tourist, you eventually have to go home, every trip no matter how funtastic comes to its appointed end.
Someone Not There is also coming to its appointed end…Episode #5 drops this Friday at 1pm. And what will happen to E and Roland…Brad who through all of this remains dreamy will be revealed like a magician’s trick. Ta-Da!
It’s been a special journey, assembling the soundtrack, connecting with viewers, working with the Someone Not There Team. And who knows…Episode #5 may not be the end. If comic books have taught us one thing, it’s that death isn’t final, it’s just a phase.
For now…you can prepare for #5 by watching #4, the beginning of the end:
See you Friday at 1pm!
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Hip Hop Proverbs #9
March 10th, 2014Abracadabra: just let this Hip Hop Proverb work its Magic…
Read on…
Hip Hop Proverbs #8
February 24th, 2014Of course constructive criticism isn’t always appreciated and yet, hindsight reveals a profound Hip Hop Proverb…truth:
Read on…
Hip Hop Proverbs #7
February 17th, 2014Existential questions include: Who Am I? Why do I feel so alone in this world? And…what does this Hip Hop Proverb even mean?
Read on…
RE: U2 “Invisible” (RED) Edit Version
February 14th, 2014You pay attention when Mark Romanek issues a new music video.
This is the mad-visionary behind Cash’s “Hurt” video. And of course Jay-Z’s stark “99 Problems,” and the Thunderdome styled “Are You Gonna Go My Way” by Lenny Kravitz. (Shame he’s not worked with Bowie often, just imagine what those 2 brainiacs could cook up!).
Mark Romanek knows how to forge engaging music videos (which makes his feature film work so utterly disappointing, it’s charged with being boring, one of the more grievous Artistic sins to commit). Happily Mark is back in the Director’s Chair with U2’s Invisible. (An edited version of which aired during ye old Super Bowl).
Smartly and simply designed the illuminated countdown kicks off the sonic party. Smoothly rolling into a black and white light show bathing an intimate U2 gathering. Maybe it’s because I’m immature and still attracted to shiny objects but the projected firework sparks draw my eye. That just looks…warm. And inviting, like a fireplace at a cabin.
I dig the ending: what should have been a simple rock band video shot in a Santa Monica airport hangar, Mark gives voice to the crowd who chant: “There is no them, there’s only us.” A kind of a reverse Occupy gathering.
Nice. Well done Mr. Romanek.
Pop Culture Tangent: Cash’s Hurt video was like, the last time we all agreed on something…like everybody: critics, fans, casual observers…we could point to that visceral video and admit: that’s fresh. Cash’s Hurt works because it’s a bonfire of images, we watch his iconic life goes up in flames. U2 also have an empire of images and depending on how their story ends…they too have a Hurt slash bonfire of images video in them.
They’re one of the few bands that could pull off a final bonfire poignant video. Radiohead, Dylan, Stones maybe. If Romanek is not available for the end of U2 then hopefully there will be an enterprising and engaging director so that we can gather together around the YouTube and watch it all burn. Together.
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My RoboCop Elevator Pitch
February 6th, 2014Granted we’re stuck with this RoboCop remake, sure but that doesn’t mean the sequels have to suck right?
Read on…
Illuminated Chronicles: Someone Not There
February 5th, 2014Below is a trailer for the new web series Someone Not There. I’m amazed at the invitations I receive to collaborate and create. Those I happily and instantly RSVP.
My designing pal, DC arranged a meeting with the director/creator Sherren Lee. Over a bowl of tea we got into what she had planned for the web series, her enthusiasm totally contagious. That tea talk culminated in an offer…if I could help put together the soundtrack for Someone Not There. Yo…crazy. Once again kids, the moral of the story is tea.
Working with Sherren and producer Elizabeth May has been good times, which helped balanced the challenge of getting our song wishlist jig saw puzzled into the series. More on that to come!
Someone Not There will air, Valentine’s Day (February 14, come on man!) at 1pm.
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Hip Hop Proverbs #5
February 3rd, 2014I know, it’s Monday. Last thing you’re thinking is Carpe Diem. Well MC Hammer disagrees, with all the fervor of a “stay in school special” he offers this rousing Hip Hop Proverb:
Read on…
“Slipped In The Shower…”
February 1st, 2014On January 22, 2014 I witnessed a fateful television vision:
I am gonna bite the bullet and start X-Files soon. 9 seasons! And 2 movies. Whew. I’m wrapping up Star Trek: Next Gen soon. (Next Gen is dated, for sure but still lots of fun. I wish they’d done more with Lore and his army of unhived Borgs.)
Read on…
California Sunshine
January 31st, 2014
Fresh Fridays: Wordburglar “Croque Monsieur”
January 31st, 2014From the NewMusic Ten Archives…a Fresh Friday with Wordburglar:
Read on…
Illuminated Chronicles: The Year Of Pharrell
January 29th, 20142014 continues to heat up like Jiffy Pop with music related documentaries!
Read on…
Hip Hop Proverbs #4
January 27th, 2014The Hip Hop Proverb version of What to Expect When You’re Expecting, Gold Digger edition:
Photo: Warhol “Campbell’s Soup Cans”
January 24th, 2014
Lies, Limits, Prestige & Publishing
January 22nd, 2014Ah yes, this is it! Page 36 of Gladwell’s David and Goliath he writes:
“We spend a lot of time thinking about the ways that prestige and resources and belonging to elite institutions make us better off. We don’t spend enough time thinking about the ways in which those kinds of material advantages limit our options.”
YES! YES! YES!
Hip Hop Proverbs #3
January 20th, 2014And to think this whole time you were taking fashion cues from Vogue and GQ, turns out all you required was this honest Hip Hop Proverb (sing the rest if you know it and I know you know it):
Internet Freedom Day Gratitude
January 16th, 2014On January 18, 2012 the Internet went on strike to protest SOPA and PIPA.
I’m so grateful they did.
Read on…
Harry’s Magic
January 14th, 2014
A signal, a cue
Harry
we wait for you.
Tricks tried and true
objects outta the blue.
Howz he do
what he does do?
Slight of hand
A wisp of light
Disappearance.
Reappearance.
An ink black cape,
Death’s escape.
He continues to amaze
in a dark magic haze.
My eyes a glitter
mind a flutter
Harry’s done it once again.
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Hip Hop Proverbs #2
January 13th, 2014Ironically today’s Hip Hop Proverb comes from Jay-Z’s Public Service Announcement:
Quantum Leap: Season 1
January 11th, 2014On January 2nd, 2014…a proper way to embrace a new year with a time travelling tv show from from the early 90s! Channel 293 Dejaview TV started their Quantum Leap marathon. I fired up the VCR. And the kettle for a spot of tea.
