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It's Tuesday January the 31 around 11:46PM and
*Let me just state from the outset, that I like The West Wing. And if they had actually done something with
Kristin Chenoweth - say sun tanning, or changing, or swiming, instead of having her lecture Toby the show wouldn't have been canceled. Seriously. She on the
cover of March's FHM. NBC loses, again. Wow, if this is really her
website, I take it all back. She's dead to me.
*In other tv news. American Idol destroyed the other White House drama "Commander in Chief" so badly that it's going to have a time out for at least 6-weeks. It's rating went from the high water marks of 16.4 million but is now falling past the 10.4 million into 39 place. Ouch. Meanwhile NBC is rolling out Britney Spears as a guest star for already departing Will & Grace.
*Sharon Stone is heading back to Vancouver to shoot "When a Man Falls in a Forest" for a February 20 thru March 18 window. I do appreciate how Hollywood North Report brought up the last time Stone was in town. It meant box office poison and the end of Halle Berry's career. That was called Catwoman. Then again, Basic Instinct 2 is almost here, so this could be the swan song.
*Okay Google. You can restrict search in China, you can take on Bill Gate and Microsoft, but is it really wise to try to mess with Steve Jobs and iTunes? [New York Post]
*The Superficial has the quote of the day on the terrible news of Lindsay Lohan's lost diary. "Unfortunate, because I'm sure we were all wetting ourselves with anticipation to read entries like: "Dear Diary, today I made out with Fez! LOL OMG!!! And then I threw up in the toilet! LOL!!! Eating is for loser fatties!"
*Kind of a cool spec ad spot for Bank of America, show the birth of The Golden Gate Bridge. [Boards]
*And while we are posting ads, this Longhorn Steakhouse ad is insane. Jinge? Lou Ferrigno? Come on?
It's Tuesday January the 31 around 11:28PM and
This is good news. Our sister site, Fed Kicker finally limped to life this evening to cover the "State of the Union" address. Of course, Fed Kicker is all about politics, mostly Canadian politics, but we begin tonight, South of the border, with the American State of the Union. There is some live blogging coverage.
Expect daily political coverage starting this month!
It's Tuesday January the 31 around 10:23PM and
Holy crap. So this Ben Stiller, Vancouver shot film, Night at the Museum is going to be huge. They added
Robin Williams as Teddy Roosevelt last week. This week they
added Ricky Gervais to the cast playing someone really uptight.
Gervais, the famed Office star, contrary to what our father suggested, is completely hilarious, and the fact that he is coming to Vancouver is big news. Is it too much to hope that Williams and Gervais will end up doing a comedy night at some point?
More: If you haven't gotten your fix of monkey news this week yet, Monday's 9th Episode of The Ricky Gervais show podcast is up. Listen. It's good.
It's Tuesday January the 31 around 9:07PM and
Wow. Jovo is out, but just like
Rory Gilmore saved Paris's ass and the Yale newspaper tonight, the show must go on. I'm pretty sure that this is officially the first
Gilmore Girls - Vancouver Canucks cross blog posting mess ever. The Wonder Twins are just in here for good measure, you dig.
Where was I? Right, Vancouver soundly beat Phoenix 7-4 in Glendale Arizona tonight.
Game highlights: Auld saves 42. Sendin Sister Henrik had 4-points. Nasland returns with Goal. Bertuzzi scores (empty net, lame). Even Tyler "I haven't scored a goal since March 2004" Bouck scored. Trevor Linden and Ryan Kessler each had two helpers. 7-goals on 26 shots = scary efficient.
Nice to see Crawford scold the team anyway, that's hot:
"We have to be better than we were today," said Vancouver head coach Marc Crawford. "We took too many dumb penalties. We keep doing that; we keep giving teams a chance to get back in games."
It's Tuesday January the 31 around 9:01PM and
I hate to write about weather. But when Vancouver sets a record, you have to give props, right? "The British Columbia city endured 29 days of rain over the 31 days in January, the most for the month since weather watchers began keeping records in 1937."
It's Tuesday January the 31 around 8:00AM and
*Burger King, and thier hip agency are having waaay to much fun with thier next campaign. More pictures of The King and Brooke Burke. This time it looks like he has made her his queen after spending the night. [
Hollywood Rag]
*One of my favs, Wonkette is tanned, rested, and ready for '06 - hopefully some live blogging of the State of the Union tonight, which is like the Super Bowl of politics. It's got a redesign, and two new editors. But wait, what about the 'ette' asks Defamer. [Wonkette]
*The new Jack White (and Brendan Benson) side project The Raconteurs has a throwback DOS website. [Stereogum]
*DataWhat? in a few short links explains the all powerful interweb. Midget breakdance off. More Lisa Loeb. Chewy blog.
*Family Guy rules. Stewie beats Brian up for screwing him on a bet. Wheres my money. Brian doing the Peanut Butter Jelly time will make you feel better. Right.
*Yeah, we like cool short films, John Malkovich, and big ads. But on what planet does a glossy 10-minute short scream, tires. [Adrants]
*Chris Walken in space. Magnificent. Click it.
It's Tuesday January the 31 around 7:43AM and
William Vince got the call.
Capote was nominated for best picture this morning as the
Oscar nominations were announced.
The Vancouver producer's film garnered a few (five to be exact - that we can see anyways) nominations including Philip Seymour Hoffman for Best Actor, Adapted Screenplay, Best DIrector, and Kathryn Keener for Best Supporting Actress.
It's Monday January the 30 around 8:14PM and
With
Ed Jovanovski out of the Olympics and gone from the Canucks for at least 6-weeks for abdominal surgery,
Vancouver Canucks Oped has a fun game to play in the morning. And we're so in! "Which morning newspaper has the bigger disaster-ready headline on Tuesday morning? The Vancouver Sun or The Province?"
In other Canucks news, Hockey Dirt is getting all Moneyball - er Moneypuck on us - calculating goalie win-costs. The league average win-cost for goalies is $123,545.58. And of course everyone's favorite Canuck whipping boy Alex Auld is a total bargain at $24,428.57 per win - making him #1. I bet this is his first kick at "it" status. Auld, call your agent man.
It's Monday January the 30 around 7:28PM and
In the morning you read a report that housing is like totally expensive here in Vancouver. A few hours later you read about the city's newest luxury condo building, The Erickson. Ah Vancouver you wicked temptress. Named for famed master architect Arthur Erickson, the building is, "planned to be 20 floors, with just three units per floor, each residence offers expansive private balconies or terraces which include panoramic views of the False Creek waterfront, North Vancouver mountains or the city. Water views are offered on three sides of the building."
The units will fetch between the pauperish $1.4 million and the outrageously insane $4 million and should be ready for 2008. No deadbeats need apply, as reservations are needed just to view the presentation suite.
View the extremely smug flash site here, if you dare.
It's Monday January the 30 around 7:33AM and
*Groins. With Nasland out of the lineup the other night, and the other injuries, the Canucks were missing $15-million of their $39-million payroll. That's nuts. Nasland is expected to sit out again. [Vancouver Sun]
*File this under bottom feeding press release. Orbitz, the online travel site, was sending this out this morning: "Orbitz Wants Travelers to 'Feel the Love' With Romantic Getaway Hotel Sale In 20 U.S. Markets and the Caribbean". We can't help it, PR headlines are awesome. If you keep reading, Vancouver pops up in 4th place for Valentine's destinations internationally.
*This just in...Vancouver has no office space, and housing is really expensive and is "severly unaffordable".
*Gwenyth Paltrow was in town with her Cold Play husband Chris Martin this past week. Lainey didn't stalk her at all, which is disapointing, but another article about her appeared in yesterday's Province.
*Apropos of nothing at all, we always thought the 1977 SNL Hercules skit was the best. But it would always be special when they did the 1987 sequel, "Il Returno De Hercules". Bill Murray is a genuis.
It's Monday January the 30 around 7:16AM and
24 Hours and The Province are totally having a tabloid off. Today they both try to capitalize on the start of the Pickton seriel killer trial. But you really have to give The Province credit, they take the cake - although the headline "Pickton Case Opens" is totally not up to snuff with The New York Post even if the visual is. The "24 for 24" Keifer Sutherland promo at the top seems like a bit of a miscue - is this all about "24" - but whatever. Meanwhile 24 Hours loooks like they wanted to lead with the Pickton stuff, but then when, stop the presses, "Gung hei fat choy" and slapped a parade photo on the cover. Amateurs.
It's Sunday January the 29 around 6:20PM and
*Ever since I happened to get a chance look/read of Lego's internal brand book - beautifully designed and printed, and obsessively written - and let's be honest the Lego always ruled growing up, I've had a special place in my heart for this block building junk. But honestly, who knew they were still so hip and popular.
Wired Magazine has a great story on how Lego is going to win in the interactive 21st century. The Crazy
Lego Factory site is just the start.
*Vancouver is planning on getting in on the new wave of art gallery/museum upgrades that drive the modern business of the art world. Before it was just a thought - but it is now increasingly certain that the Vancouver Art Gallery will move to a new space in the next few years. The Globe and Mail reports that the gallery has to stay downtown, might still keep the current location for traditional works, and could move to the top floor of the Sears building on Georgia.
*Winona Ryder. Sure she stole stuff. Sure she hasn't had a good movie since, um, wait a second since Heathers? What was that 1989? Wow. Whatever, she's back appparently. Botox'd and ready to rock. But come on love, even touching Fez is just bad.
*Amanda Congdon at Rocketboom takes us into a super secret dance society. So cute.
*Have you seen the ridiculous ads about the new Gilette Fusion razor? It's got 5 blades - nooooo waaaay - and an teaser ad campaign that looks like Revenge of the Sith. Doesn't make any sense.
