The homeless population of Toronto is about three times the population of the town where I went to school. Crazy.
[tags]homeless[/tags]
Category: Toronto
"I am not a piece of hash!"
I’m just the tiniest bit sunburned today (due to a less-than-expert application of SPF goodness) after watching the Pride Parade yesterday. CBGB came over and Nellie made us some brunch while we watched England cling to a 1-goal lead to reach the quarter-finals. Afterwards we skipped out to Bloor street to watch the Parade. It was much the same as the other parade we watched: lots of dancing trannies, supersoakers and corporate sponsorship. Nellie’s favourite moment was the Geeks Are Gay Too section, one of whom carried a “Willow & Tara forever” sign. Actually, truth be told her favourite moment was the half-naked firemen, but she totally geeked out when she saw the Buffy reference.
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We also watched two more movies over the weekend, both of which were very good and happened to star Paddy Considine. That was a coincidence though.
In America (imdb | rotten tomatoes) was excellent, a well-worn story (grieving family, new environment, cute kids) that was done so expertly that it felt new. And when I say cute kids, I mean cahyyyyooooote…but not all treacly and showy. Their cuteness actually had something to do with the film, so it worked out. Great acting, uplifting (without being cheesy) story, and well written. Definitely recommended.
Also recommended: 24 Hour Party People (imdb | rotten tomatoes), the story about the rise of the Manchester music scene in the late 70s and early 80s, told from the point of view of Tony Wilson (played by Steve Coogan). I don’t particularly care for music by Joy Division / New Order or the Happy Mondays, but the story’s a great one nonetheless. Just the early scene of the Sex Pistols playing to a crowd of 42, but the impact of that show, and what the attendees would go on to do…it was mildly depressing, since you realize that kind of grassroots music scene just doesn’t happen anymore. These days record executives are waiting in crouch positions with plane tickets and contracts in hand, ready to catch the first flight to whatever city breaks out next, and they own the scene before fans even get into it. Wilson said himself that the only reason the Manchester scene started is because the established radio & TV owners hated punk and new wave, so it grew on its own with a little help from a local TV personality.
I guess we may never see that again. Pity. Then again, if it prevents us from having to listen to anything like “Kinky Afro” ever again, maybe that’s not such a terrible thing.
[tags]pride parade, willow, tara, in america, 24 hour party people, joy division, new order, happy mondays, sex pistols, manchester[/tags]
Spicy!
Whoooeeeeee. I just got some Greg’s ginger ice cream from All The Best…I’ve never had spicy ice cream before. Tastiness, thy name is juxtaposition.
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The Dyke March is getting set to start just down the street from us. The cats apparently do not enjoy music as much as the lesbians. Anyway, we’re getting set to go watch for a bit before the next footie match starts. Gonna have to listen to the music anyway, might as well go see the sights.
[UPDATE] The Dyke March only lasts about 20 minutes, and it’s much less crowded than the Pride Parade (which was good for Nellie, since she’s not often able to see over crowds of any size).
[tags]greg’s ice cream, dyke march, pride toronto[/tags]
T-Bone's on fiyah!!
T-Bone has slain the white whale. She has somehow (I think she has evil South American voodoo running through her veins) gotten us summerlicious reservations at Canoe. And not just Canoe…but Bymark as well. OK, this’ll be our third time at Bymark, but still…she was on fire, no doubt about it. I swear I tried a hundred times yesterday and today. No fire for me.
[tags]summerlicious, canoe, bymark[/tags]
"Children there are breast-fed on such an idea"
As a transplanted Maritimer I find it hilarious when native Torontonians (there are such things, apparently) are surprised to hear that the rest of the country dislikes them. By the way, using broad caricatures like “Maritimer fisherman, artsy Montrealer, Calgarian oil cowboy and Vancouver tree-hugger” probably have something to do with it.
Actually, having lived here for nine years it’s safe to say the rest of the country hates me now too. But at least I’m not surprised by it.
I’ll definitely be seeing this movie.