Read on…
Damn The Fridge: A Scribble Manifesto
January 10th, 2014Say goodbye to Artistic Freedom.
Soon as you hit Grade 2 your turtle had better damn well look like a turtle, not this scribble crap that you have to interpret for well meaning but dense adults. If somebody says “Turtles are not pink and blue!” you don’t need them in your life. You can find new parents: celebrities adopt children all the time!
Scribbles don’t earn the fridge anymore, that’s how they put you on notice. They call it growing up but you can call it what it is: the game has changed.
Fight the shame of not making the fridge!
You don’t need the fridge, your scribbles are great because it’s your Art. If you make your Art authentically and openly you don’t need the fridge, the fridge is for suckers! It’s a trap like 9 to 5 jobs, McDonalds and reality tv. So yes your turtle can be pink and blue. Your scribble doesn’t even have to look like a turtle! Set yourself free. Don’t be institutionalized by fridge.
Burn the fridge down with all of its precious and colourful magnets and let your scribbles no matter how strange be enough. No. Matter. What.
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The Hard Work of Where I Work
January 9th, 2014So January 7th was my Office Anniversary.
Traditionally I’m not an anniversary type of guy, I’d much rather face the future then dwell in the past. Still milestones like birthdays and the end of a tv series do provide a pause and prompt reflection. What just happened? And where are my pants?
One Room, My Room: In my office I’ve recorded podcasts, had meetings, ate Wendy’s, daydreamed which lead to dozing, designed t-shirts, read comics which lead to dozing, listened to music, did lots of writing…which lead to dozing, muttered out loud and yes…even worked…whatever that means to you.
The Exhibit
January 8th, 2014
Said: “Come—Closer so you may see,
Prepare yourselves for The Sight:
It’ll affect how you’ll be,
And will give you quite a fright!
We are proud to present this
Hush now—Silence!—no more din.
The Sight is removed from bliss:
Get ready to see the Sin!
For the image prepare zeal:
Physically it will express
—quickly like a flashing eel—
Mentally, try to depress
What’s inside your mind pent:
Dread & terror of the scene
Forever from the moment.
Brace for the gross & obscene!
Incline & consume The Sight
That repeals & attracts…fright!”
The faded purple Curtain is raised—
the public gasps in shock and dismay:
The scene unfolding before them is too much—
for some to grasp—to comprehend.
The poet lay naked, huddled
and humiliated in the corner of his cage.
Gripped in a blaze of inspiration
his pen scrawls across the page
leaving behind moving poetic notions.
His hair is wild and the chains on
his wrists and ankles, rub him raw, drawing fresh blood.
He endures the suffering—only—by
knowing there will be a pause soon—soon
in another minute—a second more:
The Curtain will drop and it will
be over for the audience. But
the poet’s tale remains without end.
Forced in the grip of some unseen muse to write—
The Curtain hangs one final moment…
The poet retreats into himself further.
The Curtain drops—pause for the poet,
the spectators shudder as they recall
The Sight. As they are ushered to the
Next Exhibit they compare notes and
once again their attention is gained:
The audience leans in with eager
expectations for yet another
Exhibit on this strange and odd tour.
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My Office Anniversary
January 7th, 2014Today in 2008 a plucky writer decided to have a room of one’s own and signed a lease for an office near College Park.
I know, Hallmark doesn’t make cards for office anniversaries. And we’re all grateful for that, one less thing to celebrate. Still I figured I should pause and hip hop hooray my office: part Man Cave, part Bat Cave, All Room.
So then here are 6 utterly useless Fun Facts about my office:
Hip Hop Proverbs #1
January 6th, 2014An insightful Hip Hop Proverb from Bell Biv DeVoe to set the tone for your week!
4 Foods Worthy of Theme Songs
January 6th, 2014I wish certain foods had theme songs. That way you have something powerful to sing or even hum while you wait for them to get into your belly.
10:55 A-Musings (2014)
January 1st, 2014It’s been a month since I started sharing my 10:55 am pop culture amusings. Clearly I don’t have the Mother Teresa touch: I haven’t made the world a better place. Undaunted I press on, everyday at 10:55am via @mypalsammy:
Read on…
Smell Ya Later 2013
December 31st, 2013So that’s pretty much it for 2013. How was it?
Read on…
Tony & Angela
December 29th, 2013Just watched the Who’s The Boss? episode where Tony “accidentally” sees Angela naked. Still Holds Up. Unlike Growing Pains…
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My 3 John Hughes Marathon Observations
December 26th, 2013Hope Santa was good to all you beautiful people (even though let’s be honest, being on the naughty list is way more fun, better stories! Coal be damned). I’m pantslessly enjoying a John Hughes marathon (not really sure why, just kinda happened).
Read on…
Family Grudge Match
December 24th, 2013Back from Christmas dinner with my family. Good Times, I’m grateful.
Read on…
My 2 Types of People
December 14th, 2013I hang out with 2 types of people: Nerds and Civilians.
Fallback To Normal
December 12th, 2013You know how right before you drift into dreams this one profound definitive conclusion will suddenly reveal itself, kinda like the Invisible Man who as it turns out was there the whole time? Sometimes it feels like the Wonder Years Narrator only this time, you can hear his insights! (That sure would have saved Kevin and Winnie lots of heartache while also developing any number of fascinating paradoxes in the space–time continuum). That’s…an embarrassing amount of nerd references in just a couple of lines. Right, moving on then…
From The Mailbox: Q: “What drives you?”
December 7th, 2013Time to open the mailbox yet again!
Greg from Texas (where I’ve been assured everything is bigger) asked: “What drives you?”
Read on…
From The Mailbox: Q: “Have you stopped wearing women’s clothes?”
December 6th, 2013From The Mailbox…Lori wrote in to ask: “Have you stopped wearing women’s clothes?”
Read on…
A Cheater’s Declaration
December 6th, 2013With alarming frequency I can’t buy anything without being asked about that store’s loyalty program/card thingie or being offered some random way to collect points to redeem for more crap. Look…I’ma say this once to every single store: I cheat on all of you. Regularly and out in the open.
From The Mailbox: Q: “Why are Canadians so sexy?
December 5th, 2013Alright so Maria from Cincy has a question and a comment: “Why are Canadians so sexy? I think it’s all that flannel.”
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From The Mailbox: Q: “If you had lime in a coconut but couldn’t shake it all up, how upset would you be?”
December 5th, 2013Nicole wrote in to ask: “If you had lime in a coconut but couldn’t shake it all up, how upset would you be?”
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From The Mailbox: Q: “What Do You Want To Know?”
December 4th, 2013Hey! Is there something you wanna know about me?
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From The Mailbox: Q: “Do Egyptians walk like a Bangle?”
December 4th, 2013Alright to answer your questions…Mike P. axed me: “Do Egyptians walk like a Bangle?”