*Speaking of Star Wars and all things that are completely ridiculous. There is a british dude who seems dress up as a Storm Trooper and travel all over Japan. Creepy meter: 8/10. [Via Cinematical]
*Nooooooo! Peanut Butter Federline. That and a lot more K-Fed on Boing Boing.
*Double Nooooooo! Combined $42+ million at the box office this weekend. Big Momma's House 2 ($28 million) and Nanny McPhee ($14.085 million). What the hell? We will pay for this. Mark my words.
*Lastly, over at Newsdesigner the newspaper frontpages from twenty years ago this weekend - the covers are from January 28th, the day of the Space Shuttle Challenger explosion.
It's Saturday January the 28 around 10:45PM and
So miracle of miracles, the Canucks battle with Colorado into a shootout, and manage to come out victorious 4-3 halting the 3-game slide. Of course now that Alex Auld is making 40 saves in a night, playing what some called the best period of hockey in his career, and all that, we can now concentrate on wondering which is the real number one line on this team right?
In other game news, the Ave's fans really went out of their way to roll out the red carpet for their favorite nemesis, Todd Bertuzzi. Starting with a slash on Bertuzzi late in the 2nd period the Canucks Blog reports, "The fans in Colorado are cheering…" And then midway in the 3rd from Vancouver Canucks Oped: "More awesome stuff from Denver. A couple of idiot Avs fans throw an item over the glass at Bertuzzi mid-way through the 3rd period. After much debate, arena officials decline to eject the fans, and then the rest of the building starts booing Bertuzzi again. (Because, you know, it’s really his fault that they’re acting like such total freaking morons.)"
It was apparently giveaway night - Rob Blake nesting dolls in fact. Is that not the worst giveaway in the world, or is it just me? PS, Colorado hockey games sound like a Jerry Springer show taping: "I saw a guy with a Nuks Suck shirt. Oh and some girl in a section near me came to the game way drunk and threw up all over the place in the 1st...... it was just an eventful night in the stands I guess... lol. Fight, flipping off/throwing stuff at bertuzzi, and puking all over the place." You stay classy.
It's Saturday January the 28 around 8:21PM and
A few weeks back we reported on the
ousting of then editor Matthew Mallon of Vancouver Magazine. It wasn't like we danced the fox trot on this news, but some readers didn't enjoy our tough talk about Vancouver's un-fun Vanity Fair. At any rate the mag has a new editor for us to write about. Meet Gary Ross. Here's an older bio ('cause you know they don't have any information out about this yet, and no February issue either:
Gary Ross is editor of Saturday Night magazine. A former partner in the publishing firm Macfarlane Walter & Ross, he is also an award-winning magazine editor and writer. Now BC-based, he has served as a senior editor at Toronto Life and authored books, including his bestseller Stung: The Incredible Obsession of Brian Molony, which was recently adapted into the film Owning Mahowny.
What we found interesting, was this bit of dirt about Ross from Antonia Zerbisias - and you know I'm scratching the bottom of the barrel when I'm quoting her. But damn if she isn't right.
Strange considering its title. You'd think that something called Saturday Night would be, in this age of celebrity and cheekiness, glammed up with Vanity Fair-style profiles and features. But no.
I could never quite put my finger on why this was -- until last month when I attended a St. Joe's film fest party for both Saturday Night and its sister publication, Toronto Life. There I met Ross who told me commuted back and forth from his home in B.C. to edit the magazine. He quizzed me at length about blogs, and I got the distinct impression that he was not as clued in about much of what was happening in the online and pop culture universe. I just didn't pick up any kind of passion from him.
Of course, I was drinking these weird blue martinis at the time so my impressions might be coloured by a vodka fog.
So on the one hand, he seems to be interested in blogs which is interesting - will Vancouver Magazine? Toronto Life wasn't - but on the other hand, he doesn't seem to be a burning fire of passion on the topic of cool. Of course, Saturday Night is defunct, again, and Ross is now in Vancouver working for a magazine that has trouble in the best of times updating its website. But for the sake of fun, let's just see what he does with it
It's Saturday January the 28 around 12:20PM and
Coldplay came to town this week and they left people with a bad taste in their mouth. In fact one reviewer named Jen over at
World Wide Water Cooler gave the bad news for Mr Paltrow and co. fans:
"Ok, so maybe I was expecting too much in the way of musical genious from an arena show. So instead I’ll focus on the stage presence and showmanship. I can sum that up in two words: HALF ASSED. They could’ve done so much more than they did with the light/graphic setup they had...
Bottom line, there was not only nothing impressive, but there was no theme or continuity to their stage show, which is absolutely essential in a stadium show, where the artist wants to reach the person in the top row at the very back, just as much as the person front row centre.
But another, Jenn - this time Jennifer Good - really liked Coldplay. That's two Jens on Coldplay, and two different opinions.
The whole two-day mess was obviously not as entertaining as this hilarious interview between Chris Martin and Ricky Gervais. Seriously this is unbelievable - listen to the whole thing:
Gervais: "Now you like to buy clothes from third world sweat shops because they are cheaper, do you prefer Chinese or Indian made stuff.
Martin: "Indian. Chinese don't know what they are doing."
It's Friday January the 27 around 8:15AM and
*We are now in full on crush mode over Lainey, er, Elaine Lui, the 32-year old vancouverite gossip monger behind
Lainey's Entertainment Update. Maybe it is all the smutty gossip, or maybe it is this, "In some circles, I'm known as the Chinese Gwyneth Paltrow. Minus the designer clothes, rail thin body, rock star husband, fruit inspired daughter, and Academy Award. Other than that, we are like the same person." [
24 Hours]
*You know this kind of a headline, "Mayors to form super group", is so awesome it defies reason. I was hoping for some sort of touring rock show, but instead this is just the local mayors forming another group for meetings.
*As you maybe aware, I totally enjoy a good press release. Sometimes thier titles are ridiculous, Case in point: "Singer Michael Bublé Starts a New Tour and Performs All Over TV" All over TV? Gross. And thank god we read it, because Buble is making an appearance on Dancing With the Stars. This is good, how?
*China has warned tourists to Vancouver to watch thier wallets when travelling here. Thanks China. [Vancouver Sun]
*It really doesn't get any better than James Lipton reading lyrics from K-Fed's song "PopoZow."
*Then again, maybe it does get better. Karate Kid Cobra Kai T-shirt anyone? Wow.
*Yes, it does get better. "Sing Along Lovely Football" - It's developed by Strawberry Frog, and includes an online karaoke competition. Oh and it's really about selling Onitsuka (Asics) Tiger shoes
It's Thursday January the 26 around 10:12PM and
Highest highs. Lowest lows. That is the true Canucks game. Tonight was no exception either.
Vancouver drops another one 2-1 to the Detroit Red Wings and can this stat be right - they had only 15 shots on net. If you are trying to keep score at home, that means three loses in a row, but don't sweat it, it wasn't Auld's fault - he stopped 33 shots.
Ya, right, sure, and just like Mr. Blonde in Reservoir Dogs says, "Either he's alive or he's dead, or the cops got him... or they don't. "
In other game notes check this out: "Every single time Todd Bertuzzi touched the puck, the Joe was filled with boos," writes Christy Hammond at Behind the Jersey. "In between the 1st and 2nd period, they brought out a Toyota truck and the entire time it was on the ice, the crowd booed their heads off. But when a Jeep was brought out in the next intermission, no problems at all. Quite entertaining."
Wow Bertuzzi hating plus Toyota hating. That's really quite something, but the real question is how Bertuzzi could have possibly been overlooked for GQ's 10 Most Hated Athletes list. Worse, listen to this from Hockey Dirt:
"What does it say about the NHL or GQ that not a single hockey player made the cut but some guy named Michael Iaconelli did? Michael Iaconelli? A professional bass fisherman? Number 6 on the list? What could a fisherman possibly do generate hatred? File down opponents' hooks? Tangle their fishing lines? Cut holes in their nets? Shake up their Budweisers? Tell the truth about how big it is?"
It's Thursday January the 26 around 7:29AM and
*Save me from drowning in the sea. Worst. Airline. TV Spot. Music Lyrics. Ever. But it's catchy and those Korean Air uniforms are dead sexy. [Via Gridskipper]
*Alex Baldwin, his incredible hairy chest, and Adam Sandler in Canteen Boy - from a distant SNL period of creepy funny.
*Movies: Brokeback Top Gun and Sleepless in Seattle recut as thriller.
*Last word on Sundance from City Rag. "When did Sundance become a hotbed for D-List celebrity has-beens?" Ouch. It burns.
It's Wednesday January the 25 around 10:23PM and
Police dogs are pretty rad. In fact all dogs who are forced to work instead of licking themselves and chase cats kind of rule. I can imagine that Nitro, the police dog who died on duty Monday after being run over by a train was a really nice dog too. And he's getting a public memorial next month which is pretty awesome.
It's Wednesday January the 25 around 9:46PM and
I never thought I would have to post anything about Two And A Half Men, but what are you gonna do. But we never thought we post about
Emmanuelle Vaugier either. Who? Well, this Vancouver gal is on the
cover of Maxim this month. It's a shame about the tv show. Obviously the bar is fairly low for the star power of the cover girls these days, but Emmanuelle is fairly, er, saucy.
*Good thing we have Emmanuelle Vaugier on Maxim, since Lions Gate Entertainment just sold it's Vancouver Studios to Bosa Development for $41.6 million according to Hollywood North Report. The question is how long it is before Lions Gate gets snapped up by a big studio.
*And this screenwriting post on Craigslist is adorable. "We are a new low budget studio. We have first look deals with worldwide distributors and have the finances to produce a low budget horror feature film. The script must be made for 100K so nothing too ambitious. We have Producers and Directors lined up. We are looking for the perfect script. Screen writer will receive an honorarium as well as % points in the back end. If the script is good, we will make a significant return. "
*Here's a question. Why does Catherine Zeta-Jones insist on doing commercials? And of course, she films them here - this week staying in the Opus Hotel. And will can only hope we will be getting some really great star spottings of Dick Van Dyke and Mickey Rooney as they get set to film with Ben Stiller in Night at the Museum.
