Inspiring video editing.

This is when YouTube is truly a great medium for video.  I doubt this is considered mashup as it’s just one source, but brilliant (and mind-boggingly time consuming) editing nonetheless.  The maker of the video says he uses 90% original audio, I’m guessing the added audio is for the beat and maybe the pad or bass tracks.  Meaning pretty much all you hear in this song is taken directly from the film, chopped, clipped, mixed, screwed with.  Amazing.  The dumbfoundingly beautiful melody that he has clipped is so melodic (!!!), tasteful, and creepy.  It reminds me of music that Telepopmusik, Royksopp, and Thievery Corporation wishes it could make.  The song definitely takes on a trip-hop/IDM/car commercial theme song angle.

Not only did this gentleman make a beautiful song almost entirely from audio clips from the Alice in Wonderland movie, he edited video to match the audio perfectly.  Mood, rhythm, and theme all unite.

Great choice of video to edit, as well.  Such a legend behind this book as you all know – symbolism, drugs, anthropomorphism, massive influence on culture, it’s got it all.  If I was this video creator, I would feel like I really created something truly worthy of creation.  A big check off the to-do list.

Props to Belardi for the link.

Tracy Morgan and life imitating art.

I am looking forward to the new season of 30 Rock starting at the end of the month, but I don’t think it’s worth all the hype.  Even with Arrec… Barrrrrwin.  Even the Emmys.  Great cast, but writing needs to improve.

Either way, I knew Tracy Morgan was crazy in the show, and I knew he’s had a few outbursts of crazy in real life, but holy eff.  He likes the drink.  And this interview with Letterman is hilarious.

The winning line from this video is “I took two sips and I started trembling, and I turned into a Gremlin!”  I cackled after that. That and “I’m crazier than a box of rocks!”

And here’s one more:

On a sidenote, has anyone noticed how Letterman is kicking more ass lately?  I was reading an article on Videogum.com and I couldn’t agree more – It’s like he’s nearing the end of his career and he’s sick of the nerf ball, sit-and-toss type of questions.  He doesn’t softball, asks the tough questions, has more integrity than Leno has on his elbow skin, and gives solid goods.

Sidenote sidenote – use “sit-and-toss”.  My former housemate Liam used to say it, and it kills.  Instead of hanging out, bantering, whatever.  It’s sit-and-toss.

Quelle surprise.

Pretty much just as we thought, a stronger Harper minority.  The press keeps calling this a failure to secure a majority, but I hope the Conservatives are happy.  They gained seats all across the country (mostly at the cost of the Liberals), even in the stronghold of 905, and… they’re still in power?

Turns out that the Liberals haven’t lost this many seats since Confederation.  Kind of have to laugh at that.  Sorry Stephane, this must be a shitty day for you, with the party bigwigs already salivating for that leadership convention that will come May 2009.  They guess that the leadership will come down to the previous hopefuls of 2006 – Bob Rae, Michael Ignatieff, and Gerard Kennedy.  I get the best vibe from Ignatieff – Rae has too many skeletons in his Ontario NDP closet, Kennedy seems too young and fresh.   I hope that the politics of politics don’t get in the way of selecting the best leader.  God forbid the Canadian public has a say in who they want to lead the “national party”.  Dis the Americans all you want, I think their political system has its definite advantages over the Canadian system.

The Bloc held their ridings compared to 2006, and along with the Liberals blocked the Conservative majority.  Never been happier with La Nation.  Jackattack increased his seats, and poor Mz. May couldn’t close her riding against the fortuitous Peter McKay.  A for effort Liz, but why did you run in one of the hardest ridings when you could’ve picked a nearby Nova that was more open to a green lean?  Sounds like you’ll do a slimy politician thing by running in a by-election anywhere in the country to get in the house.  I probably would do the same, but it seems weird you would globetrot anywhere when you were so firm in running in your own riding.

I take two things from this election:

1) Voter turnout was lowest ever.  Guys!  No excuses!  Don’t give me the whole voter fatigue bullshit, or that there weren’t any important issues this time around.  You don’t think the biggest financial crisis of the last 75 years, our reliance on foreign oil and its environmental implications, a dying manufacturing sector which is a massive engine for Ontario, and slimy politicians are enough?  Go move to Yemen.  People never truly appreciate and respect the rights, freedoms, and resources bestowed upon them.  It’s why we treat our world like a garbage dump, waste water and electricity, and don’t vote.