Read on…
Christmas Uncheer!
November 29th, 2013So far…so good: it’s November 29 and I haven’t encountered Do They Know It’s Christmas?…yet.
Read on…
RE: Your Thanksgiving
November 28th, 2013Happy Thanksgiving to you wacky Americans!!!
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You Are Capable.
November 27th, 2013You are capable of making art.
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Recommended Reading: Scarcity: Why Having Too Little Means So Much
November 26th, 2013Scarcity: Why Having Too Little Means So Much
By Sendhil Mullainathan & Eldar Shafir
Read on…
Freedom vs Gym Class
November 18th, 2013Remember that infamous book from years back All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten? Yeah well the truth is if we could all write a book together, Wikipedia style it’d be All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Gym Class. It’s Gym Class where you get saddled with inferior paradigms like Shirts vs Skins (really us vs them…I coulda gone for this had it been no pants vs pants, though), winners and losers etc. That’s great for sports because there are clearly defined rules and somebody’s keeping score…in the real world, it’s far to messy for such naive simplicity.
Better Than The Space Race
November 15th, 2013It’s that time of year where JFK shows up in all kinds of tv specials. I’m always struck by the Space Race…the quest for the Moon. Out of that whole race we got all kinds of technology and a Tom Hanks movie with pithy inspirations.
Read on…
Ramones Startup
November 11th, 2013When my startup makes embarrassing gobs of money-take that GNP of small African nations–every Monday morning, over the entire office’s PA I’ll bring in famous drummers to tap their sticks and count off a beat “1-2-3-4!” Ramones style like we’re all gonna launch into an epic tune brimming with seriously serious shredding and explosive pyro: this…this is the fun and only way to not only start the work week but it effectively banishes any case of the Mondays.
Read on…
We Need A Word For….#2
November 9th, 2013We Need A Word For…
Read on…
Steady Productivity
November 8th, 2013Does Jay-Z record a song every day?
Bowie has always been considered prolific: yet does he go to the studio every single day to bang out hits?
U2…Bruce Springsteen…you name any large band and they have the means to record. Doesn’t matter if it’s on a laptop in a hotel room or a professional recording studio. They have the means. Means is not the same as productivity.
Fireman have the means, though not necessarily always rescuing cats or putting out fires every single day. Do we pay them any less for fire-less days or issue poor performance reviews for just “sitting around?”
What about Spider-Man does he save New York City from Doc Ock every day? Batman rescues Gotham…actually ignore the Batman example. Arkham Asylum is a sieve…I dunno how they keep anybody there.
As I wrestle through productivity I’m seeing with fresh eyes just how absurd that notion of productivity is now. It doesn’t equate to Artistic output as I’m not making a product…I am not a factory. I don’t strive for productivity which sounds so lazy in a capitalist society.
It’s like being sweet on a girl and counting only proper dates as productivity. All the texts, emails and phone calls, sure while they propel and allow the relationship to build momentum yet those activities “don’t count” because nothing is “accomplished.” But dates…dates are metrics, it’s how we measure everything in relationships. “Don’t sleep with him on the first date.” “How many dates until or before…” well you can pick: have sex, move in together, meet his parents etc. How many dates until we are are a couple (going steady!)? The dating metrics of going steady.
Means without a system is not productivity. And I can live with that.
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Bowie On The Frontlines of Productivity
November 7th, 2013Yo!
How are your adventures? Mine are beyond fantastical.
It’s been one whole week into my Day Job sabbatical. And it’s just amazing. Freedom to think and tea and listen to music and not wear pants and nap and meet cool people and of course…work. Whatever that means.
It’s Not Over Until…
November 5th, 2013That song…you know how you have a favourite or an important song you just have to listen to the very end…to the very last note?
Alarm Clock Silence
November 2nd, 2013One of the first joys of being a freelancer after working so long for a company is…the ability to erase the alarm clock. Good-bye 6:30am. Snooze button you’re outta commission.
Read on…
Hellboy Reading
October 28th, 2013This morning I was reading a Hellboy trade and the intro was written by Guacamole del Toro. He talked about shooting Mimic in Toronto and when the set was rough going to Silver Snail comics and buying Hellboy. I fist pumped even though it was on the subway, that’s what I do too!
Read on…
Lou Reed: The Last of the Factory People
October 27th, 2013Today: Lou Reed, 71, passed away in Long Island, NY.
Sad news, sad to lose another of Warhol’s Factory People. What’s bizarre is I’m reading a Bowie biography (David Bowie: Starman by Paul Trynka) and of course before I heard this news I was reading the early 70s section…with Lou Reed. Iggy’s coming up soon. Crazy synchronicity.
Think it was Lou Reed on Inside The Actors Studio, I can’t find the clip online and the memory gets hazy with age.
Lou’s good friend Julian Schnabel tossing back a drink from a tumbler, sat beside him, both across from beardy James Lipton and they proceeded to share this strange story like an old married couple.
Think it was Schnabel’s dad who passed away, right there in the living room on an easy chair, an old man, natural causes. Schnabel called up Lou Reed who didn’t live far away, this is New York City, the term is relative and the rocker came over. And they both held the hands of Schnabel’s dad, the warmth fading rapidly. Quietly observing death, the moment…this man, a father. Shortly after that Schnabel broke the silence, saying he has to call an ambulance, Lou Reed sat on the couch to wait with his friend.
The story is so strange is stuck with me. Wish I could find the clip online. Anyways this is my favourite Lou Reed song, Perfect Day, great performance on Elvis Costello’s sublime tv show Spectacle:
N.E.R.D.
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The T-Shirt Won
October 22nd, 2013“By 2008, annual ties sales in the U.S. had dropped to $677.7 million dollars from a record high of $1.3 billion in 1995, according to market research firm NPD Group. And since 2009, the number of men who acquire more than one tie a year has slowly but steadily dropped, reported research group Packaged Facts.” {Source: Wall Street Journal}
Bloody hell can’t we just kill the tie already? Thanks to the tech industry the t-shirt won.
Easily at that.
Read on…
Thanksgiving 2013
October 14th, 2013Thanksgiving 2013:
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Brand vs Medium: David Bowie
October 9th, 2013
From the man who penned “we can be heroes,” prophecy more profound than an Amazing Kreskin clairvoyance comes this staggering insight:
“After a couple of false starts, he launched his first brand called…David Bowie.
Some time later, in a BBC interview, he rationalised what had been instinctive: “I thought, well here I am. I’m a bit sort of mixed up creatively.
“I’ve got all sorts of things going on, that I’m doing on stage or whatever. I’m not quite sure if I’m a mime or a songwriter or a singer – or do I want to go back to painting again. Why am I doing these things anyway? And I realised it was because I wanted to be well known, basically.