It's Wednesday January the 25 around 9:09PM and
*
The New York Times has over 1,200 obituaries in the can for people who are not, well, dead yet. Editor & Publisher has a very interesting piece on the wierd world of pre-obit writing.
*Speaking of dead, Absolute is moving away from 25 years and 1,500 versions of print ads. The new ads developed by TBWA/Chait/Day in New York moves the brand in a way to compete with all the new vodkas that have come in the market since then, by using cultural icons and landmarks.
*Travel Trunp Style? In the words of Gawker: "Maybe it’s just us, but when we’re planning our vacation, we’d rather not be anywhere near his creepy mug." OMG, the welcome message from Trump is totally AMAZING! [GoTrump.com]
*More Ads: The new commercial for the Nike Air Max 360, featuring the classic "Rock And Roll Ain't Noise Pollution" by AC/DC is pretty awesome. 1. How much did that cost? 2. Watch the intro on the AC/DC website and think - wow, someday the interweb is going to really be something big. 3. It even makes swimming and running seem cool. 4. Ah Micro sites, you are the bane of my existence? Compare this ad to this ad featuring the Dodge SRT Ram at the gates of hell. Clense the pallet with this go back in time Heineken ad to the tune of Steeler's Wheels.
*Our Sundance coorespondent just got back. Not much to report, except of course tales of the ridiculous gifting tents for the fat celebrities that included Rob Lowe and his entourage taking about 20 bags of stuff. If you want to read more on this obnoxious practice, check it at Jossip. Oh, and there was of course, the roped off V.I.P. area inside a roped off V.I.P. area - such wicked awesomeness - too bad the only person inside the inner section was Fez for gooness sakes. Sadly our reporter wasn't in the real thick of the action like this. Although it sounds like there may have been some GMail hijinks in the Yahoo! Cafe.
*More Sundance: Nice to see Paul Giamatti's decent into total hobo is nearing completion. Nice to see Shannon Elizabeth put down the poker chips for 5 seconds to go to Sundance. Her website is really awesome - check out the what's new section for a really super 2003 press release - she's very busy. Even Dawson Leary shows up. Meanwhile, Defamer notes Cameron Diaz and JT "look like Snake Eyes and Storm Shadow hitting the slopes."
*Not many people will care about this, but Cinematical writes about Whit Stillman - who's Barcelona is simply great - getting back behind the camera, living in Paris, and the Metropolitan Criterion next month. Sweet!
*Worth clicking on pretty much everything over at Design Observer people. Go there. Hit that.
It's Wednesday January the 25 around 9:04AM and
*Reading Ad Age this morning and came across
this headline: "NEW EFFORT TO GLAMORIZE CIGARETTES LAUNCHED - R.J. Reynolds Opens Tony Chicago Smoking Lounge." This is super news.
"Now, in a controversial bid to revive the romance of a habit that’s costly, potentially deadly and increasingly on the social fringes, R.J. Reynolds is openly celebrating cigarette smoking. Its new Chicago smoking lounge, critics fear, could set a brazen tone for a new phase in the marketing of a product that once plastered magazines, billboards and sporting events with iconic images and bright logos."
*Good times. The Magnum P.I. movie is finally becoming a reality. Voice Over: " I know what you're thinking. Forcing the issue with Blaylock was kind of like cramming for finals the night before. But you can't be a student forever. Sooner or later, you have to graduate." Who wants a mustache ride?
*Always a favorite here at The Vancouverite - Thanks Google! - Anna Benson. Drowning her sorrows after her husband is traded from the Mets to the Orioles with a fine photo shoot!
It's Tuesday January the 24 around 2:33AM and
Well, did I miss anything? Ha ha, very funny Canada, returning over 100 Liberals to work (even
Belinda Stronach won! We used to enjoy her, mostly her legs, before she dated Peter McKay and went crazy.) - that is priceless. But seriously, the Conservatives won with 124 seats. Let's get some useless fun facts out of the way:
-Quebec must have gorged on cheese and booze to elect 10 Conservatives. Non? Foreign Affairs Minister Pierre Pettigrew was voted off the island, the space candidate Marc Garneau lost by nearly 10,000 votes.
-Um, welcome our new 'Tory Glory' overlords. I think there was a Simpson's episode where Homer becomes an inventor and thinks up the make up shotgun. Marge isn't amused, and thinks it was set on whore. Interesting. It looks a lot like these Tory Gals. Yeah. Okay.
-Paul Martin is quiting as Liberal leader. But really, will he really stay as an MP? Who is he kidding?
-Alberta finally rid themselves of those pesky Liberal enclaves by sending deputy PM Anne McLellan packing plus her collegue Reg Alcock.
-And of course, over here, the NDP made some big gains on the west coast. Sadly, the five new NDP seats in BC did not includes Svend Robinsons.
It's Sunday January the 22 around 9:41PM and
So, we are less than 24 hours away from another election in Canada. It seems like this election has dragged on forever - so much so that not even the evil genuis politicos in the basement of Liberal HQ could convince Canada that Stephen Harper is really George W. Bush on Halloween.
Before I get to some very last minute political notes, I have a programming note for The Vancouverite: Due to scheduling conflicts, posting election results won't begin until late into the evening - you may get a few five-word jumble, but our clever services are needed elsewhere to fight crime or something like that. Until then here are some last minute thoughts:
*First. Will you just go and please vote already. And unlike some other people in this town, I could care less who you vote for. Apparently you can't vote Tuesday, just Monday. Got it?
*Why should you vote? Because your vote actually means something. And even better, the election may not be over within the first 10 seconds of the results this time. The country may actually be holding thier breath for BC's results. It's not too late to jump on that drunken with power Liberal band wagon people.
*Andrew Coyne's pre-election seat projector lists the parties as: Fascists, Crooks, Commies, and Traitors.
*This buger poll will be the least likely to accually predict the results. Let me go out on a limb here - Jack Layton is winning two things tommorow: Jack (pardon the pun) and squat - and Jack, heh, just left town.
*This is almost unfair. A day before the election, and there are 218 reasons not to vote Liberal. That's 218 reasons to choose your Canada. I did not make this up. Maybe some fun election videos will make Uncle Paul feel better.
*Always look on the lighter side of life. Check this one - 22 Minutes' version of a Liberal ad: "Stephen Harper wants to give old people a wedgie, then set a brown paper bag filled with dog poop on fire, then leave it on their front porch, ring the door bell, and run away. He said he'd do that. We didn't make that up. Choose Your Canada."
*Our French is not very good, but is this last Bloc ad some sort of Stephen Harper Brokeback Mountain attack? And the cowboy seems like high brow stuff compared to these local Conservative ads which are just awful.
It's Sunday January the 22 around 4:59PM and
*Hopefully next week our Sundance Correspondent will hook us up with some juicy Hollywood gossip. Until then, you can read about
Vancouver director Julie Kwan's Eve & the Fire Horse which got a pretty solid reaction at its screening. And Julie seems to have it going on with her deliciously catty swipe at Jennifer Anniston on her
Diary on CBC: "Last night, we had a three-hour dinner, so we missed the opening gala party for the Jennifer Aniston film, Friends with Money. I’m glad not to have seen Jennifer Aniston." Review of the film at
Cinematical.
*You can't go anywhere on the net, really, without seeing an increasing amount of creepy Burger King content. Today's selection is more video of the King riding horses on the beach with Brooke Burke. Terrifyingly hot.
*Obviously the quote of the week. The Superficial on Kate Moss's questionable taste in men: ""You could stick her in a room with Brad Pitt, George Clooney, and the Kool-Aid Man, and five minutes later all you'd hear would be 'Ohhhhhh Yeah!'"
*The interesting tale of Tang in China. It was called Fruit Treasure and they served it warm.
*Thankfully NBC puts West Wing and Will & Grace out of their misery.
*Something tickles me about a less than superlative review of a celebrity backed restaurant. I know that's a little sad. But Mr. Demi Moore's connected Geisha House in L.A. gets what is coming to it. "Most of our interaction with the staff is smile-and-nod on the outside, but gag-roll-eyes- oh-really?-hmm on the inside," writes LAist. "Our server is dressed in what is supposedly traditional japanese fisherman’s garb, but looks like a striped Benetton shirt from 1985. He lets us know that they 'have a sommelier,' and gently translates for us...it 'means wine connoisseur.' Oh really? We would never have known such a fancy word! Thank you so much for clarifying, Benetton boy. By the way, 'clarify' means 'make clear.'"
*The movie wasn't all that great, but the look back at Frank Sinatra's Lady in Cement over at Exquisitely Bored in Nacogdoches is totally hot. (Part II is here)
It's Friday January the 20 around 6:27AM and
The Vancouver Sun gives Stephen Harper a lukewarm endorsement today.
During this campaign, however, the Conservatives have rolled out a far-reaching program that offers new approaches to important issues like government accountability, health care and crime. Meanwhile, Harper himself has shown a new political maturity. While Martin appeared erratic at times, Harper stuck to his platform and his plan, and started to show the composure and focus we expect from a prime minister.
Meanwhile the Sun's messy little brother, The Province, does the same:
Conservative Leader Stephen Harper, who will never be accused of too much style and not enough substance, assembled a strong team for the election of 2006. He charged out the gate and seized the agenda through a series of thoughtful and "very Canadian" policy initiatives.
It's Thursday January the 19 around 10:51PM and
*A
Lululemon store in Ottawa has a crazy Stephen Harper cutout head on top of a manequin. The window display says, "Stephen 'twinkle toes' Harper". Sadly no ass pants in sight for the Harper campaign.