2) I showed the popular vote first to prove how insane the disparity is between popular vote and seats won.  The most glaring example of this is the Bloc and the Green Party – 9% for the BQ and 6% for the Greens.  50 seats for the Bloc, a big goose egg for the Greens.  Awesome.

Can you tell I’m super jazzed about people these days?  I don’t know whether elections bring out the worst in people, or if elections just shed more light on the flaws of democracy.  Both.  There.

Election day.

So a month of divisive politics, and we will end up pretty much exactly how we started.  Should we be surprised?

Lots of stuff has gone down in the meantime, however.  Bad interviews, bohemians getting cut from the knees, sound financial advice, historic financial crises, candidates with nowhere to go but up, and the normal amount of mudslinging.

As my cynicism of politics and elections waxes, so do my feelings of confusion about the entire system of campaigning.  I really like the vast amounts of dialogue, the differing opinions, and healthy discussion.  What really grinds my gears is the division of the electorate and how this spurs hatred.  I’m almost as guilty of it as the next guy, and it’s so easy to fall into name calling, labelling, and judging.  A perfect example is the Alaskan darling propaganding Obama’s “terrorist buddies“, and the ensuing “terrorist!” and “KILL HIM!” chants from the ignorant sheep they call supporters.

A good friend of mine said something that is definitely sticking with me – he is afraid of “masses”, regardless of the cause.  Humans on the whole are clearly not smart enough to think independently, and this is seen on a regular basis – campaign speeches, people trampled at concerts, riots, they all incite the same human urges.  When people are en masse they assume because there are so many people around, they can simply pass on the responsibility to someone else.  However no one actually assumes this responsibility!  True and horrifying.

I’ll be glued to the TV tonight to watch Peter and the crew lay it down for us with the counting ticker on the bottom of the screen.  Harper minority for another few years, or maybe sooner if he wants to break his own law again because he feels it’s a good time to be re-elected.  That’s me judging.

Pop Montreal 2008.

So my only attended show for my virginal Pop Montreal experience (due to poorness) was Hot Chip last Wednesday at Metropolis on St. Laurent.  Honestly I was just really slow on the uptake – I checked out the full program the second day of the festival and realized one of my favourite Canadian up and comers Mardeen were playing an amazing east-coast focused show the night before.  I would’ve foregone a few cartons of Tropicana to see them for sure.

Hot Chip definitely didn’t disappoint, although the $6.25 domestics did.  They played all of the singles, all of the goodies, and the live drummer made a massive difference overall.  Well played HC.

One thing that gets to me at times (among a lot of hipster bands) is the suffocating amount of irony.  The lead singer was wearing a unabomber-inspired white coveralls, those late 80s dad rapist glasses, and looked like Screech’s long lost penpal.  On one hand I do appreciate that the rock and roll mould is being broken, and that nerdy dudes are getting laid, but it’s the amount of “coolaloof” that comes with this irony that I dislike.

“And I Was A Boy From School” was the highlight, and they encored with a tasteful version of Sinead’s “Nothing Compares 2 U”.  Not a bad choice at all.  First time at Metropolis too – pretty much the best venue I’ve been to along with the Opera House.  Perfect size for crowd energy and intimacy, classy, nice balcony, plus the Montreal crowd never disappoints.  Montreal 1 (million).

Inter polls.

The margins appear to be narrowing in terms of popular vote, but who knows how this will play out in the Neanderthalic first past the post system here in Canada next week. Blue and red are switching teams with hot and cold.

Amongst all of this insane economic “uncertainty” (aka thank god I’m so poor), I’m surprised the most money minded party is waning in popularity.  But I will take a stab at it – how about when Harper told Mansbridge that he thought this was a good time to buy, along with the droves of artists, musicians, actors, and film industry employees that are pushing the cultural card.  As someone who I picture maniacally calculating, it genuinely surprises me that he’s made these sorts of apparent blunders.  At first I thought his dis to the arts was to solidify his conservative base.  Let’s face it, the artsies won’t vote for him anyway.  But didn’t he realize that these cultural leaders have an insane amount of pull and influence on all different types of voters?  This is being seen all over the place now – the extremely mediocre (but meaningful) song produced by Canadian artists to promote culture within the country, the press coverage on people in the arts and culture protesting in Toronto, and of course the liberal bias within Canadian media… right?

