Johnny Carson dead at 79 (from the CBC)

Argh. We need to give the Toronto-based media something to keep them occupied, or they’ll keep reporting on how bad the weather is.

Seriously, guys, it’s Canada. It’s January. It’s gonna be cold. We know this. Wear a scarf. And 15-30 cm of snow? Really not that much. Go talk to people in Newfoundland or the BC interior or Nunavut if you want to hear about snow. Honestly, the rest of the country is still making fun of Toronto for the storm that caused Mayor Mel to call in the army. We don’t need to add fuel to the fire.

Suck it up.

Now that Before Sunset (imdb | rotten tomatoes) is out on DVD, we rented both it and Before Sunrise (imdb | rotten tomatoes) and watched them back to back. I remember Before Sunrise coming out when I was in university, but I hated Ethan Hawke (I still do) and didn’t know who Julie Delpy was (I do now, but don’t like her either).

That said, I loved both movies. That’s pretty impressive, especially since I dislike the actors and found the characters a little whiny, and all they have to hold your attention is dialogue (and scenery). But Richard Linklater managed to make me feel as if I were a part of that first night, like it was an experienced I shared as well as them. So during the second movie, I felt invested in the reunion.

Speaking of the scenery, I was taking in as much of Vienna as I could during the first film; we’re going in July. I wonder how many people have visited that tiny cemetary, just because they loved the film?

Given the weather (snowstorm, cold, blowing winds, etc.) we’ve decided to huddle indoors for warmth for the weekend. We’ve stocked up on movies & snacks, I have tons of reading material (only about half of which is for my HR class), I bought a bottle of this. The only way it could be better is if the Toronto Star hadn’t forgotten to deliver my paper this morning.

My poor wife had to go to work today though…but just for a few hours.

On an unrelated note, good for Paul Martin.

Tilting at windmills

The Globe and mail reports that the recording industry isn’t really hurting so much after all. They attribute the good fortune to “anti-piracy campaigns, consumers’ frustrations with the glitches of file sharing, lower CD price tags and a popular crop of new release”. The latter two: maybe. The first two: laughable.

The president of HMV Canada nails it: “When there’s good-quality music, people will buy.” While I rarely buy CDs from HMV due to high cost and shite selection, it’s hard to argue with that sentiment. I have no problem paying $15-20 for a good CD, nor does anyone else I know. I know some pretty big music fans, and most of them are computer-savvy enough to download music, and not one of them thinks that downloaded music is a substitute for buying the CD.

I refer the CRIA to something John McClane said in Die Hard: “If you’re not part of the solution, you’re part of the problem. Quit bein’ part of the fuckin’ problem and put the other guy back on.”

If you know what I mean.

While economists aren’t often publicly given over to humour, especially as part of their job, I have to appreciate Bank of MOntreal’s Sherry Cooper, who at least has the occasional quirky headline. For example, today’s is “Cdn CPI: Far From The Adding Crowd”. How many people would just throw Thomas Hardy in there for fun?

Tired of listening to people having loud, annoying cell phone conversations? Download these and carry them with you.

Oh, Stanzi. Stanzi, Stanzi, Stanzi. You told me to add Blue Crush (imdb | rotten tomatoes) to my ziplist, because you love it so. Quel mistake. It was like Karate Kid with skinny girls. Only good feature of the movie were the visually impressive waves, and they might’ve been the best actors too. Sad. But we’re all allowed a crap movie now and then.

I keep listening to Green Day‘s American Idiot and Movement by The Gossip. Oh, and the song “Mystery And Misery” by Rainer Maria is my favourite song this week. Love that fuzzy guitar.

Man, first the shaky lady, and now Better Living Centre points us to the Sun’s j’accuse regarding the lady who gives out stickers on Yonge Street. From now on I’m only giving money to beggars who are clearly falling-down drunk.