*There is this crazy news that during the Oscars this year Coke is going to turn back the clock and bring back Tab. Sorry TaB. This time the diet cola will be branded as Tab Energy. "Tab Energy, Coke’s attempt at reviving that diet franchise, will star during the Oscar fest. Two TV spots, created by Kirshenbaum Bond & Partners, New York, will debut during the telecast. “The energy drink category is exploding and no one is talking to women," said a source. Tab execs were said to be in talks to use Gwen Stefani’s music in ads, but no deal is likely." And here's some amazing walks down Tab memory lane and here are some old print ads for the TaB. (Via Ad Jab)
*The search for the smelliest cheese in the world.
*The whole Che themed Storm Troopers thing is crizz-azzy. (More at Industrial Brand Creative)
*The new house of writer Susan Orlean is profiled in The New York Times. Stunning.
It's Thursday January the 19 around 10:28PM and
The Canucks kept pace the Calgary Flames at the top of the Northwest Division as they beat the Buffalo Sabres tonight 4-1. While the big guns for Vancouver weren't really firing tonight, the grinders of Alexandre Burrows and Nolan Baumgartner.
Post game talking points: Alex Auld is playing like he wants be the guy. So is he? Afterall, he did add an assist tonight, right. Basically he's saving Dave Nonis' ass and buying him some time - but the question on everyone's mind is whether or not he could go 4 rounds in the playoffs? Talk amongst yourselves. Ah, you gotta love Vancouver fans: always wanting to jump on a bandwagon, and always ready and eager to snap necks jumping off. Plenty of room on Auld's wagon folks, step right up.
Overtime: I don't think I saw this DDB ad for the World Juniors. It's called "Dirty Shirt" and makes me dry heave. (Via Ad Jab)
It's Thursday January the 19 around 8:51PM and
*Thankfully now there is video of the
Burger King frolicking on the beach with Brooke Burke.
*I'm not sure what it is about this, but this could be one of our favorite book titles ever. "100 Posters, 134 Squirrels: A Decade of Hot Dogs, Large Mammals, and Independent Rock: The Handcrafted Art of Jay Ryan" (Amazon) This was also quite fitting since we ate lunch, for some insane reason, at the Pacific Center food court today. It was very Mall Rats, and yet the Orange Julius was delightfully rad.
*Dogs and cats living together. Axl Rose continues to tell people that Chinese Democracy will come out this year. And is that him sporting a Toronto Maple Leafs jersey? Butterfly flapping it's wings on the other side of the planet...
*Eliza Dushku on Conan O'Brien sports a ridiculous "The Best Girls Root For Boston” T-shirt. Then news that the Red Sox former GM Theo Epstein has rejoined Red Sox Nation. Coincidence? Me thinks not.
*Michel Gondry, the director, is quicky as all get out. And the fact that he won't let the suits and money men see his latest film, The Science of Sleep, before it screens at Sundance is typical. (Cinematical)
It's Thursday January the 19 around 8:31PM and
Gee, you aren't able to post anything for about 24 Hours, and you miss so much. While the rest of the country prepares to welcome our friendly Conservative overlord Stephen Harper with open arms, some local bloggers just didn't get the memo.
There is creepy shot of Stephen Harper's audition for Brokeback Mountain II, Beyond Robson begs you, "Please...Anyone but Harper", and of course, Matthew Good who sounds the alarm. "I have this terrible feeling that it’s going to be a good night for the Conservative Party, which I think would be a truly terrible thing for this country – most importantly from a foreign policy standpoint."
That hasn't stopped Vancouver Centre Conservative candidate Tony F (Fogarassy is cool, but crazy One letter mafia name is much cooler) thinks he can ride the wave of Harper-mania all the way to Ottawa, which will probably scare the crap out of Matt Good. Then again, The Georgia Straight picks Svend Robinson - I seem to remember they didn't pick winners in the Vancouver election back in November, but I digress.
It's Wednesday January the 18 around 8:37AM and
If you never read
Go Fug Yourself, you are seriously missing out. And this week, with the Golden Globes, is a perfect reason to check it out, especially this
full on assault of Ryan Reynolds' girlfriend Alanis Morissette:
Now, she's more like the oldest daughter in Eight is Enough, starring in a community theatre production of The Sound of Music, and this is her costume for the scene in which Captain Von Trapp throws the ball, and she's only supposed to be watching the children until they sing their little song and scamper up the stairs, and then the Baroness talks him into letting her stay for dinner -- mostly, of course, to vaguely humilate her and her convent-learned manners -- and she claims she has nothing to wear, and indeed puts on a this homespun looking little frock which pales next to the Baroness's shiny gold outfit, and of course, it doesn't matter, because Maria's spunky goodness is more than enough for the Captain to decide that there isn't going to be any Baroness, but in this instance, I think this is a little too All Natural Fibers Woven By Blind Carmelites, topped off with a haphazard salute to toplessness
.
That is so delicious, we can't wait to see Alanis here in Vancouver visiting Ryan on the set of Chaos Theory for more fashion police tales.
It's Wednesday January the 18 around 8:03AM and
It is always so thrilling to get to read Lynne McNamara swoon over Pierce Brosnan coming to town in her latest
Vancouver Sun column. But I'm left scratching my head about Brosnan's creepy new beard, and when she tries to give us the news on who is filming here in town. "We're not sure if former Friend David Schwimmer will be in town today and Thursday when his black comedy-farce, Big Nothing, hits Vancouver for a two-day shoot," writes Lynne. "The film, being directed by Jean-Baptiste Andrea (Dead End) shot the majority of its footage last month on Britain's Isle of Man. Not sure why they chose that self-governing kingdom in the first place, when the setting of what they're calling a tragi-comedy is a mythical place called Big Falls, Ore."
Well, Lynne, not sure if you are aware of this - probably not, since you work at CanWest and thier grasp of the whole interweb is, well, circumspect - but if you did just 10 seconds of searching on Google, you would have found The Isle of Man Film Commission. They throw cash at filmakers just like we do and throw the magic of film it can be anywhere right? Get it? Maybe next time you see your buddy Bill Vince, you can ask him all about it, he filmed 2005's Riipley Under Ground there.
Although we do like that while she gives David Schwimmer props for this two-day gig shooting The Big Nothing she gets the shooting details correct. Over at 24 Hours they are talking about how they are just starting production on this film.
It's Tuesday January the 17 around 5:38PM and
*There is word on "Black Christmas". This is a remake fo a 1974 film which is starting production here on the 30th. "The original Black Christmas was released in 1974 and was a Canadian production filmed in the Toronto area by Director Bob Clark (A Christmas Story, Porky's)," says
Hollywood North Report. "It's considered one of the original slasher flicks and follows the events at a sorority house over Christmas break. The Co-eds (Trachtenberg, Winstead, Cassidy) are terrorized by an obscene phone caller (Hudson) with a bloody agenda."
Two questions. 1. This better mean a lot of Michelle Trachtenberg sightings in town (like this). And I don't want a bunch of dumb, Lynne McNamara articles about how she was buying bath bombs at Lush either. 2. How is it that Oliver Hudson is still working? How many failed tv shows and poker failures does this guy have to be finished with his 11 minutes of c-list fame?
*Can you believe they are making The Transporter 3? Well, not really. In fact it's like that movie but Jason Statham is making "Rogue" in Vancouver. According to Dark Horizons, the "action-thriller with his 'The One' co-star Jet Li in the title role," is starting production in March.
"Music video director Philip Atwell (Eminem, NWA, Xzibit) will make his feature film directorial debut," reports Hollywood North Report. "The storyline revolves around Jack Crawford (Statham), whose partner Tom Lone and Lone's family are killed by an assassin for the Chang crime family. Crawford becomes obsessed with finding the elusive and brutal killer known as...Rogue (Li)."
It's Monday January the 16 around 10:18PM and
*The Prime Minister was in town today speaking to the Vancouver Board of Trade. Tough crowd. The place where Paul Martin once won praise for deficit fighting was quiet house as, "the business audience sat in stony silence as Mr. Martin laid out a long critique of Conservative Leader Stephen Harper's election platform costing." Martin, like some fanatical Cliff Ronning lovers want to return things to 1994/5.
*And Liberal Vancouver MP and Industry Minister David Emerson checks in with supportive quote following up Martin: "It's the last 10 minutes, you're down 3-1, we'd better pull the goalie soon." Reporters asked, do you mean pull Prime Minister Paul Martin? "No, it's not Paul Martin, er, the goalie is, er, uh, rough up a few Conservatives. I think I've said enough."
*Vanmega points out that Matt Pond PA and Youth Group are doing The Red Room on March 2nd. Tickets on sale Thursday. Also noticed this cup cake photo on Vanmega. Delicious.
*Did you watch the Golden Globes? Did you hear a certain actor, win a certain award, and get huge props? That was Vancouvers own Bill Vince, producer of Capote when Philip Seymour Hoffman give him and his Infinity Media huge ups.
*A friend of ours wanted a NDP/Svend Robinson button the other week. She was told they were rationing them, and since she wasn't technically in the riding the bastards at the Seymour office of the NDP said nyet. But we just found that you can get an amazing Jack Layton moustache icon for you MSN or Blog. Not sure if this is good or just plain creepy. More: The Conservatives now have a whole moustache tv spot, "Jack Talk".
It's Monday January the 16 around 9:25PM and
The Canucks played rope-a-dope with Pittsburgh rookie sensation Sidney Crosby as they cruised past the Penguins 4-2. Crosby scored for the first time during his teams now 7-game losing streak but Brendan Morrison and Todd Bertuzzi put pucks in the net for the win. I sure bet the team would like to play all the time vs. Eastern Conference teams - their now 8-1.
Post Game Rumors Galore Mosh Pit:
*Over at Canucks Corner, they want you to put Buffalo goaltender Martin Biron on your radar. Canucks GM Nonis has apparently be talking the talk with the Sabers.