Fall time = homemade squash curry soup.

It’s just like autumn in a bowl.  Yes it’s the standard fall soup, but it’s so undeniably thanksgivingly delicious, I had to make it for Cara and I as a good weekend warmup.

I do mine a bit differently, and to me it pumps in even more fall flavour. I usually don’t do exact portioning, I’m a splash, pinch, and dollop sort of dude. You’re likely the same.

Ingredients:

2 acorn squash
1-2 lobo apples (or whatever you got)
3 parts chicken stock to 1 part cream (I used 10%, but the fattier the tastier of course)
1/2-1 diced red onion
3 diced carrots
1 stalk diced celery
butter
to taste: curry powder, cinnamon, nutmeg, paprika, cayenne, salt, pepper, 2 bay leaves

1. Soften butter and mix in cinnamon, nutmeg.
2. Spread butter mix over squash, roast squash and apples in the oven, 350C for 45-60mins (until tender)
3. Sweat onions in butter in saucepan with ripped bay leaves, add carrots and celery until tender. Salt and pepper to taste. I always forget how amazing bay leaves smell. In any soup or fall friendly dish, USE THEM! They embody this season in a single aroma. Killer.
4. Once everything is cooked to taste, Add everything in a food processor and add your wets. I usually do 3:1 stock to cream ratio, but that’s up to you. Tonight it ended up being about 3-4 cups total liquid. Purée til your hearts content.
5. Throw puréed mixture into the same saucepan as your sauteed vegetables (so much flavour in the dirty bottom of that pot!). Heat while mixing in curry powder, paprika, cayenne, and loads more freshly ground pepper (paprika for smoke, cayenne for the delayed heat hit but purely optional).
6. Dollop some sour cream (gently or else it’ll go right through your soup!) on top, throw on freshly chopped chives (or green onions). If I had fresh sage or thyme I would’ve probably used it too, but how many normal folk always have fresh herbs on hand?

DUNNER! You will be surprised how full you are after a big bowl, especially with a salad. I made a broccoli/roasted almond/carrot/red onion salad with a homemade dressing (mayo, fresh lemon, seasoned rice vinegar, pepper, freshly grated parm reggiano).

Favourite new flavour combination is apple and curry. This dish had all the great fall elements – squash, apple, cinnamon/nutmeg spice hit, bay leaf. Did you know there are about 40 different types of frigging squash? I found this out this evening. Cool beans.

Fresh listens.

Just some albums and songs I’ve been enjoying/evaluating lately:

TV On The Radio – Dear Science – Guess what, don’t like it as much as everyone else does.  But that’s been true with every TVOTR record I’ve ever heard.  I feel like this band is playing two hand touch on the soccer field and I haven’t been invited yet, but they’ve given me a look up and down a few times.  Maybe I’m not smart enough, but I’m going to be proud of my judgment and not feel like a hipster sheep.  The first half of the record lacks any sense of melody, but the second half is admittedly kicking my ass.  This is definitely their shiniest and catchiest effort to date, thank goodness.  My fave record of theirs so far.  After a few listens through, “Golden Age” (single), “Family Tree”, and “Love Dog” are my standouts.  Dave Sitek (guitarist/programmer/producer/brain child of Scarlett Johannson’s Tom Waits cover record) did an amazing job, as usual.  His ear for arrangement is unreal, both seen on this record as well as Scarlett’s.  Say what you want about that record, the arrangements were incredibly good.  I feel like this band has important things to say so I’m going to stick around.  I just don’t know why they have to subject me to shitty Prince dilution the first 5 songs.

Mardeen – Read Less Minds – alright, now for some straightforward, WYSIWYG Canadian rock.  This record has been high on my playlist recently.  Not overly a new release, but these songs are irrefutably fun.  Think good 90s Halifax Pop Explosion (Sloan, Super Friendz, Thrush Hermit) meets The Stills meets diluted Interpol meets dudes singing Exile in Guyville.  This is proof that Halifax still produces world class powerpop.  Three lead singers, a good dichotomy of machismo aesthetic and teeny, vulnerable lyrics.  Single “Kids” is an anthemic tetebanger, “Things Are Hot” could be track 7 on the Stills’ Logic Will Break Your Heart, and “Telephones” showcases their young abandon in a very rock and roll way.  Find them on MySpace, buy at Zunior.