“And that I wanted to be thought of as someone who was very much a trendy person, rather than a trend. I didn’t want to be a trend, I wanted to be the instigator of new ideas. I wanted to turn people on to new ideas and new perspectives. And so I had to govern everything around that.
“So I pulled myself in, and decided to use the easiest medium to start off with – which was rock and roll – and to add bits and pieces to it over the years, so that by the end of it, I was my own medium. That’s why I do it, to become a medium.”
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Thank you for reading!
Work vs Hustle: Detroit An American Autopsy
October 7th, 2013“What our generation failed to learn was the nobility of work. An honest day’s labor. Instead of working, we figured we could be hustlers and salesmen and gamblers and partiers. Work was for suckers. If anybody had told us such a thing existed, we probably would have tired to become New York bankers and stockbrokers. And I have no doubt we would have been good at it too.” ~Charlie LeDuff {Detroit: An American Autopsy pages 32-33}
Read on…
Can’t Hold Down Gravity
October 4th, 2013Gravity is ridiculous. The force but especially the movie. I mean, come on man, Sandra Bullock as an astronaut? Really? NASA astronauts go through twenty months of training, if not more at Starfleet Academy.
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Search Engines From a Rich Person’s POV
September 30th, 2013The following statement can be attributed to Michael Petricone, senior vice president, government and regulatory affairs, Consumer Electronics Association, regarding a study released by the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA) purporting search engines aid in consumer infringement of online content:
“This is a Hollywood formula as familiar as a rom-com: Blame the technology instead of providing your customers with the experiences and products they want. Yesterday, it was the VCR and the MP3 player. Today, it’s search engines, Aereo and the Dish Hopper.
“Search engines don’t ‘introduce’ consumers to infringing content – most consumers simply want legal, conveniently accessed digital content at a reasonable price. Indeed, studies show that unauthorized downloading decreases as legal alternatives proliferate.
“Commercial piracy is wrong and illegal. Violators should be prosecuted under existing laws. But the answer is not restrictions on search engines or the ability of Internet users to access information.
“The fact is that today, due to the Internet, artists can create, distribute, and monetize more content more easily than ever before. Rather than assailing innovators, we urge the content community to work with the tech industry to provide new, exciting and authorized distribution platforms to consumers.”
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Birth Year Readings III
September 28th, 2013Saturday September 28, 2013 was my birthday.
Since my 2011 birthday I track, each birth year what I’ve been reading. Only comic books, comic book trades and books. If I tossed in blogs, magazines and cereal boxes this would be a horribly long and boring blog post.
So recently I wrapped Season 2 and now, sans drum roll here are the results…
Season 2: September 28, 2012 to September 27, 2013 I read:
466 comics(monthlys, annuals and one shots)
43 books (still mostly non-fiction but I’ve been rediscovering the novel)
100 comic book trades
And for fun…
Season 1: September 28, 2011 to September 27, 2012 I read:
486 comic books (monthlys and one shots)
35 books (non-fiction mostly)
99 comic book trades (dagnabbit, had I known I was so close I’d have pushed for 1 more)
Whew. Sad thing is, though that may seem like a lot of reading I am not even denting all that’s been written and all that’s been published. Combined this reading would barely stock a small book store. Madness.
Still undaunted I read on! Well, at least until Season 3 concludes on Sunday September 28, 2014.
Pretty Tea
September 26th, 2013Alright I’ma say it…sexism be damned. There’s comments below if you want to call me a pig. But it’s how I feel and I don’t care.
Read on…
Chilly Writing
September 23rd, 2013The copywriter for Body Rock a 1984 Lorenzo Lamas movie about break dancing is outstanding:
“Chilly is just a guy from the streets with a talent for break-dancing. When his wicked moves catch the eye of an industry pro, Chilly finds his dreams of fame and fortune coming true, for better or for worse.”
Read on…
Workplace Nipples
September 16th, 2013In the workplace one elephant in the room is nipples.
Nothing’s more disruptive to workflow then the sudden appearance of nipples. Dudes get distracted, dames seem embarrassed.
Read on…
Ben Affleck is not Batman
August 23rd, 2013No. No. No. Ben Affleck is not Batman. Not even close.
And no I absolutely refuse to drink the kool-aid that just because he made Argo we can now forgive him for decades of crap and swill. Argo doesn’t even come close to erasing his pretty IMDB waterfall of tripe. How does that even make sense?
Read on…
Theme Park Visionary
August 20th, 2013It’s typical to visit a theme park and ride rides thinly tied to popular movies. Transformers, Back to the Future etc. Boring: that’s played out!
I’d much rather parks ditch the obvious movie/rides and setup funner stuff…the stuff we secretly all want to do anyways.
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Stuck Or…The Time I Tried To Navigate Life Without a Compass…
August 6th, 2013Black and white thinking is the easy hot tub of those marred in despair. This isn’t that.
I simply can’t decide which is more important:
Where I’ve been or where I am going?
What I’ve done or what I will do?
Who I am or who I could become?
Understanding the experiences which have shaped me or controlling the experiences that will mold me?
The journey or the destination?
This or that or both?
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Picasso Baby Is Not A Love Child
August 5th, 2013On Wednesday July 10 a still hyphenated Jay-Z showed up at the Pace Gallery in Chelsea to rap Picasso Baby for 6 hours. (There’s a supa pretty lass who works at the Pace…can’t remember her name, now…though I suppose it’s more important to recall the Art and not the Beauty). The event was a hip hop Bat signal invitation for fans, friends and the famous to join in the fun, the final crucial element to make successful performance art.
Those 6 hours were reduced into an 11 minute polished cameo heavy clip collection video directed by Mark Romanek. Observe:
The Picasso Baby video begins and ends with an unexpected contradiction.
Packaged and sold as hip hop performance art clearly inspired by Marina Abramovic it’s the opening moments with Jay-Z sharing philosophical observations (similar to his recent Samssung ads…dude’s in a contemplative mood these days) and the final famous people cameo shots before the credits roll where Jay Z’s Picasso Baby generates currency.
(The middle…the actual performance art had already been heavily Vined and videoed by those present…I wonder why Jay bothered with a director and an editor when the public already captured the performance and documented the presence, similar to Beastie Boys’ Awesome; I Fuckin’ Shot That!).
Jay’s opening salvo was to engage the audience–“feel the energy of the people” via “the concert as performance art” yet this intimate and immediate connection was tempered by the predominantly celebrity cameos as it fades out.
It’s not the people, the fans who are celebrated and framed for their contributions to this performance art, rather the rich and famous.
The kid with the gold chain credited as Superhero, the Ballerina (who danced and entertained the crowd when the speakers blew) are some of the weakly presented stories in the video. New York City is filled with characters and art, the cool and the crazy…give them a platform and let em shine.