*In a brief slow down in Cloutier rumors we dove into the Canucks posting forum. Wow that is a dark and dirty place you need scuba gear to navigate. Ed Jovanoksi is not injured. His groin is totally faked and he is resting for the Olympics.
*Forget getting a goaltender or offense, what we need is to get Cliff Ronning (preferably the 1994 version), or any other available over the hill midget, perhaps Theo Fleury. Bwhwhahahahahahaha. And now an official response from Professor Frink: "You've got to listen to me. Elementary chaos theory tells us that all robots will eventually turn against their masters and run amok in an orgy of blood and the kicking and the biting with the metal teeth and the hurting and shoving."
It's Monday January the 16 around 12:28PM and
There really isn't anything much better than a morning with the free newspapers in Vancouver. joy. This is journalism at it's best people. Take today for instance the cover choices of the two big ones:
*24 Hours does the magical rain go away cover, but if you look closely, you can see that they haven't disapointed us. For the 2nd time in three issues pole dancing is on the covers. Smut always sells, or in this case, gives away papers. Even if it is last week's news about Lindsay Lohan and Kate Moss and their exploits with a pole.
*But poor Metro Vancouver. They can't even get smut right when they want to. On today's cover, you have a news headline for this story, "Canadian killed in Kandahar". That's hard news - good for them. Too bad it is right beside a massive photo of scantily clad dancers from the Naughty But Nice Sex Show this weekend. Was the editor completely asleep at the wheel? Or was this an editorial decision to mix the hard news with the smut.
It's Monday January the 16 around 6:31AM and
What a total joke. We couldn't even break the 28 day rain record. What a let down.
It's Sunday January the 15 around 3:43PM and
*
Waiterblog reports that Sean Heather, of the Irish Heather (who knew), is set to open up Limerick Junction February 7th. The new space at the old Brickyard will be what Waiterblog describes as, "the most kickass place to watch European sports in town." The name is cool, and will help to isolate the soccer hooligans in one central spot, which will be fun. Meanwhile
Curious sounds interesting with the marsmellows and stuff - but I can't take the flash intro on thier site left me wanting to smash my mac into pieces.
*And there are a bunch more openings too. Butirmoth is blogging theirs. Century and Sansifir will be televising theirs.
*Vancouver based Keg Restaurants Ltd had a pretty good 2005 with total sales at $353.7 million for the 52-weeks ended January 2nd - that is up $31.9 million or 9.9%.
*Wine of the Week: Ceder Creek 2003 Meritage ($29.09). First the wine store in Yaletown on Mainland that sells only B.C. was a total disapointment but I'm torn. Is it that you don't want to find $12 wines in Yaletown? Or is it that you do? Not smug enough? Back to the mondo vino dude. I doubt it was done justice with the excellent crab and parmasean bruchetta, but you know what this wine was a big chocolate dipped cherry bomb and that's the way we liked it. I think it was still finishing in my mouth 12 hours later. That is not true, but we could dream. What the hell is a meritage fancy pants?
*Fancy chicken curry in a bag. You'd think that it would be bad. But it sounds pretty excellent.
*The famous local eatery the Normandy might just open once again. CKNW is reporting this evening that owner Joseph Siu might just open at a new location.
*Meanwhile the always charming Jenny Good toys with us by going to Cactus Club. At first I was going to say, wow, that looks like so much fun. But then I step back and say come on, it's a Cactus Club dood. Okay, we won't judge. Much.
It's Sunday January the 15 around 12:37PM and
*Finally a political attack ad featuring evil Spock, vomiting pumpkins. and Vanilla Ice. Thank you
Stephen Taylor. Speaking of Star Trek. Trek nerds are
fighting over whether or not Star Trek is for right wingers or left wingers. Wow. In the words of
William Shatner:
"Having received all your letters over the years, and I've spoken to many of you, and some of you have traveled... y'know... hundreds of miles to be here, I'd just like to say... GET A LIFE, will you people? I mean, for crying out loud, it's just a TV show! I mean, look at you, look at the way you're dressed! You've turned an enjoyable little job, that I did as a lark for a few years, into a COLOSSAL WASTE OF TIME! mean, how old are you people? What have you done with yourselves? You, you must be almost 30... have you ever kissed a girl?"
*It was nice to get a link from one of our favorite sites this week. Gawker Empire travel site GridSkipper gave us a nod on reporting the Pan Pacific's insane 1986 celebration. Good news mates, the 1986 party will swing longer as the do the brunch next Sunday, old school style as well.
*Don't you just wish that TV commercials were like this still?
*This is the sort of insane news that drives voters to throw the bums out and take three shots of jager and vote Harper. Apparently in 2004 the government thought nearly paying $1 million to redesign the logo for Canada (the Canadian wordmark basically) was a great idea. Did we mention that the logo already existed? We are not making this up.
Continue reading "Vancouverite Sunday Styles, Vol 6" »
It's Sunday January the 15 around 11:53AM and
Just as World War II, first with the European/D-Day front renaissance that started with
"Saving Private Ryan" in 1998, and this year with a focus on the Pacific theatre with another Tom Hanks mini-series called
"The Pacific War" coupled with Clint Eastwood's dualing movies of Iwo Jima (with
"Flags of Our Fathers" & "Red Sun, Black
Sand"). On our own sunshine coast,
John Weston, the nefew of
Smokey Smith - Vancouver's famous,
last Canadian surviving winner of the Victoria Cross - is running for office. We can't really seem to escape the power of the rich WWII canvas.
But I would suggest 2006 may also mark the begining of new interest in WWI and the Cold War too. Paul Gross's Passchendaele film should be getting underway this spring and will be a big Canadian movie at $20 million. And John Lewis Gaddis - the preeminent Cold War writer - is getting to do the rare feat of getting to write the post war history too with his new book, which should spark some interest as we come to grips with this thinking: "For the first time in history," Gaddis says of the period, "no one could be sure of winning, or even surviving, a great war."
It's Saturday January the 14 around 6:34PM and
This morning, after a 3-0 loss to the New Jersey Devils, Canucks fans must have been moping around complaining about the smelly, dirty, ugly loss last night. But tonight they took advantage of the New York Islanders as former player Todd Bertuzzi unloaded his big guns for the first time in 10 games in the form of a hat trick, and the Canucks slaughtered the Islanders 8-1.
Where the hell did that come from? And one more question - why would the Islanders ever think that these awful oragnge jerseys should get brought out?
This is amazing:
"The 14,203 fans in the stands were left to unleash nonspecific boos at their unproductive team. With Stirling already fired and Milbury on his way out, there was no remaining villain to chant against. They resorted to cheers of "U-S-A! U-S-A!" in the third period."
It's Saturday January the 14 around 10:51AM and
Remember a few weeks back when the city was obsessed with guns? The thinking splashed in pages in the city was all about the explosion of crime. Well the figures tell an interesting and different tale. Chad Skelton reports, "From 2004 to 2005, Vancouver saw a 16-per-cent drop in break-ins, a 10-per-cent decline in robberies and saw the number of murders drop from 23 to 20."
Of course, the crime seems to have just moved out to Surrey, but it is a very dramatic difference from the media hype.
It's Friday January the 13 around 8:49AM and
Everyone is hoping we break the consecutive day rain record for Vancouver on Monday with 29. Well, probably not everyone. And let me add, that I think blogging about the weather is almost as bad as cat blogging, but I'm going to let this one slide. But can someone tell me why Seattle, already at 25 days of rain, is only 9 away from breaking thier own 33 day record. What the hell are we complaining about?
Of course, Seattle can match our rain wrath which has 1,000 people awaiting word to evacuate in North Vancouver on fears of a repeat of land slide warnings. Crap, they have those too. Stop complaining about this wonderful rain we need to hit 34 or more to win this, yo.
It's Friday January the 13 around 7:28AM and
Welcome to a hot new feature kids! The Vancouverite Art Director and musical consultant Graham MacInnes has developed a playlist for us to enjoy. As Paris Hilton would say, "that's hot."
So forget about the fact that it is Friday the 13th and listen to some hot tracks people. How can you not love a good playlist featuring ultra cute Jenny Lewis? All this, and more in the first playlist. Check it.
The Vancouverite - Playlist No. 1 (January 13, 2006)
01) Why - Crushed Bones (from the album "Elephant Eyelash")
02) Willie - Cat Power (from the album "The Greatest")
03) Jamie Lidell - Multiply (from the album "Multiply")
04) Jenny Lewis - Rise Up With Fists (from the album "Rabbit Fur Coat")
05) Page France - Chariot (from the album "Hello, Dear Wind")
06) The Rosebuds - Hold Hands & Fight (from the album "Birds Make Good Neighbors")
07) Marah - Sooner Or Later (from the album "If You Didn't Laugh, You'd Cry")
08) Bettye Lavette - Down To Zero (from the album "I've Go My Own Hell To Raise")
09) Maria Taylor - Xanex (from the album "11:11")
10) Songs Of Green Pheasant - I Am Daylights (from the album "Songs Of Green Pheasant")
11) Doveman - Dancing (from the album "The Acrobat")
It's Thursday January the 12 around 11:15PM and
*Joining Ryan Reynolds on the set of Chaos, will be
Constance Zimmer. Who ? First and seriously, she has
her own website and it has updated news, which is quite something. Second, for those who don't like to read much, she's been in
Stuff.
*How long will a dramedy called Underfunded about Canada's Secret Service last on USA Network. Production starts February 6th in town. Hey wait a second we don't even have a secret service...
* Kate Beckinsale's Vancouver shot Underworld: Evolution is in theatres next week. This week, she's doing a full assault on the media and Egotastic covers her UK issue of GQ magazine cover and photo spread. Oh Kate, now why weren't you strutting around Vancouver with latex is beyond me. You can also check out Kate in the latest Giant Magazine and at the Hollywood premiere last night.