Mogwai – Hawk is Howling – Surprisingly like it.  I find Mogwai tiring sometimes, just a slightly improved version of watery Explosions in the Sky.  But Hawk is Howling offers smarter arrangements, fun song titles (“I’m Jim Morrison”, “I’m Dead”, “Daphne and the Brain”, “Thank You Space Expert”), and some earnestly moving songs.  If you like instrumental, post-rock, ambient styles, give this some time.  Glad they impressed me, they’ve been around long enough.

The Killers – Human single – produced by Stuart Price (who did Madonna’s Confessions on a Dance Floor), the disco gloves are officially coming off.  Production sounds good on the track, but the Killers need to realize they still need at least touch on what makes them the buckers – anthems.  I wanted a “When You Were Young” inspired track, and it still could’ve been dancey!  I just wanted some big tones!  The chorus is a huge letdown and the verses are completely aimless.  The only part that gets me going is the interlude directly after the first chorus.  I like the arrangement for the most part, but there is just not enough song in there.  I saw them on SNL, Brandon’s voice actually stood up and sounded good!  Miracle on 30 Rockefeller.  I’m proud of him, it’s about time he started catching up to his mouth.  Hear it streaming on their official website.

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Nota Bene. After listening to “Human” some of the day, the chorus totally permeated the stuck in head routine.  Also realized it sounds like Lionel Richie circa 2000.

You use iGoogle, right?

I’ve been using iGoogle as my homepage for awhile now, probably two years if I had to guess.  It’s like getting handed a fresh cup of coffee as you wake up – exactly what you need when you turn on.  I have my Gmail, Yahoo Mail, BBC News, CBC News, Rolling Stone, to-do list, Artist of the Day, Scientific American, and HowStuffWorks.Com feeds.  Recently I found a Google Translator app so now French-English-French translations are lickety splits.  There are thousands of applets you can add based on what you like, and many themes to choose from as well.  I love the Earthlight theme as you can see – it shows what parts of the world are getting sunlight and which are not throughout the day.  Plus it’s got some great satellite imagery.

I feel like at Waterloo I participated in way more computer friendly discussions per capita, and definitely seen the most amount of Google tshirts within a 200m radius, save Silicon Valley perhaps.  Regardless, I think Google is the smartest tech company around.  Everything that I’ve used from them has been so well thought out, comprehensive, and beautifully executed.  I was a huge Google Earth addict when it first came out, Google Translator is the best translator tool I’ve used online, and Gmail is the best email client I’ve seen or used period.  This is obviously not groundbreaking news, I just like when companies actually do a great job, and fill the needs of a user.  It’s miraculous – we’re actually getting what we need and want!

Why Entourage is sucking.

1. Half hour length is starting to really bother me – nothing actually happens.  Maybe I’ll have to wait two months and do a 4 hour download marathon just to actually get a plot.

2. A trip out to the desert to do shrooms and go on a viking/vision quest?  Sounds great on paper boys, but holy garbage the episode was garbage.  The standard yes/no/yes/no/no decision making that E and Vince do for a role has lost its caché, the entire episode was one big anti-climax.

3. I really feel like they’ve run out of ideas.  The first few seasons of Hollywood hedonism are fun, sure.  But let’s please see some depth to these characters, at least some complexity.  Even Ari’s zingers are appearing laboured.  I know it’s LA, but you’re on HBO.  No excuses. I know this show is probably targeted for the Michael Scotts and the Chad Michael Murrays of the world, but the average person still gets bored easily.

4. There is simply never enough Carla Gugino.  Very glad she came back this season, but more black and tan comme photo/link would be, well awesome.  There you go Google Image Searchers, what you’re after:

[image via http://www.sorozatjunkie.hu]

5. The main reason why I think the show is popular is not because you see four buddies screwing all of Hollywood, it’s because you like the fabricated insider look into the canals of Hollywood – celebrity beach parties with Jamie Pressly, ripping bong hits with Saget, and for me the coolest of all is the supposed “making of a movie” – negotiating contracts, finding directors, casting, trailer talk, all the details.  That’s what I like best, and with Vince out of work, I get nothin.