[tags]toronto, canada, mr. toronto[/tags]
World-class sport, world-class shame
I, like TimmyD, really only care about football when the World Cup or Euro are on, but when it’s on I love it. Toronto turns into a never-ending mobile party (depending on who wins), and I feel no particular anxiety because I haven’t a favourite team. It’s great entertainment.
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Three Guantanamo Bay prisoners commit suicide, and the commanding officer calls it “an act of war”. Let’s get this straight: you invade their country, take them prisoner, deny them their Geneva Convention rights and hold them for as many as four years…and by committing suicide they have committed an act of war against you?
Rear Admiral Harry Harris, you have truly jumped up your own ass.
[tags]fifa, world cup, guantanamo bay, suicide, rear admiral harry harris[/tags]
"I think we can conclude that the Muslim lobby in the U.S. is not as effective as they would like it to be."
How blindingly stupid would you have to be to think that only 1,000 people died in World War II? Jesus.
Anyway, Scott Adams suggests that it would be interesting to make people take a general knowledge test when voting. Nellie’s of the same opinion, but thinks people below a certain score shouldn’t be given a ballot.
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West 8 was announced as the winner of the waterfront redesign contest, so it looks like Toronto’ll be getting a great big maple leaf in our harbour. Nooooooot sure I like that, but any progress is welcome. [from Spacing]
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The Polaris prize: Canada’s answer to the Mercury Prize.
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Asshat see, asshat do. Sorta.
[tags]wwii, west 8, toronto harbourfront, polaris prize, mercury prize, same-sex marriage[/tags]
Adequate transit is just a fantasy, can you live this fantasy adequate transit?
Interesting Smart Economist article on the economic effects of an aging population. Among the more interesting statistics:
- In 1950, the median age in developed countries was 29; by 2000, the median age had risen to 37, and by 2050 this figure is projected to rise to 45.
- In Japan, in 1950, there were 9.3 people under 20 for every person aged 65 and older; by 2030, this ratio is predicted to fall to 0.59.
- Between 2003 and 2030, the fraction of elderly voters in the United States will rise from 19.8% to 30.5%.
- In 2005, the US government spent nearly 6.5% of GDP on transfers to the elderly; a shift of 10% of the population into retirement would cause federal transfers to increase by 4.7% of GDP — or over $500 billion.
That Japan statistic stunned me.
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Spacing points to this fantasy TTC map. Now that’d be pretty sweet…the airport connection, the line that runs up to where I go “away” on course, the Beach, Skydome (love the anti-Rogers station name!), and so on. Sigh…instead we’re stuck with a service prone to underfunding operated by a union prone to tantrums.
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Umm…that’s some Aldo Nova in the title. In case you were wondering.
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Three-armed babies freak me out.
[tags]economics, aging population, fantasy ttc, aldo nova, three armed baby[/tags]
Oh. My.
50 Ft Clerkie
As miserable a day as it was to be outside here in Toronto (especially if the TTC strike forced you to walk to/from work through the smog), it could be worse: you could be in Indonesia. Earthquakes, bird flu, angry volcanoes…even breakway country East Timor’s suffering through some bloodshed right now. Makes some 42 degree heat and a transit strike seem pretty tame, no?
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Angels Twenty has posted Tracy Bonham‘s cover of the PJ Harvey song “50 Ft Queenie”. If you know the PJ song go have a listen; I heard Tracy play it live a few years back and I nearly wet myself. I think I was the only person in the crowd who knew what song it was, so it was a private euphoria.
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Today at The Movie Blog I find a phrase that I never expected to read: “Clerks 2 Gets 8 Minute Standing Ovation At Cannes.” Did not see that comin’.
Still on Cannes, I can’t wait to see The Wind That Shakes The Barley, the Ken Loach film that won the Palme D’or.
[tags]ttc strike, smog, tracy bonham, pj harvey, cannes, clerks 2, wind that shakes the barley, ken loach[/tags]
Skirl | Dan Dickinson 