It would have been an honest and authentic New York City represent from a rapper who “made the Yankee hat more famous than a Yankee can.”
From the same rapper who in the same song said: “Eight million stories out there…” yet Jay missed an outstanding opportunity to document more than a sliver of some of those stories. You can’t love New York without loving New Yorkers. It’s the fans that make this work possible and it’s their backgrounds and their stories that make them fans.
From the start hip hop was fueled by block parties, not just the energy of the gathered but also by the commonality. Hip Hop became an experience that translated our story, our culture. Unlike rock it was a people’s medium and artistic expression, a whole new type of campfire for storytelling. Even now with our laser like focus ability to target on social media bands, writers, filmmakers and other creatives can’t effectively select their fans. They can however use these new platforms to share their stories so it’s less monologue and more dialogue. Listening is still communication.
Romanek offer 2 freshtastic shots: the first at 1:32 a close of up Jay’s hands behind his back, perhaps a nervous anticipation tell…the other at 6:04 where, the performance art is finished and suddenly Jay is surrounded by 6 burly guards in ominous grey suits.
It’s over.
Surrounded by guards Jay’s been sealed back into this rarefied status and elevated level, like a heroic action figure a nerd won’t remove from the box because it’ll lose value.
We’re back to standard art gallery etiquette: look but don’t touch the art.
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Compelling Neon Affirmation
August 1st, 2013
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Hunger…
July 26th, 2013We get together on Friday to plot, plan and to scheme.
It’s fascinating when people are on the same page, when it’s working, when we’ve all collectively and individually decided to move forward.
To recognize and give permission to move forward, to let and give others the freedom to do so as well.
Grow, not just in stature but in vision in desire and in hunger. Spark that fire deep in your bones, especially with the dawn of winter.
Choose now to not be satisfied but to long and reach for what could be quite unattainable. No more: the ol is it the destination or the journey quandary. Now it’s both!
Why not this time, with this group of people, why can’t we decide to make it both? Let’s make this road trip exciting right to the end. S’why road trip movies are so anticlimactic, once you get there, well that’s that. Now what? The momentum of the journey has been halted, the planing the scheming, the overcoming all and every obstacle to get here ceases almost immediately. Like when a band stops after a long hard tour and just…goes home.
This time…let’s keep going! Journey and Destination, we want both, let’s reach for both, we’re due. We’re owed. Right? Right…
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Reading is FUNdamental…The Unwritten Volume 7: The Wound
July 25th, 2013This weekend’s plans include going HAM on my To Read Pile…I still haven’t touched Joseph Anton Salman Rushdie’s on-the-run memoir or…and I’m so fired…Morning Glories Volume 4 which has been sitting on my desk for weeks now. No pants time badly needed.
(Similarly I can’t stand that forever-time between new comics and pants removal to begin reading. Proclivities aside I’m keeping this short, want to get my nose back into Unwritten Volume 7).
I’ve about 2 more issues to go in this equally impressive Unwritten trade. Previously I thought Ho Lee Chow…Unwritten Volume 6 was a phenomenal way to kick off 2013. So much delicious and nutritious ruckus. Now as I’ve gone deeper into Volume 7 my 2013 is flourishing and I’m convinced #MikeCareyIsBoss should be trending on twitter.
Stories…that’s the one of the thickest most common threads expertly connecting humanity across time and history. When we used to gather round the campfire now we huddle around the glow of a warm monitor.
Unwritten celebrates stories…an inspired exploration of what it means to be well read. There’s also vampires, an evil cabal, bizarre Harry Potter references, magic, comic books and more.
This is an incredibly astonishing series, a perpetual magic act that has me scratching my head trying to figure out how Mike Carey & Peter Gross pulled it off.
Want to treat yourself today? Alright have a pants-off nap but before you do…buy Unwritten Volume 1 (yes you need this in your life and on your bookshelf) and start on the sweetest part of every single story: Page 1.
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My Jeff Garlin Moment
July 24th, 2013So here’s the story. The lovely and talented Whitney Matheson is the writer and supreme pop cultural goddess of Pop Candy, a freshtastic blog at USA Today. Being that we’re modern folk she and I will talk via the magic of email and the wonder of twitter. Now I happened to be in the Big Apple at the same time as she was interviewing comedian and filmmaker Jeff Garlin…one of those fancy pants Apple store events. (You following? It’s basically like Inception I’m in the Apple store in the Big Apple).
You can read Whitney’s interview with the always full of mirth Jeff Garlin or…if you want to be all modern and hip cruise your Segway to iTunes and listen and watch the chat. Now…it’s at the 27:30 mark where–following his conversation with Whitney the audience got to grill Jeff–you’ll hear me ask Jeff: “What’s the difference between raw funny and like stand up funny?”
The question came outta a recent debate slash discussion with some comedian friends prior to jetting to NYC. Seemed rather fitting to inquire of a gent who is equally raw funny and also able to do the whole stand up bit thing. I really dug his answer which you know was going to be wise because he started with “Here’s the thing…”
Oh and yeah, once the event concluded I got to meet Jeff and finally Whitney…to sum: “Perfect teeth. Nice smell. A class act all the way.” (That evening was all kinds of Coming Up Milhouse: since I was in SoHo I shuffled my Jordans over to Rocket Joe’s a supa delicious pizza joint on Delancey. Like it was Cheers I strolled in just as they were pulling out a fresh bbq chicken pie outta the oven. Oh snap! Couldn’t get my bib on fast enough.)
Jeff Garlin and I (Sammy Younan)
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Eliot’s Future
July 22nd, 2013Keys in hand, left shoelace undone like so many previous schemes, gripping my jacket at the shoulders trying to get it properly on my thin frame, gotta go, gotta go, rush out lest I be late. Places to be people to see false purpose.
Affiliations: Game Shows
July 15th, 2013Some of my current and Game Show Affiliations:
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Share The Cool & Skip The Small
July 8th, 2013At the risk of being all grumpy cat on a Monday…today’s PSA is about small talk.
Read on…
Complain or Create: Can’t Do Both
June 22nd, 2013I am visual minority, granted a man but still not white. And I take my browness into creative industries typically dominated by white men. And I could care less.
Read on…
Game 7 Considerations
June 20th, 2013Game 7 of the NBA Finals is a sobering and humble reminder that everything in this life is the byproduct of several million seemingly insignificant small decisions:
Read on…
Man of Steel: My Kryptonite Confessions
June 13th, 2013On Friday June 14, 2013 the newest Superman movie opens: Man of Steel. At the risk of losing my nerd street cred I will not be viewing Man of Steel during its theatrical run. Here are my whys and my confessions.
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My American Life Quandary
June 11th, 2013I recently contacted a friend over at USA Today…I keep getting people asking me how to start on This American Life.