Anyone feeling me here?

I just read they got picked up for a sixth season.  Let’s pray for a yeast rather than an agar.

My favourite Food Network host right now.

Anthony Sedlak for the win.  Look at you, you cool urbanite you.  Nice demi collar toss.  So I am a shamefully large Food Network fan.  It’s on by far more than any other channel in the apartment, with CBC Newsworld and National Geographic Channel rounding out the top three (yar Megastructures!).

I started getting hooked on the Food Network with the tantalization of Giada de Laurentiis and Everyday Italian during summer 2007.  You know why – nicely dressed, lots of heavy cream and pancetta, and just the right amount of cleave.  Then after her, a few more shows kept me interested – Michael Smith’s Chef at Home, the odd Iron Chef and all of Bobby Flay’s glory, and the ubiquitous Restaurant Makeover.

I really like The Main because Anthony focuses on one dish with a couple of sides, and that’s it.  His camera banter is perfect, and he has great tips and culinary lessons smoothly integrated into the show.  The difficulty of the cooking isn’t too bad either, it’s right at the level of challenging me and I like that.  The studio kitchen is gorgeous, he chooses good mains (e.g. his lamb and couscous dish is my fave), and waspy pop/rock permeates the background.  Noice.

I realize the Food Network is what it is, but to me it’s for anyone who lives to eat rather than eats to live.  And I hope you’re a foamer and not the lather, because life is too shorn.

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Nota Bene - Are you a fan of Restaurant Makeover?  This show is way more popular than I originally thought.  Turns out it’s a bit more controversial than expected.  Some restaurants have closed down directly after the reveal, some have even sued the show for bad workmanship, some even spend thousands to re-renovate after the RM renovation.  However, many argue that these restaurants are doomed anyway with poor management, staff, and location.  Totally agree with this, the restaurant business is extremely risky.  Regardless, Igor is the man (and evidently knows all).

Oh my dear Jian.

“He’s better than Strombolopolopolopolopolous!” - me

I will paint you a picture.  Educated with a graduate degree, mid 20s, educated parents, fan and proponent of Canadian arts and culture, enjoys stimulating, commercial free discussion and music with a global view.  Can you guess that I think CBC Radio 1 is the best thing since freshly squeezed orange juice?  Well I do, and it’s only been a few years that I’ve seen the lights.  And yes fine I own a CBC tshirt.  It would only be hip if I fit into the small rib hugging XS.  Thus it defaults to nerd based reasons.

I remember between the ages of as early as I can remember and 18 I always was annoyed when my mum always had 107.5, CBC radio 1 in Kingston on our minivan dial.  As a typical teen, I wanted the sweet sounds of Sloan, Weezer, and Radiohead and not Anna Maria Tremonti nor how I can improve my gardening skills.  But the CBC knows they’re not going for the teen demo, they just look forward to when you get older and know better.  To me, the CBC does an active job in seeking interesting, broad topics, as well as the real and wide flavours of Canadian culture.

What first got me hooked on CBC Radio was my dear friend, Jian Ghomeshi.  I watched him when he hosted “>play” on Newsworld years back and was sad when it was taken off the air.  Luckily, the poster child of Canadian media soon replaced him.  If you don’t listen to CBC Radio 1, Jian’s delivery is buttery and homey, and his knowledge and insight into the arts all over the world is inspiring.  Every day he has something that is truly worthy of a Canadian’s ears.  He gets you excited, engaged, and introduces you to things that make you sound smart, and that’s the whole point for all us wannabe snobs.  The funny thing is it’s really not snobby at all, it definitely keeps the stream of popular culture close to chest. The only difference here is that it considers pop culture in a seasoned and mature manner, and virtually all in good taste.

Not only was he part of Moxy Fruvous (you remember “King of Spain“), he now is involved in artist management. among a host of other endeavours.  He has developed the new indie teen darling Lights – this radio friendly, Millenial targeted, poppy postal service offshoot singer will be invading your life very soon.

Check him out, he has podcasts if you’re iPodified.  He even has a YouTube channel, it’s excellent as well.  You will be entertained, and you can actually learn something neat!  Golllly.