It's Thursday January the 12 around 10:36PM and
At least 24 Hours has the courtesty to put smut on it's covers. And unlike Vancouver Magazine, at least they've heard of this interweb thingy. But this week's Georgia Straight is so chilled out it's crazy.
*Where do they find these singles in the city? This week's highlight comes from Mike: IF YOU COULD HAVE A DINNER PARTY AND INVITE ANY FOUR PEOPLE, DEAD OR ALIVE, WHO'D BE COMING? Paris Hilton, Jude Law, Winston Churchill & Charles de Gaul. de Gaul and Churchil at the same dinner? Hilarity ensues. Oh, and really, Jude Law? Why? What the hell is Paris doing there?
* The paper's first annual Chill Out issue: "Got the winter blahs? It’s tempting to curl up on the couch clutching a package of Twinkies, but that’s not going to defeat the doldrums.It may be cold, wet, and miserable most days, but that doesn’t mean you have to remain shuttered indoors." Putting the capital C into cliche.
*Review for Grandma's Boy brings an early contender for lamest review of the year. "Okay, go ahead. Roll yourself a nice fat joint and take a couple of deep, committed hits. You might as well. The creators of this perfectly nitwitted stoner flick about a weed-whacked 35-year-old video-game tester forced to shack up with his grandmother and her roommates clearly sucked up healthy samples of their stash before coming up with such for-the-ages classics as a kung fu–ing chimpanzee, armpit-farting gamer geeks, and plastic-chested babes suckling said geeks."
*Wow. Alert the media, housing costs in this city are huge. Some poor masters student, Lisa Brideau argues is this. "What Canadians want, she argued in a report she coauthored for the City of Vancouver this summer, is ground-oriented housing with a sense of place. In other words, the modest dream of a little home, with a little yard, and a neighbourhood dense enough to attract great stores and transit." What are you nuts?
It's Thursday January the 12 around 8:53PM and
Since they were so quick to update their interweb page, I gave Vancouver Magazine another chance. Good thing the editor, Matthew Mallon,
was bounced out this week. But i came to a new conclusion about this publication. The problem with it has nothing to do with the web at all, it's actually a bigger issue. Like maybe, pretending to be a big cosmopolitan magazine when you're not. Don't believe me? Let us count the pretentious ways with the
first issue of the year:
1. I think it is pretty interesting that actor/director Charles Martin Smith has lived and worked here since the 1980's. And yeah, it's cool he's been working on Da Vinci's City Hall. But in the Q&A did we need 4 questions about 1997's Air Bud? Maybe we wanted to hear about, oh, say his role in Curtis Hanson new film Lucky You. Crap, it's about poker, never mind.
2. Page 26. About 200 words on the awesome $500,000 4-bedrooms in Ladner. It's only 25-minutes away. I smell a bargoon.
3. I was going to say the Vancouver Life section was a totally lame Malcom Parry (Vancouver Sun) ripoff. Whoops. It is Macolm Parry. Our bad.
Continue reading "Vancouver Mag January Issue Breakdown" »
It's Thursday January the 12 around 8:35PM and
You would think when Global News,
The Province, and
the Canucks all have denied that
Dan Cloutier was in some sort of drunk driving accident, the rumours would just go away. And can we add
the Police to this denial now:
Police issued a statement last week to dispel rumours that a Vancouver Canucks player was involved.The statement said: "Investigators will confirm that no members of the Vancouver Canucks' hockey team or their family members have been involved in this accident and/or investigation in any capacity."
Case closed. But you sure would think that Cloutier has been working as a cabinet minister for Paul Martin's Liberal government based on how this rumour keeps going. And scratch your head if you can figure out why I am still getting and reading daily comments about this. Someone suggested, "You may want to pay close attention to the news tomorrow as it is expected that charges are to be laid in this investigation, and it appears the rumors will be substantiated at tha time."
Dude, page 11 already man.
It's Thursday January the 12 around 5:57PM and
You have to give it to 24 Hours. They are hustling it on the streets and putting smut on the cover. Hard news be damned, they aren't going to be the next New Yorker anyway. Today they feature Sensitille Pole Dancers who are "heat[ing] things up" at the
5th Annual Taboo Naughty but Nice Sex Show. I know I'm talking about a free daily paper, but this is genuis. In Metro you had a cover all about Safe Injection sites. Who wants to read that? Anyway, the funny thing about featuring these particular pole dancers is that they are infact an ad campaign themselves for
Sensitille. So 24 Hours gave a whole cover in hopes of discussing the show, but the reality is that it is a great ad for company selling stuff. Great on the media lift for them, and great on 24 Hours for pimping it out.
All that hot cover action must have been the reason why on page five there was a terrible McDonald's ad. Now, there is nothing wrong with ads pretending not to be ads. But this ad (View Ad) was supposed to be a post-it note left on content of the paper. But they didn't even try - they had lorem ipsum copy instead. Nice try buddies.
It's Wednesday January the 11 around 10:24PM and
*Ricky Gervais, Steve Merchant, and the dimwitted Karl Pilkington on "The Ricky Gervais Show" discuss the possibility of Chinese homelessness. A listener, Amy from Vancouver, writes in telling the boys that there aren't any homeless Chinese in Vancouver. Then they move on to speaking about midgets.
*Uproar after ads for the number one movie in North America, Hostel, recieved five - count 'em 5 - complaints. Who takes the time to file a complaint on an ad?
*Former Vancouver Mayor and now slacking Senator Larry Campbell weighs in on the elections and Stephen Harper. On durgs: "It's reprehensible what he's doing." What happened to Harper: "Where did the mean spirited, non smiling far right person go?"
*This just in. Stephen Harper bats .500 on really odd stuff. Harper is a huge Star Trek fan and worse he likes cats. If he wasn't married it would make you wonder.
It's Wednesday January the 11 around 12:31AM and
They tried to bury this on page 17 - and honestly who can read a whole issue of 24 Hours? Thankfully we tried this mornings edition and we felt like
Carl Spackler. Oh Mrs. Crane, er Simmons, you wore green so you could hide from me.
You're a little monkey woman. Where was I?
Oh right page 17. This is where we meet Vancouver actress "it" girl, Chelan Simmons. The 23-year old has been working hard, and has just completed work in a couple of tri-quels, Dr. Dolittle 3 and Final Destination 3.
But just wait for her big turn as 'waitress' in John Tucker Must Die directed by Betty Thomas? Sigh. Really this is our 'it' actress? Come on. We need more dirt and photos this is ridiculous. Thanks for nothing 24 Hours. PS: Thanks for getting around to mentioning Carla Gugino joining the Ben Stiller movie today. We posted that on January 4th, and you're getting around to printing it on the 11th? Yikes. And they are adding classifieds now too next week.
Here are some free hInts to put the 'i' into your it, Chelan : Get a website going. With photos. Seriously. And maybe think about an agent. One to get you out of the sequels of sequels racket in '06. Think about a music album - might work. Canadian Idol? Dangerous. Read up on what Lohan is doing - it's genuis. Crazy genuis.
It's Tuesday January the 10 around 10:01PM and
The best part about Stephen Harper and The Conservatives leading in the polls is watching the
Liberals get really nasty. I think CTV news called it
Fight Club - which is awesome. Does that mean Paul Martin is like Tyler Durden? Pass the soap.
Today, our governing overlords unloaded with a nice dozen of tv spots that really go after 'crazy' Stephen Harper, which is what politics is all about. Too bad, there was one spot that, oops, wasn't supposed to leak out. And then there was poor Ujjal Dosanjh, Vancouver South MP, out commenting on the new ads and saying how Paul Martin approved them all, and they were all fair game. Double oops. Gets Ujjal didn't get the talking points.
The ad? Of course CTV has it now. Ads ending in "We did not make this up" are just so awesome, it's hard to believe. Here's the text of the ad:
Stephen Harper actually announced he wants to increase military presence in our cities. Canadian cities. Soldiers with guns. In our cities. In Canada. We did not make this up. Choose your Canada
Mader Blog wonders if the disclaimer is because the Liberals are so completely full of it nobody believes anything they say anymore. Even better is Conservative MP Monte Solberg who is trembling from thier awesome power and working on his demos for the Daily Show:
The Lib attack ads are so scary I'm going to have to sleep tonight with the light on. I mean what if Stephen Harper is hiding under my bed and then smothers me with a drycleaning bag and steals my remaining Burnt Almond to give to an ultra-conservative Bush Republican, who packs a pistol AND a Bible. No, even better, it's a Bible machine gun. Yep, fires two hundred rounds a minute, and plays Amazing Grace at the same time. Perfect for huntin' varmints, and personal protection.
In the immortal words of Stifler, "It's on like Donkey Kong beeyotch". Conservatives strike back. How fun is this? Warren Kinsella says they'll work. Adam Daifallah thinks they are ironicly American.
It's Tuesday January the 10 around 9:43PM and
Three in a row? The Canucks beat the Leafs 4-3? Nasland who? Apparently rookie Alex Burrows with his first goal and a helper - along with some big ups with his 4th line hard work of Kesler and Cooke - and Anson Carter's 16th have established a new regime in the Canucks. Hopefully Leaf Nation (what are they the Red Sox now?) really enjoyed this:
"The Leaf nation was out in full force among the sellout crowd of 18,630 for Toronto's only visit of the season. Chants of "Go Leafs go" were quickly countered with a chorus of "Leafs suck.""
HEH.
It's Tuesday January the 10 around 11:58AM and
*Stephen Harper now mentioned in same sentence as words Prime Minister. Contrast to page two of today's Metro featuring an article about Communist Party Leader Miguel Figueroa going up to SFU. The best part of the article is when student Daniel Ben-David says he would consider voting Communist because, "the NDP has gone a little soft."
*You have to just love the Coquitlam police and their super awesome "Operation HotWheels" which nabbed 10 car thieving deadbeats.