And I’ve never seen a handy “guide” to get people rollin.
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Thanks NSA!
June 10th, 2013Is there a way to convert all the data the NSA has collected spying on each of us into a helpful personalized app? If so that app should be called Thanks NSA.
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The One I Love
June 9th, 2013Feels like we start out, over Coke and other sweet pop believing in soul mates…The One. Course all the FM pop songs, happily ever after movie endings all help enforce that notion.
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Star Wrecked: Into Darkness We All Go
May 16th, 2013I wish the Westboro Church’s hate and protestingness could be harnessed for good. Like organizing an effective boycott against “Star Trek” 2 for failing to be cannon for example.
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The Pampers Big Baby Award Idea
March 28th, 2013Out of all the heavily branded awards and associations in the NBA I wish Pampers would sponsor a Big Baby Award.
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Charting Risk via Game Shows
March 26th, 2013Watching the Game Show Network last night (look it was Monday night, my choices were slimmer than Kate Moss). As a strange study not based on any sort of science or theory I wonder if you could chart the evolution of risk through game show contests.
Hype-Free Living
February 25th, 2013Today is one of the best days of 2013!
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Pink Nostalgia
February 10th, 2013Q: When it comes to nostalgia is there a difference among the genders ?
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In Case of Apocalypse… (Part II)
January 22nd, 2013In Case of Apocalypse… (Part I)
January 22nd, 2013My Honest Truth: whenever I board an airplane I suvey it’s length identifying all the emergency exits locations measured in distance from my seat. Then I evaluate the people sitting next to those emergency exits.
Can I trust that person? Will they panic? Or react swiftly and smartly? Hmmm he’s got breakfast burrito stains on his shirt, if the wings fall off this sucker I’m on my own. So Be It. See…I am Boy Scout prepared.
Look: we live in a world of impending doom. And the only way to successfully avoid succumbing to the fear and paranoia is to armed a game plan.
So in the event of the following Apocalypses I’ve devised a game plan.
The Great Movie Poll of 2013: Results!
January 9th, 2013Alright so The Great Movie Poll of 2013 has closed. The results are in!
The Great Movie Poll of 2013
January 8th, 2013New year, same old pressures.
At ye olde cinema next to my office I have a coupon expiring January 9 2013. Pressure’s on…I gotta see something tomorrow night (I can’t go tonight). None of them justify putting on pants so I need help…your help! (Clearly I’m desperate).
So, please help me:
This Is 40 Review
January 5th, 2013Made the tragic and awful mistake of seeing This is 40:
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10:55 A-Musings (2013)
January 3rd, 2013Chaos and mayhem, that’s what I provide now and at 10:55 am via @mypalsammy.
Actually…
Not entirely sure why…I tend to slow down during Christmas so maybe I started to see things “clearly.” Pop culture is funnier when you ignore the wizard and focus on the old man. If Toto could pull the curtain back on my pop culture thoughts as posted @mypalsammy at 10:55 am this is what’d he see:
Cheezy Thanks!
January 2nd, 2013Thanks to everyone who dropped by the bar known as my Facebook status box/visited this site…you beautiful people pulled up a chair, liked something, shared something, debated something and yes even thanks to the people who disagreed with me and throat punched me. Moral Courage, yo!
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But They Promised!
January 1st, 2013So…this is 2013, huh?
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Yo Joe! Drinking Game
December 27th, 2012So it’s almost 3am. For the last week or so…every day I’ve been watching G.I. Joe episodes on Teletoon Retro at 2:30am.
I try to see how many characters I can remember without looking it up online. I’ve been killing it…so sad. So much nonsense in my head.
Read on…
Christmas Validation: A Die Hard Life Lesson
December 25th, 2012Merry Christmas!
I watched Die Hard last night.
Read on…
Coming Soon…Summer 2013 Movies Status
December 11th, 2012So for the kids keeping score at home, based on all these recently issued trailers, here’s where I stand:
The Hope of Magic!
December 10th, 2012So…magic. I don’t often talk about magic but I’m a huge magic nerd…I watch all kinds of specials on tv, youtube, I go to as many shows as I can…it’s magic! (One of the reasons I adore NYC is they constantly have magic shows on…I don’t have to go to Vegas, you know? We have no magic in Toronto).
Read on…
On Being The Food Boyfriend
November 21st, 2012So in the office is a lovely brunette. And until recently her food boyfriend was a guy on the third floor.
Hello My Name Is Useless
November 14th, 2012So in talking to two contractors in NYC working on a brownstone I realized…how useless I am.
Read on…
My 2012 NBA Storylines
October 31st, 2012Happy NBA Season!
Tonight I’m going to my first game of the season, yeah! In my city the home team Raptors suck so I don’t expect greatness. Tonight’s game is against the Pacers, who I do expect big things.
(And…ack! I am going to the game even though, sigh George Romero is presenting a Night of the Living Dead screening. Had to make a choice!).
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Late Night Flicks
October 19th, 2012Ok my pal Stephanie and I were chatting (well, I was probably rambling like a hype alien abductee, meh semantics) about movies that should be on late night tv but are not. What do you got?
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Overheard at Indie Week 2012: Day 2
October 14th, 2012Overheard last night during Indie Week ruckus:
Dude on the phone: “So what happened with that emotionally unstable chick…you make out with her?” Pause…listening to his friend. “Oh. Well, did she cry the whole night?”
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Overheard at Indie Week 2012: Day 1
October 13th, 2012Overheard last night during Indie Week ruckus:
Leggy blonde: “I dunno what happened…I used to be so popular.” Boyfriend just shrugged, meh.
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Because Thursdays Are Garbage Day
October 7th, 2012I put regret on the curb today
because Thursday is Garbage Day.
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i miss…books as doorknobs
October 5th, 2012i miss…books as doorknobs:
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Birth Year Readings II
September 28th, 2012Friday September 28, 2012 was my birthday.
Not a particular milestone, another notch on the belt of time. Though one year ago I started Birth Year Readings…from birthday to birthday I was curious to see how much I read. I did not include all the various articles, blogs I tend to chew on, rather focusing on my three primary food groups: comics books (monthlys and one shots), books (like with no picture…novels to non-fiction) and comic book trades (collections anywhere from 4 issues to 10 or more).
And it turned out to be a crazy experiment.
From September 28, 2011 to September 27, 2012 I read:
486 comic books (monthlys and one shots)
35 books (non-fiction mostly)
99 comic book trades (dagnabbit, had I known I was so close I’d have pushed for 1 more)
Nuty nuts that is. Still let’s do it all over again and see how much I complete by Friday September 27, 2013.
The Birds: Learn To Look Up
September 11th, 2012Obviously Birds don’t keep calendars like us hectic humans do instead they sense shifting seasons and take appropriate action.