Scotchy scotch scotch scotch scotch.

It’s been a few years since I started this world of scotch drinking.  As most would guess, when I was a teenager the smell of any type of whiskey really got the tum tum turning.  I wasn’t one of those cool hockey guys in high school that drank Royal Reserve or Canadian Club, I stuck to my rums, vodkas, beers, and assorted sips of sugary boozes.

After a long day in the field near Shippagan, NB, my undergraduate advisor broke out an amazing bottle of single malt.  I had never had it and definitely wanted to impress him, so I had a small glass before bed.  I still hated rye at the time, but I could definitely tell that this was different.  Ever since then, I knew it would be the standard acquired taste learning curve before I would truly enjoy it.  After a few sit and tosses, I was really starting to appreciate this lovely bev.

I’m still admittedly quite a beginner in single malts, but I’ve had a few that I’ve bought multiple times and continue to really enjoy.  So this post is dedicated to the ever accessible and delicious Balvenie Double Wood.

I recently bought this bottle this weekend to enjoy with some friends here in Montreal.  Trying to find a simple decent single malt proved to harder than I thought, especially for a city this size.  After a few SAQs, I finally found it.  We are starting a pretentious sounding Scotch Club, but really it’s just dudes in their mid 20s that enjoy numb tongues and big flava.  Balvenie is a Speyside scotch, but I’m excited to get more into the Islays, a much peatier, smokier hit.  I’ve had some Islay with my buddy Chris from Vancouver.  It’s his favourite, but it’s still on my acquired taste curve.

If you have any recommendations for me that are readily accessible please let me know.  I’m also poor, which really doesn’t help.   Maybe I’ll have to stick to blends until the money comes in, but at least I bought this one first.  Now I can let the richer friends buy some goodness.

A definite positive from me drinking more scotch is now I can drink all whiskeys.  I’m even loving Jack.  What makes it weird though is that I can’t drink any whiskey with ice, water, coke, anything.  I need the straight goods.  And I do it doucement.  I do it… very slowly.

Why I’m voting Green.

You’re judging already aren’t you.  I probably would too, and then subsequently think I’m a spacy, anti-establishment, granola cruncher.  Most of that is true too, but hey, I’m allowed to have my ideals.

Really this isn’t an active choice, more of a process of elimination.  So here we go:

Stephen Harper and the Conservative Party – first of all, misnomer.   Try Alliance Reform we like Ross Perot party.  I kid, no name calling necessary.  They simply don’t align with my values, straight up.  Proponents of private health care, irresponsibly accelerated rates of oil extraction in the Tar Sands, cuts to the arts, and have less foresight than Sarah Palin’s pitbull/lipstick joke.  Not to mention his Bush-like refusals to have meaningful conversations with the media for the past few years.  And oh yeah, where’s your bloody platform?  Don’t worry, I know it’s not under your sweater.

Stephane Dion and the Liberal Party – Stephane, I like you enough, really I do.  But it’s because I really want to like you and I’m trying my damndest to like you.  You’re making it bloody difficult.  I want you to show us the fierce strong guy that brought us the Clarity Act.  But now you rely on your “team” of Bob fucking Rae and all the guys that couldn’t beat you in the leadership convention?!?  Come on.  This team now fully means that you and everyone else believe that you can’t lead on your own.  You seem like a great guy, and I even don’t mind your Green Shift plan, but you’re just not the right person to take on Mr. Harper and take back the country to the Canadian Redbook middle.  I want Ignatieff, and quick.

Jack Layton and the NDP – JACK.  You were my guy!  We were all tight, I talked to you on the Danforth about water quality and your trip to Gros Morne and your trip with Olivia to the caves!  Your numbers are increasing in the polls, and I am happy for you.  Overall, you’re fighting a good fight, you’re just not going to get my vote while I live here in Montreal, QC.  You want to know why?  Because I’m getting worried that this “integrity” you preach is bullshit.  You are selling out Anglophone Quebecers by supporting Bill 101 in order to gain more Francophone votes.  Among many other things, Bill 101 helps strengthen the use of the French language in Quebec, implicity discouraging anglophones from moving and residing in Quebec.  Although I can see where this bill is coming from (in a separatist kind of way), as an English speaker in Montreal (and trying my damndest to learn your impossible dialect), my life here would be much more difficult if 101 was fully implemented.  Thus I can’t support you this time.  And after witnessing you dodging too many questions, spinning answers like a typical untrustworthy politician, your cap and trade climate change solution, and being vehemently pro-union, I’m wondering about my future support.

