Nuclear hold offs.

[via Toronto Star]

Ontario is indefinitely postponing its much-touted plan to build new nuclear reactors at Darlington in part because the cost is “billions” of dollars too high, Energy Minister George Smitherman announced this morning.

I can completely understand how nuclear would not be a government’s first choice, especially in times of economic difficulty.  It has the most expensive startup costs of any source of energy and the public is forced to pay for insurance as well.  I just really take issue with some environmentalists hailing this as a major victory.  To me that’s plain old narrow minded thinking.  If environmentalists are serious about climate change and feel it’s a much graver issue than a few nuclear plants, then you simply can’t have it both ways.  As much as I would go crazy over it, I don’t believe it’s possible to run a growing country on renewables, hydro, and conservation quite yet.  The culture of consumption may change in the west over time, but don’t ever expect or think that emerging countries will behave in the same way.  Improving energy grid systems and incorporating new renewables (especially biomass like algae and wood waste) would be my first investment as Dalton McGuinty has $26B more to play with.

I’m still pro nuclear if all remains the same, given government finances are in a good state to support a nuclear energy program.  With new (Canadian borne) technologies, wastes are reduced even further and can provide a more flexible and reliable source of electricity.   I’m trying my best to be an optimist, but I really feel like we’re going to need everything to make real changes in the energy world.  Smart grid, renewables, nuclear for major carbon reductions,  and a need for even better technologies for coal and other hydrocarbons.  As much as I boil from the thought of (barf) “clean coal” (barf), we’ll need this along with Combined Heat and Power (CHP) to increase efficiency and reduce emissions from existing plants.  We may even need Carbon Capture and Storage technologies if predictions are true.

Satellite faux toes.

Tidal channels near Iran’s Qeshm Island [Google map].

Sarychev Peak Volcano, lighter clouds are from ejecta moving down hillslopes [Google map].

Roads and circular fields in the desert in Egypt.

Japan’s Mount Fuji [Google map].

All photos from NASA International Space Station.

The easyjets.

I always wondered how airlines like EasyJet and RyanAir can stay in business.  I doubt this is sustainable given high fuel prices.  Cara and I got a 1 euro flight from Brussels to Paris once, although it involved a concrete floor to sleep on to make the flight.

6/10.

According to the Toronto Star, roughly 60% of people in Ontario think that the Beer Store is government owned.  Most also think high Ontario beer prices are from provincial  taxes.  Only about a year ago did I actually research the situation – graphic above tells all.  Of all things that us Ontarians complain about, I rarely hear the beer card come into play, maybe because seconds after one pays for their beer, they are just happy to feel heavy folded cardboard holes on their hands.  Definitely seems like high prices are due to more board games than bureaucracy.

What I don’t fully understand is how isn’t this a political goldmine to decentralize beer retail?  The public definitely wants the added convenience of Quebec style dépanneur beer purchasing, not to mention a less monopolized selection of Labatt black ice crystal light lime.  More stores selling beer would mean more competitive prices for consumers too.  Wouldn’t Dalton McGuinty be chair hoisted and mozeltoffed in perpetuity?   The only thing that I can think of is that the big brewers are paying off government in one way or the other – sponsoring cultural events or maybe just straight up coffer lining.

The argument that having beer in convenience stores is less secure seems fishy to me too.  Convenience stores have security cameras just like the beer store.  They would also enforce proper hours for sale, just like Quebec.

Looks like this was a big issue last year from the Star staff, people are buzzing.  Go to FreeOurBeer.Org for some info.

Garbaggiaggi.

Toronto folks – here’s a great Google map of the small dumping sites you can dump at around downtown.  Just hope you have wheels.

Now the next thing we evidently have to worry about is rats – hot meal + harbourage =  ratlovefest.  Too bad they don’t smell like cotton candy bon bons.

Maybe fake.

World_AirTraffic_24-Hour_Period

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Supposebly this is a video of daily world air traffic.  Really it just looks like they took that world at night map and made the dots move, but cool regardless.

Banks and unions.

I seldom agree with National Post editorials, but this one made sense to me.  Read the article here.  In times of high unemployment and families pinching their budgets, greed still exists in two polarizing institutions – banks and unions.  Now don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying they’re on par – bankers are still getting billions in bonuses, while CUPE members just want to be able to take advantage of their unused sick days.  Prettay big difference.  And maybe LCBO will strike tomorrow too.

I’m all for empowering the labour classes, but when people can’t even find work and getting laid off every day, maybe be happy you are protected and working and realize you can fight for these sick days in fatter times?  There is a world out there, and it changes.

Dumb and dumber joke.

When you start vermicomposting, all you want to say is “I Got Worms.  That’s what we’re gonna call it – I Got Worms.”   Harry and Lloyd forever.

Started to do my own vermicomposting in the apartment as I was getting sick of throwing out so much organic waste.  This has already decreased our garbage by about 40%.   Plus worm castings are known as the Cadillac creme of plant fertilizers.  We have a few plants around the house, but I’ll harvest the castings and spread them around trees in the neighbourhood for sublime friendly fertilization.  Amongst hippies this is awfully known as “guerilla composting”.  How is spreading poo on trees related to warfare?

It’s super easy to set up, just a Tupperware tote with lots of drilled holes, shredded newspaper, a couple of handfuls of soil, and some food scraps.  Evidently they love coffee grounds, and egg shells are good at maintaining pH in the bin.  That’s my breakfast, so bonus.  Just have to keep it easy on citrus and onion like items. As our apartments don’t do any green bin things (and since our city workers are on strike), it’ll be nice to do this for ourselves.