They have mastered a skill we haven’t possessed for generations: the ability to read the sky. We hardly ever look up.
And though Birds don’t mark occasions like birthdays, anniversaries…there is one day the Birds talk about often.
It was the one day when none of man’s noisy polluting air machines thundered across the sky, shattering silence and disrupting the calm snail’s pace of clouds. It was a warm day, still on the heels of Summer, a great clear day for flying.
Birds have become so used to seeing the noisy metal creatures that to not see them, hear them, feel the warmth of their engines’ wake…what a shock. The humans’ calendar called that day September 11, 2001 but to the Birds, it was a rare day of opportunity.
They once again reclaimed the sky, (didn’t the air seem cleaner?) in fact for many days. Uncertain how long it would last they unfurled wings and coasted on soft breezes, ecstatic to not have to share the sky. Eventually that time, no matter how sweet came to an end.
The metal birds once again populated and dominated the sky. The Birds had to learn how to begrudgingly share…again. Seasons came and went, yet another day like that never came again.
And yet The Birds refuse to forget.
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Self-Expression Punk
September 2nd, 2012
“Punk gave the pop cultural seal of approval to my efforts at self-expression. We were being told we could do anything, so we did. I still had no girlfriend, but I was learning how to make my fantasies into reality and that was a start.”~Grant Morrison {Supergods: What Masked Vigilantes, Miraculous Mutants, and a Sun God from Smallville Can Teach Us About Being page 172}
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Stephen King Avengers
August 25th, 2012Walking by the Carrie (remake) set. Like most people I don’t see the value in making this movie (or the Carrie musical). (Are they doing a remake of a remake or the original movie or just adapting the book…again?)
Dare You To Define Me
August 16th, 2012Our society has the strangest definitions…
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We Need A Word For…#1
August 3rd, 2012We Need A Word For…
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i miss…credit card b&e
July 14th, 2012I miss…credit card B & E:
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Movie Teasers
July 12th, 2012In our society where fear is part of a complete daily diet, where we shallowly use the Internet for Gotcha! games for celebrities with minor transgressions, I am deeply encouraged by the bright light of hope illuminated by teasers at the end of superhero movies.
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i miss…rock n roll
July 10th, 2012I miss…rock n roll:
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Overheard at Pride 2012
June 30th, 2012Just cut through Pride to snag some bbq corn (I am a simple man in complex times). Here’s some of the PG things I overheard:
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We All Scream For Ice Cream!
June 22nd, 2012Generally we enter and exit 2 phases of modern life:
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Ticket Prices Are Final in the NBA
June 15th, 2012The current NBA Finals are tied at 1. I, of course…are cheering for OKC. However I was curious about NBA Finals ticket prices…I’ve never been to a playoff game let alone a Finals game.
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i miss…deathtraps
June 1st, 2012i miss…deathtraps:
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S’up Cuz Podcast #2
May 25th, 2012DC and myself return for another engaging S’up Cuz podcast. The topic is 2012’s Summer Movies.
With such an extravaganza of spectacle there’s lots to debate, cross arms, count down the days to opening screening and more. Plus: female celebrities, who is accessible? Who you think you could successfully close? Things that make you go hmmmm….
7 Excellent Cigar Smoking Tunes
May 20th, 2012I smoke cigars. Not because it’s cool, not because I’m trying to impress you and not because I have a beef with my health. A cigar is a forced slowdown, a break from the ordinary rush, the difference between scanning and reading. A cigar is chilling. I can’t imagine how Daily Bugle publisher J. Jonah Jameson smokes cigars at work. Why equate something designed for chilling with working? That’d be like using a hot tub to hold business meetings. (Actually this isn’t a bad idea, will file away this one to explore later…).
Nerd Rage Podcast #1
May 12th, 2012“You wouldn’t like me when I’m angry.”
Fear the wrath of an angry nerd! Now with even more bad puns…comes the Nerd Rage Rage Podcast. Hosted by myself (Sammy) and a fellow nerd Brian, we’re 2 nerds who hulk out! (Purple pants not required. Especially because all pants are unnecessary. But I digress…)
S’up Cuz Podcast #1
May 11th, 2012Earth Day Business
April 22nd, 2012(Originally published April 22, 2009 on S’up Cuz website…)
April is Earth month as much as April 22 is Earth Day.
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Reading is FUNdamental…Gotham Central
April 14th, 2012Tell me, tell me, tell me you’ve read Gotham Central!
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App Sad
April 8th, 2012So we have an app that identifies constellations in the night sky but we don’t have an app that searches nearby stores for the cheapest and best post-Easter chocolate deals? What?
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Reading is FUNdamental…New Deadwardians
April 8th, 2012Hey…just in case you don’t know…head on over to ye old comic book shop today and pick up issue #1 of New Deadwardians:
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Drinking With The Stars
March 22nd, 2012Dancing With The Stars is sooooo boring. Instead I wish there was a show called Drinking With The Stars.
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Dating Blurbs
March 15th, 2012You know online dating sites would greatly benefit if they offered movie style blurbs from ex’s; like the kind you see splashed in big font on movie posters:
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Affiliations: Random
March 7th, 2012Some of my current and random Affiliations:
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Comic Book Staples
February 22nd, 2012Lemme run something by you. There are two staples to comic books:
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Men In Black Kickstarter
February 14th, 2012The best thing about recommending a book/movie/comic book/band etc. is you know the amazing journey your friend is about to embark on.
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The LIE in Believing
January 6th, 2012Old School thinking hasn’t changed in 2011 because that’s what we grew up believing:
That Guy…Spielberg…
January 6th, 2012So I’ve decided to “understand” Spielberg. Checked out a bunch of books from the library: interviews, quotes, methods, whole deal.
And now? I sort of have a better handle on him; I kinda get it. I didn’t before, just didn’t make sense. I couldn’t comprehend why his movies are successful: what was the appeal? What was I missing?
West Goes South
January 5th, 2012Last night Kanye West went OFF on twitter…for 3 hours. I was online when it started…kept up with him for the first hour then I had to stop and go back to my work. (You could tell something special was about to go down–I instantly scrambled my brown butt upstairs to hastily make some tea, I didn’t even let it brew properly I wanted to get back to the scene. It’s like being a Gotham citizen and looking up one dark night…cloudy sky…and seeing the Bat Signal blazing the darkness: awww yeah! you just want to fist pump).
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Brian Eno Says…
January 2nd, 2012“And then another crop of questions:
Alfonzo The Wonder Ninja: Origin!
January 1st, 2012While I’m open to any edge I can get with the ladies…I never set out to create a comic strip.
Especially one about a ninja. It just sort of happened.
Flirting With Failure
January 1st, 2012It’s not like I enjoy failing. But it’s a part of the game.
