I forgot about these pictures. I took them of some early-morning infomercial. I’m pretty sure they’re an indication of just how koo koo bananas society’s become.
You know, every time I say "Zoilus" I sing it like the yodelling guy in the Yahoo commercial. I probably shouldn't.
Hey, Zoilus linked me. That’s pretty cool. Granted, there’re roughly 80,000 links on that page, but still…
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The Brixton Academy says: no crowdsurfing
Saving Face
Just checking the movie listings now that I’m back in town…Saving Face hit theatres here in Toronto last week. You should really go check it out.
“I had shoes like that during the revolution!”
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Jesus. As all news agencies are now reporting, London’s been hit with a series of bomb attacks. Obviously we’re home and safe. I spoke with my brother; he and his girlfriend are safe as well.
The more I think about this, the shakier I feel. I was at or very near some of those stations just two days ago. In fact, yesterday as we were leaving my wife said she wished we were staying for a few extra days, in part to celebrate the city winning the 2012 Olympics.
Stay tough, London. We’re thinking of you.
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We’re home. All went smoothly with the return flight. Now we’re just trying to stay awake long enough to get our bodies back on eastern time.
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Steps 1, 2 and 3 down. The walk to the tube and through Victoria station carrying two giant suitcases (Nellie overpacked) wasn’t the funnest, but the Gatwick express train was pretty sweet and the check-in took seconds. Some fast food and magazines before going through security; we learned from our Vienna flight and bypassed the security queue for the lone guy over in the corner. Fastest, friendliest security check ever.
So now we’re just waiting to board.I have two diverse magazines (The Economist and GQ) to occupy me, and my Nomad to entertain me. S’go!!
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We’re about to enter the home stretch now. Here’s the plan: short walk to tube station, tube to Victoria station, express train to Gatwick, flight to Toronto, taxi home. Somewhere in there is a lot of waiting before our flight, as well as at the luggage carousel. I reckon the whole trip should last about 13 hours.
The time we spend
Last night I saw Nine Inch Nails as they were meant to be seen: in a premier live music venue, not in a shitty arena in the last throes of death.
It was at the Brixton Academy, considered one of the best live music venues in London, that my brother, my wife and I saw them last night. Five years ago we saw them at the soon-to-be-defunct Maple Leaf Gardens in Toronto, and it just wasn’t the same experience. There’s something about standing on the floor, shrouded in smoke, plastic cups banging into the backs of your feet as they drift drunkenly down the sloped floor, sweat dripping down your back and fully running down your forehead, the cheap beer from the pub round the corner weighing heavy on your bladder…it was just a completely different feeling.
And the venue itself is amazing. Great sightlines (even for short people like Nellie), great sound, beautifully decorated inside…just light years ahead of the rickety seats and neck-cricking discomfort of MLG five years ago.
The show itself: awesome. As good as five years ago, maybe better. Incredible energy. Trent doesn’t beat the shit out of his band like he used to, and it’s a good thing: the man is ripped now. The guitarist threw some shit around, but that was about it. The light show was pummelling, but at the same time threw some very cool shadows up on the walls (at the end of “With Teeth” it looked like Trent was beating himself on the head with a tambourine). All five of us enjoyed it. It was a great way to finish off the vacation.
Skirl | Dan Dickinson 