*Maybe if we stopped talking about it all the time we wouldn't let it get us down. Today is the 23rd straight day of rain. What's surprising is that we are still 5 days from the record set in 1953 at 28. Bring it on clouds!
*Tonight on Letterman: Scarlett Johansson, Imogen Heap, heaven
*Wow, I just saw the new issue of Vancouver Magazine on newstands this weekend - and they crushed thier records for getting the cover up online this time. It's already up! They must have hired an actual web person. Now if they could just have more web content it might make the website worth having at all.
*Damn you Steve Jobs and your damned MacBook Pro. More from Gizmodo.
It's Tuesday January the 10 around 6:39AM and
Luxist has some more details on the
$5.4 million Tudor-style home in Shaughnessy of Kurt Russell and Goldie Hawn as the Vancouver couple retreats back to Hollywood.
The Home offers a total of 5 Bedrooms, 8 Bathrooms & 11 Fireplaces. On the lower level a wonderful Games Room or Exercise Gym, Sauna, Utility Room & Built in Media or Theatre Room. In total the spacious 4 level Mansion offers approximately 6800 sq. ft. including a separate Coach House.
Sounds pretty great, but what the heck - I don't get the 11 fireplaces. That is a whole lotta fire. PS: the Coach House sounds decidedly smug. But the really crazy part of all this is the photos of the lovely couple on some sort of tropical get away. Goldie Hawn sports no eye brows and Kurt Russell has this awesome beer belly. Ah...good times.
It's Tuesday January the 10 around 6:14AM and
Tonight, the Canucks play the Leafs. Today the city really hates Toronto. Of course the papers are all over this one. 24 Hours's cover leads with "Love to Hate" - and shows a burning of a Leaf jersey. The cover story, goes with a simple,
"Dear Leafs - you suck." This is good.
If you hail from Hogtown, dust off your now-unused earmuffs and cover your leathery, frostbitten ears: Toronto would surely be a superb place to live - if it was on the West Coast of Canada and called Vancouver... But please, don't get your double-knit CN-Tower toque in a twist just yet; we love Toronto. We really do. We just hate those Maple Leafs.
Now, only in Canada can you have it both ways like that. That's so nice. But to really set the record straight, we don't have to like Toronto. Meanwhile The Province turns up the cute and turns down the hate while they take the time to report that Anson Carter is a closet Leaf fan. Oh my.
More: Deadspin on the best of the webs Leaf Hating.
It's Monday January the 9 around 9:24PM and
*Hurt Elbow looks at
Intel's new oval logo and the other ones. Boring. And that looks like the hottest design compared to
Kodak's new logo, which is "based on a customized typeface designed by a New York City firm, aims to provide a more contemporary look but still give off a warm and fuzzy feel." Really?
*There's probably stuff going on in Vancouver, but come on Lindsay Lohan and Leonardo DiCaprio rumors? It's almost too good to be true.
*Wow. I didn't think this was possible, but the Copyranter actually likes some. It's a T-Mobile ad with a fast talking cheerleader. Just to cleanse the palate, he takes on Converse and the New York Times and his hillbilly cousin.
*Defamer does the best Monday wrap up ever. Try to keep up: Howard Stern's first potty mouth day, Billy Crystal burns Jon Stewart as Oscar's 2nd choice, Brad Pitt looks like a monkey, amd Macaulay Culkin is writing a book.
*Meanwhile, MCann Erikson do self promo spots with Jesus and Castro.
*I still think he should have hosted the Oscars. Shatner's a genuis. Look at his DVD club.
It's Monday January the 9 around 8:47PM and
Starting today and running to the 15th, the
Pan Pacific is celebrating 2006 by turning back the clock with 1986 menus and rooms for 86 bucks. Eggs Benedict for $5.50 and $18 Sunday brunch. Color us underwealmed. Even if the
Waffles with magical strawberry butter for $5.25 are to freakn' die for. Enough of that, what about the wine?
Nothing over $40 bucks a bottle. A friend of ours, who amazingly like Rory from Gilmore Girls, suggested that we look into the $22 bottles of Lindeman's Bin 65 Chardonnay.
Not really our cup of grapes mind you, but the wine list isn't inspired, but it's cheap, and if that got the piano swinging in the bar, you're golden. Although in one comparission the Inniskillin Pinot Noir, $26 this week, isn't the same 2001 wine for $42 on the regular menu. It's from 2002. Sneaky bastards. This could be like Dine Out Vancouver, but only 20 times worse. Party like it's 1986.
It's Sunday January the 8 around 11:54PM and
*Thank the maker. VanMega has a January Mixtape up. Only good can come from some Bloc Party, Youth Group, and Death Cab for Cutie. But goodness The Elected rock. One of their bios calls it, "psychedelic wild-west harmonies and ocean-soaked pop" but we'll just call it some crazy 'pop-a-billy' and leave it at that. And the Great Lake Swimmers aren't too bad either.
*So is Chinese Democracy, probably the most expensive and longest awaited album ever, finally set for release date? Hard to imagine - especially since the official Guns N' Roses website appears to be down. Of course.
It's Sunday January the 8 around 10:01PM and
Who is the
Lionsgate (NYSE;
LGF, 8.59) media relations person, or firm, or low level PR flack (ahem, Sarah Greenberg or Russel Nelson - the in house PR flunkies I guess) that would send out a 826 word press release with this awful, pun-filled, title today: "'Hostel' Takeover at Box Office - Lionsgate's and Screen Gems' Intense Horror Thriller
Hostel Lures Estimated $20.1 Million in Opening Weekend, Ranking #1 at Domestic Box Office." Now, kudos to Vancouver's Lionsgate for having the number film at the box office this weekend ($20.1 million) with Hostel. Not a bad little weekend for a $4.8 million film (plus the $18 million marketing costs) - and especially nice considering King Kong's 50% freefall - oh, yeah and big ups to Quentin Tarantino who's name probably delivered at least 75% cash - what's his take?
It sure must have felt good not to have been say Romar Entertainment who's ridiculous Bloodrayne was a total debacle this week. This good Hostel news is almost enough to help them forget about Lord of War or the fact that Usher makes stinky bombs like 'In the Mix'.
But seriously why cram all this other crap into the press release? Well, to be perfectly fair, we wouldn't have found out about this "horror thriller See No Evil (May 19), directed by Gregory Dark, starring WWE superstar Kane." Kane? Pure genuis. Nor would we have noted that Lions Gate is now one word Lionsgate. That's dope.
Case Study: Compare the Lionsgate 826 words to the equally abhorent 36 words of non-news from Paul Martin that gives Warren Kinsella an opening to chew on some red meat. Yum.
It's Sunday January the 8 around 6:50PM and
The King of Rock N' Roll, Elvis, would have been 71 today. In the words of
Seattlest, he would have been 71, if, "a bloated, doped-up Elvis not died on his bathroom’s shag carpet, gold pajama bottoms around his ankles, face-down in his own vomit." Like Seattle who got some serious Elvis with "It Happened at the World's Fair" Vancouver had it some Elvis too.
*In 1957, a very young (22) Elvis met with the press before the August 31st performance in front of 26,000 (at $2 a ticket) at Empire Stadium. And you can listen to the presser here.
He stayed at the Georgia Hotel, room 1226 (The 1927 Georgian/art deco beauty, Crowne Plaza Hotel Georgia) and the show ended after one song when the security team couldn't contain the fans. The King would come back to sing four more songs that no one could hear over the screaming fans - Colonel Parker enjoyed reading the accounts of the riot the next day. "I remember once in Vancouver," said Elvis. "We'd only done a number or two when some of the fans rushed the stage. It was lucky the guys and I got off in time. They tipped the whole damn rostrum over!" This would also mark the final time Elvis would play outside of the United States. The Vancouver Courier has a good account of the event.
Here is one account from the MC of the show, Red Robinson:
"With the press conference over, the reporters were ushered out. As Emcee of the show, I remained with Elvis. Let me tell you about an incident that happened while we killed the hour or so remaining until show time. It taught me that, while Elvis was always polite, he also had a wild streak of fun in him. After we'd been chatting for some time, Elvis opened the dressing room door at the stadium and invited one of the policemen outside to come in. He asked to borrow the cop's handcuffs... then casually handcuffed me to a shower rod. Then he hid the key and laughed wildly at the joke. Remember, this was 1957. He was only 22 years old, and I was just 20... just a couple of kids clowning around..."
It's Sunday January the 8 around 3:53PM and
A
few weeks back we had word of a wine scandal of sorts - that Steamworks wine stores were selling a $22.90 bottle of Dirty Laundry Pinot Noir for an insane $40.53. We checked into their downtown "Wine Thief" store this week and it was now at $27.60 - only a $4.80 mark up now. I wonder if they have lowered it in West Van? The real question we can't figure out, is why this happened? Innocent mistake, or insanity? Either way, we are so done with Steamworks. We also meant to post some info about the wine from the winemakers so here it is:
This is a lovely Burgundy style Pinot Noir – delicate but bright cherry fruit characteristics, a hint of mocha spice and toasty French Oak. The grapes were picked at 24 BRIX, with the wine fermented in stainless steel and then transferred into 2nd and 3rd year French oak barrels for about 10 months. We only bottled 187 cases – so this is a small lot production. I must confess those tasting notes are from a few months back and I haven’t had a bottle recently – Pinot Noir is famous for changing significantly with time/change in the weather etc.
The tempermental grape! Makes me think it might be time to crack a bottle open this weekend! I’ll drop you a short note after I have an updated taste! There are a few restaurants that are serving the wine now and have told me the wine is tasting wonderful now, however I’m certain it will be even better in another year or so. This begs the question – are you looking to open it now or try saving it for a bit!!?? I love Pinot Noir because it is a more delicate red wine – not meant to be a heavy like a Cabernet Sauvignon or Shiraz. Suggested food pairings would be salmon, veal, lamb, duck with a cherry sauce, roast turkey, red pasta dishes, try it with eggplant parmesan or a rich herbed mushroom soup!