2011 In Review/2012 In Preview
December 30th, 2011What a year it’s been for this blog: All Things Sammy!
Consistently Inconsistent: I Am
December 27th, 2011Consistency is my archnemesis.
Surrender Is For The Foolish
December 26th, 2011So much fun to watch the opening (finally!!!) of the 2011 NBA campaign last night. Think everybody wanted to put the lockout behind them and get down to business. And it was business as usual…the start of the season brings the standard debates of who will win it all this year.
Merry Christmas!
December 25th, 2011Ah Christmas! Interrupting the momentum of artists for over 2000 years.
These Days
December 19th, 2011So: 6 sleeps until Christmas.
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Pssst: Pass It On!
December 8th, 2011So this is frustrating.
ABCs of Cussing
December 6th, 2011Been meaning to drop this story for a bit…anyhoo.
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Mad Scientist Experiments!
December 5th, 2011Made a recent decision.
Our Long Journey To The Middle
December 2nd, 2011I’ve been meeting with bands lately. Sometimes in bars, sometimes in their homes.
Intimidation Of The Heart
December 1st, 2011Ever been to Clinton’s Tavern? It’s a vital Toronto intersection as sooner or later your creative path will draw you there. I’ve performed there a couple of times as a spoken artist. Black turtlenecks and all. (No bongo drums).
Pretty Much Dead Already: The Walking Dead
November 28th, 2011Considering how well the Sign Guy is doing during the Zombie Apocalypse of The Walking Dead Keira Knightley was clearly not wise in rejecting his love. Damn Girl.
What you don’t know is more important than your opinion on what you think you know.
Hindsight is always so bright it makes me squint.
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The Fate of the NBA
November 27th, 2011Been reading a lot about Jordan and watching what clips I can find during his Tar Heels days since I have to make some key business decisions in the next few months. (Jordan just makes sense to me).
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Trust Issues
November 16th, 2011Stuck on public transit…suck city. Where are all the jetpacks and teleportation devices and ultra fast human conveyor belts they promised us!
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We Lost Ida
November 14th, 2011Normally I’m not comfortable expressing vulnerability. Which admittedly is odd for a writer who makes a living slinging emotions.
Still…here goes:
My Dad’s in Egypt caring for his ill sister; my aunt. Sadly she passed away. Which in a way is a blessing, as she’s no longer suffering. On the phone she didn’t sound good at all. Still sad: she was a cool and classy lady.
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i miss…spider-man
November 11th, 2011I miss…Spider-Man:
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Design Thinkers from Scarborough
November 2nd, 2011Happily had the opportunity to attend the Design Thinkers conference today: I went to 2 sessions by guys who did work at Nike. (Eh, don’t ask for names…I focused on the work not the Artist).
One designer went on to work with big time companies like Starbucks and Lego and yet you can still hear the utter awe in his voice from what Nike demanded. That’s Fresh. That’s How You Do It.
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Friendship Zone Escape
October 12th, 2011Good gravy!
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i miss…siren slaps
October 5th, 2011i miss…siren slaps:
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Birth Year Readings I
September 28th, 2011Wednesday September 28, 2011 is my birthday.
Not a particular milestone, just watching my youth flee like a prison break. I got curious, wondering if I listed everything I read in a birth year how much I actually consumed. I was going to list articles but thanks to twitter and google I…can’t. I go through tons of articles and it’d just be too much, compounded by my avid laziness. So here is what I’ve been reading since Wednesday September 28 2011 (with occasional commentary) to Thursday September 27, 2012. {Special thanks to Brian E for facilitating my crack like connection to comic books.}
The Money Shot
September 14th, 2011Tonight I’m going to see Moneyball.
Folks (ok ladies) want to know if Brad Pitt takes off his shirt in the movie.
Conversely the same people are hoping Jonah Hill does not remove his shirt.
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8 Truths I Learned From Entourage: No. 8
September 11th, 2011Dreamers Notebook
September 10th, 2011Ok as per my routine I had a several ideas roll through my head as I drifted off to sleep.
8 Truths I Learned From Entourage: No. 7
September 4th, 2011Work Life Balance
Last week I wrote about choice. This week I’m writing about choice’s bastard cousin: balance.
DC’s New 52 Countup
August 31st, 2011On Wednesday, August 31, 2011 DC Comics launched a historic renumbering of the entire DC Universe line of comic books with 52 first issues.
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8 Truths I Learned From Entourage: No. 6
August 28th, 2011Choice
I didn’t enjoy school. Yeah I was one of those kids, left many a crying or frustrated teacher. So Be It. I didn’t enjoy the structure, the time demands, the lessons…everything sucked about school. Work is not much better. It’s 2011 we’re way past the Industrial Revolution and a farming society. So why hasn’t everything else changed? We may party like it’s 1999 but we work like it’s 1799.
8 Truths I Learned From Entourage: No. 5
August 21st, 201180s Celebration: Madonna!
August 16th, 2011Couple of years back I had the notion to celebrate the 80s in poetry. Occasionally in this space I’ll post a poem celebrating something or someone gloriously 80s.
Today is Madonna’s 53rd birthday, crazy I know. Take that Lady Gaga!
8 Truths I Learned From Entourage: No. 4
August 14th, 2011Family First
When Big Money comes rolling in it’s important to keep it in the family.
It’s why growing up we play Monopoly with family members. You learn which members are ruthless, which ones handle their money well and which ones just flame out. S’the way the dice rolls sometimes.
8 Truths I Learned From Entourage: No. 3
August 7th, 201180s Celebration: MTV!
August 1st, 2011Couple of years back I had the notion to celebrate the 80s in poetry. Occasionally in this space I’ll post a poem celebrating something or someone gloriously 80s.
Today is MTV’s 30th Birthday, crazy I know. We’ve come a long way from those “I Want My MTV” ads.
8 Truths I Learned From Entourage: No. 2
July 31st, 2011No Pants
Am I the only one who thought the entire notion of going to school at 8:30am every single morning ridiculous? I’m a night owl…I only get to work, real work by 11pm or so. I suppose the logic was to prepare you for “the real world” and yet many businesses allow employees to work from home, flexhours and other similar perks. So: school is out of touch with reality. No matter. What school did get right was Summer. Yes Guy!
8 Truths I Learned From Entourage: No. 1
July 24th, 2011Location Location Location
Few years back sociologist and speaker Richard Florida wrote a book called Who’s Your City? One of the book’s central tenants was the concept of finding the ideal location carefully balancing notions of work, play and other similar social activities.
Goodbye Amy Winehouse
July 23rd, 2011
September 14 1983 – July 23 2011
Stronger Than Me is the first Amy Winehouse song I “discovered.”
And with that song: I was sold. I instantly pi