I am giving my worms a week or so to acclimatize (which were kindly donated from fellow vermicomposter buddy Rochelle) and find their carbon (paper) vs. nitrogen (food scraps) balance.  When happy, 2 pounds of worms can eat 1 pound of food scraps in one day.  So… half their weight in one day.  Red wigglers are zee best.  Because they go through them so fast, any possibility of smells is zero because any smell would be from rotting food.  Crazily enough, they don’t smell. It’s just an extremely subtle mushroomy earthy smell, totally fine inside or outside.  Super ease.  If you’re an apartment dweller and want to waste less, this is a very cheap and low maintenance way of doing something worthwhile and holistic.

Tons of guides and videos online, lots of knowledge to draw from.  Dare ya.

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We always like these, and not because it’s meta. A couple more here.  Not new but still neat.

[via iri5 flickr]

My (eventual) selections.

So without going into too many details, I recently received some money from my insurance company to replace (all of) my gear.  I went on a demo spree yesterday.  Here’s what the new set up will look like. Guh guh guh gear.

Aaaaaaaaaaaaa (angels choirs in consonance).  The holy grail, in my graasp. muah ah ah !!  Fender Rhodes Stage 73 Mark I.  One of the most beautiful sounding instruments to grace this earth.  And the kicker? My brother is donating this to me.  The two best words ever put together are “FREE” and “RHODES”.  Don’t worry, my counter gift will be many homecooked gourmet meals, pints, lifelong niceties, and I’m sure some gear in the future.  Just need a job brosef!    This piece is easily what I’m most excited about receiving, especially learning how to fix them.  I’m thinking about hiring a greasy tech to come to my house and teach me.

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AKAI MPK-49 MIDI controller with laptop and DAW.  Built in arpeggiator, 360 degree knobs, cartoonishly awesomely large sliders, 48 assignable MPC style Akai drumpads (aka best drumpads in the biz), 127 assignable controls.  This will go with my Ableton Live sessions and instruments, maybe I will turn into a Logic or Reason guy too.  Learn about MIDI controllers here if you want,  cause you know, hardware synths are so passé man.

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Fender Telecaster (72 Deluxe Reissue – MIM).  Tele tradition + humbucker fatness and switches continue to be a great happy medium between Fender and Gibson for me.  Neck is nice and I love fat headstocks too.  I saw one at Capsule for 750.  When Mikey gets a job, this thing is getting purchased.

And likely with that a tweed Fender Hot Rod Deluxe 40W 1×12.  Tube power screams, and even the 15 watt Blues Jr would likely be enough power.

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Norman B20 HG acoustic / electric.  Good solid standard.  Nice warm and dull tones with a decent Fishman pickup system.  After trying it at Steve’s you can get a really nice tone even from the plugged in version.  My last Takamine was tinny, bright and country crispy tone.  Even better, all of this gear will be less than what I originally paid for it by buying used and/or making smarter purchases.  Nice clean slate.

Candy store afternoon.

Bloor and Ossington to Long and McQuade.  Queen St for Steve’s, Moog Audio, and Capsule.  Yonge and Wellesley to Saved by Technology.

Gear day!  Maybe I’ll bring an acoustic home.

I just saw Mardeen.

Brother Dave and I have been waiting longtime for this sight – Nova Scotia’s Mardeen on the Horseshoe stage.  Had a quick bite at Shanghai Cowgirl and made it over for an early 9PM set, advertised as a pre NXNE show.  This was the type of show that you’ll tell your friends in 2-3 years that you saw this band in front of a dozen people with just you and your brother geeking out at the front of the stage.   And may or may not have been screaming lyrics and stomping your unsupportive sneakers until thin and worn soles remain.

New songs sound great, but just wanted more songs.  Opening slots + anthemic songs make Mike go something something.

Mardeen – Pretty Smart

New and useful places.

[via greenbiz]

LONDON, UK — Sainsbury’s will this week cut the ribbon on new “Kinetic Road Plates”, which have been installed at the supermarket giant’s new store in Gloucester, U.K., and will harness enough energy from vehicles driving in and out of the store’s car park to power all the store’s check outs.

Read the full article here.

I saw Phoenix last night.

Thank you Toronto.  Thank you for proving to me that on a sweaty dense Monday on Sherbourne, you can outcrowd some big Montreal shows.  Quite a night ladies.  Phoenix @ The Phoenix were literally flawless.  With a drummer that completely took me for a long hard triple take.  When I think of Phoenix, I’d assume their drummer would be the 7A open handed quick and tight kind of drummer.  But this guy BASHES.  Bat for bashes.  garr.  He’s a Bonham-Grohl school style drummer which made their stage presence go from a 4 to an 8.  Thomas Mars’ voice feels like a ctrl+c ctrl+v from CD to stage, almost scary perfect.

I liken Phoenix to a French Sloan around their One Chord to Another / Navy Blues days, buuuuut catchier uppier rockier tunes on the whole.  It’s just greatunashamed Beatles revival, so down.  Fellow concertmate Hunter and I agreed on the French pop aesthetic – slightly femininized, kiddy innocence and fun, touch of silly, catchy as eff, already signed up.  Lead single 1901 off new record Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix is the Feel Good Hit of the Summer.

Here’s 1901 again, because it has already clinched its position as #1 Mike summersong.

Phoenix – 1901

One week.

One week in Toronto so far.  So far so great.  Excited for this week for some amazing shows.

Monday – Phoenix at Phoenix.  Tuesday – Mardeen at Horseshoe.  Thursday – Yellow Wood at Rancho Relaxo (NxNE).

I’m going in with full swings.

Living on this block one easily sees how overpriced goods are physiological panacea for the completely insecure piss loaded.