Elizabeth May and the Greens – Well missy May.  Sorry, Mz. May.  You got my vote, I want to ride your bandwagon.  Or should I say Via trainwagon.  I secretly want to think your cross Canada tour on the train was exactly like Festival Express.  Please tell me you’re Janis.  Anyway, this is a woman that not only impressed me but many other Canadians in the televised national debate.  She supports the OECD recommended income tax cut/carbon tax plan, even supported by neo-con idols (read: head economists).  For me, she offers answers with honesty, integrity, and foresight.  This is what I see lacking in virtually all parties.  Stephen Harper’s eyes cannot see past 4 years into the future, as do most politicians.  The economy will always take some sort of hit when shifting to more environmental policies, but this impact won’t be far reaching, especially if the country invests intelligently in developing green energy and related industries. Quick tip boys and girls – do you know where oil comes from?  how about those precious automobiles and the rest of the manufacturing sector?  Even the computers you’re typing on?  Yes, it all comes from the EARTH.  Having weak environmental policy is having weak long term economic policy, plain and simple.  Do we want to be a short term thinking kind of society?  We are way smarter than that.  We can only go on ignoring weak environmental policy for so long.  Let’s actually be proactive here.  You know what reactive politics gets you?  THIS.  I could rant forever, but Elizabeth May believes in fostering local food production (a huge issue for me), punishing polluters, investing in national rail, and getting troops out of Afghanistan in a respectable period of time.  Sign me up.

The awesome and hilarious irony of this overly long post is that yours truly, a left wing anglophone living in Montreal resides in a little riding called Laurier-Sainte Marie.  Do you know who has been running in this riding the past decade or so?

Isn’t irony a bitch?  Gilles, you’re a good guy, and I hear this is your last campaign.  I’m glad this is the last time an anglophone’s vote won’t count in your lovely riding.   Allez Vert!

Of Montreal.

Ok summer is caught up.  I swear I’m almost done with all my less interesting personal life.

Montreal in one word – wowsir.  I am so used to a city being manageably sized, easy to traverse, mediocre food, minimal hipster quotient.  Now I am getting pummelled with the exact contrast.  I really do like it, but I feel it will take me a while to feel fully comfortable here – the Quebecois accent that I can barely understand (yet feel quite good about the Parisian/international accent), a city that is easy to navigate but much larger than what I’m accustomed to, and there’s always the whole street kids with two dying dogs shooting up heroin 100m from my front door.  I don’t mean to sound like an intolerant naive person, but when 2 random street guys knock on your door asking for money in the past 2 weeks, and one is a 6’4″ 250 pound Haitian immigrant, you get a bit concerned with security.  It’ll be an adjustment.

On the brighter side of things, I’ve fallen in love with Montreal’s architecture, joie de vivre, and definitely its food.  On my birthday Cara took me for dinner at Chao Phraya, arguably the best Thai place in Montreal.  This was literally one of the best meals I’ve ever had in my life – lemongrass that would kickyourass, crab claws, peanut tofu with crispy spinach, garlic and pepper duck, and the best spicy shrimp this side of Somerset.  Cara’s friends are awesome and luckily one of my dear mates from Waterloo has coincidentally moved here with his girlfriend.  Chris’ place on the web can be found at “foundinthemargins“.  Click here (or in the sidebar).  The transit system is very solid with an amazing metropass rate of $66 per month of unlimited use (eat that TTC).  I miss my friends in Waterloo, but I will be back regularly to visit.  Like a predictable white person, Montreal has an unbelivable market, Marché Jean Talon.  So far, this is definitely my favourite place in the whole city.  Unbeatable produce, fish, herbs, ALL organic meats, cheese shop, SAQ, everything.  I go at least once or twice a week, I feel like Jamie Oliver when I’m there.  And who doesn’t want to feel like Jamie Oliver.

I will leave you with photos from my apartment and some shots right outside our door.  I do admit that reviewing these photos makes me realize how beauitful of a city this really is, with Old Montreal and St. Catherine steps from my bedroom.