God I hate mushrooms. Anyways. It looks like they didn't get thier website up and running for the New Year quite yet, but we'll forgive them. This time.
It's Sunday January the 8 around 1:13PM and
*If you have been reading this site, you'll know how much I like, er, not, the glass shells they call buildings in this city. So it's nice to see some old buildings with actual character getting transformed into something worth living in. And of course
MetroLiving is
cranking them out. Living at 540 Beatty - the historic former Crane Building - and having
Chambar as your hangout wouldn't be so bad. Of course the studio (578 Sqare Feet) is $326,349. The penthouses are in the $760-$1.3 range. Ouch, did somebody say housing bubble?
And one of the other sassy features of some of the MetroLiving spots including 540 Beatty, and in the 1910 McMaster building - 1180 Homer - is the car elevator, which is totally sweet! The one thing that is interesting is watching them brand this area as "Crosstown".
*And the cool factor of 540 Beatty dwarfs the sheer smugness of The Point at Kits. Here 10 townhomes have risen out of what was apparently the three worst homes in Kits and are starting at $785,900! And 5 of these are already sold. Calling it a "beautiful new landmark" by the developer Rob Chetner in yesterday's Sun, is a bit of a stretch buddy - they ain't all that.
It's Sunday January the 8 around 12:32PM and
*Can Jason Lee save NBC? That seems to be the question The New York Times is asking as the "My Name is Earl" show settles in on the famed 9:00 Thursday time slot. Can a network really put all thier eggs into a former skater and his awesome moustache? I guess so.
*Anthony Gismondi figures that 2006 is the year for the screw top wine. "To the wineries and retailers who still have their doubts about the twist top, be prepared for comments about looking old-fashioned or, worse, having your cork-finished product shunned by the trend setting under-30 crowd. Twist tops appeal to older crowds too. It seems they, like the young, appreciate the easy access opener."
*What happens when a housing market boom goes bust? That's what the people of Shanghai are dealing with currently. Shanghai would make Vancouver and L.A. housing markets looks downright cold, and it is now showing signs of defaulted loans, empty spaces, and upside down mortgages. [L.A. Times]
*According to Cinematical, Google jumps into the film biz, releasing the first feature, Waterborne, on Google Video. The film, has been free to stream for it's first week, and will be $4.99 to download - and you can burn it, share it, or whatever as many times as you like. Google is sharing the profits with the filmakers on a 30% for Google, 70% for the filmakers split. Watch the trailer here, and enjoy some sweet Uncle Rico action. Gosh.
Continue reading "Vancouverite Sunday Styles, Vol 5." »
It's Sunday January the 8 around 11:27AM and
So this week, the
public was outraged, inbetween sips of soy lattes of course, about the
absolute discharge of the so-called tree assassin. It was time for some
amazing tree puns mixed with outrage. The
tree assassin, 72-year-old June Matheson was in hot water because the crazy old lady hatched a pretty extensive plan to poison the trees that disrupted her view on Beach Ave. Auntie June has since sold her condo that she paid $330,000 in 1983 for $1.69 million and she didn't have to act like a
Scooby Doo villian (although she certainly has the make up down pat), "And I could have gotten away with it too if weren't for you kids..."
But, alas, she did get away with it, which is dumb obviously. But do we really have to call her the tree assassin and make a big deal about this? She is now a total joke and paid for replacing the trees, let's move on. What else could a stupid crime like this be worth? My guess is that more trees died covering this story than the three she killed. And you have to still laugh at the irony of this: "The designer [aka tree killer], who has worked for pop stars Sarah McLachlan and Bif Naked, has sent cheques totalling $50,000 to the Vancouver Park Board to buy new trees."
It's Sunday January the 8 around 11:16AM and
It's not very often that we'll be able to post about the not-really-bad-girl
Hillary Duff, but since she was in town this weekend, and played the ghetto of the Pacific Coliseum last night, it was a no-brainer. Especially with The Province's
Stuart Derdeyn's hard hitting coverage and grainy photos. Why does it look like they scan the photos from the print version of the paper and post them online sometimes?
Of course it has all the requestite navel gazing of today's celebs: 1. Mention of Linsday Lohan. 2. Mention of Britney Spears (Who?): "Unlike Britney, no poles are needed to do the routine." 3. Fashion hating: "she should wear better outfits." 4. The Duffster is rock n' roll loud. Who knew? And of course, 5. She's so thin it's crazy: "higher caloric intake may be in order -- she is frightfully thin."
It's Sunday January the 8 around 10:52AM and
Apparently there is only one political race in Vancouver, as everyone seems to be talking about the Vancouver Center showdown. And last night was a
packed house for the all candidates meeting, but does any of this posturing really even matter? Finally
The Province throws down some early numbers in one of our favorite things, a poll:
Liberal incumbent Hedy Fry, the riding's MP since 1992, is in the lead in a Mustel Group Poll commissioned by The Province. Fry had 41 per cent support among decided voters, compared to 33 per cent for New Democrat Robinson and 19 per cent for Tony Fogarassy, the Conservative candidate. Jared Evans of the Green Party had seven per cent; four per cent cited "other" and there were seven per cent undecided.
Svend is down by 12 points. I think If I had to vote in this riding I would have to take a shower right after voting to get the stink off. The story suggests that 25% of people aren't supporting the NDP, and Svend Robinson because of "past criminal charges." Meanwhile Rafe Mair wonders if Hedy will suffer from the Gaglardi syndrome - named for a long forgotten pest of BC politics who everyone wanted thrown out of office. Unfortunetly this is a showdown of Gaglardi's - well maybe not unfortunetly, 'cause I guess it sure is fun for people to watch to a couple of politicos like this throw it down.
More: Mathew Good steps into the Canadian election to offer ten questions for the candidates as well. They questions about defense spending, missile defense, gay marriage, and not one question on the Liberal scandals. The funny part is that I bet you couldn't ask those same 10 questions to the average voter without 75% of people rolling thier eyes.
It's Saturday January the 7 around 10:59PM and
Hockey Day in Canada was good to the Vancouver Canucks. They are now on an actual, real live, winning streak (well, 2 games in a row isn't exactly a streak, but it's a start) as they cameback to beat Calgary 4-3 in overtime.
But before you get too excited about this, let's remember why two wins in a row lately are cause for such joy. Read up on the Canuck's mid-term report from today's Sun. If this were a report card, Mom wouldn't be happy with this. Centers: D, Wingers: B, Defence: C, Goaltending: C, Coaching: C, Management: C.
It's Saturday January the 7 around 9:49AM and
So it's only a couple of short weeks until people who should never be allowed to go out to restuarants capitalize on the two week bridge & tunnel mess that is known as Dine Out Vancouver. Everybody's talking about it. Now, there's nothing wrong with the concept, it just seems like it's getting a little crazy. Case in point - do people really need to "dine out" with a $15 package at White Spot?
It's Friday January the 6 around 10:29PM and
*Can anybody explain
Falcon Beach? O.C. with uglier people ripoff filmed at a cottage/beach community on Lake Winnipeg. Who is Global kidding?
*There is a reason why you refer to PR people as bottom feeders. Gawker explains reason #1,323.
*In related news, if your PR flak ever came to you and said, "million dollar homepage, man" you should just laugh at them and close the door, hard. The fact that the last 1,000 pixels are currently auctioning on eBay at a low, low, price of $152,300 is just nuts.
*Ben Stiller directing a war movie. Ricky Gervais is behind it.
*Richard Branson starts Virgin Animation. You're right, this makes no real sense, even for Branson.
*Trailer park. Date Movie? Who green lit this piece of crap? Probably the same crack head who green lit Grandma's Boy. (and nice URL nitwits) Note that both of these nasty stinkers are from our friends at Fox, who were obviously so wasted, they cancelled Arrested Development by mistake when they were making these. I guess these look better than Lars von Trier's next painful opus, Manderlay.
Flight 93 is the story of the 9/11 flight by Paul Greengrass. Meanwhile, Scarlett Johansson fights with Helen Hunt in A Good Woman, and Amanda Bynnes plays a man, baby, in She's the Man,
It's Friday January the 6 around 7:10AM and
The fact that some have called the political battle for Vancouver Center the "battle of the divas" pretty much sums up exactly why we don't care. But this 24 Hour's article on the riding in today's issue claims that, "Vancouver Centre has become one of the most watched ridings in this federal election." Now, that may be so, but it isn't clear that anything of any note has happened in the race between Hedy Fry and Svend Robinson yet.
The Georgia Straight offers a little more context, but this supposed showdown is a depressing race between two "star" candidates most places wouldn't elect as dog catcher. Meanwhile, The Westender headlines an article with "Svending a Message" and that is about as deep as the coverage gets.
It's Thursday January the 5 around 10:27PM and
Andrew Morrison, of The WaiterBlog, has the link to a novel little development in Vancouver's busy restaurant scene. The pre-opening blog for a new restuarant in town called Rare One. This is the blogging equivelent of Opening Soon. This is a fantastic idea.
It's Thursday January the 5 around 9:20PM and
*If we'd thought of
managing our 12-20 person entourage before Steven Seagal, I would have added that to our intern job description. But the
job listing to work for Seagal is amazing.
*I keep hearing about how great the River Rock is for bringing in such great acts for Show Theatre. But the full page ad in today's Georgia Straight lists: Elvis Gold, Bellydance Superstars, Sandra Lang and Elisa Chan, and Howie Mandell (for two nights. that's big?.). But I guess nothing matters since they do have Norm MacDonald coming January 21. PS: We love the tagline: "Where the stars come out to play." Sweet.
*I think we should stop blaming hollywood for producing bad movies. Case in point: The Number 1 DVD this week? The direct to DVD American Pie movie "Band Camp". Number 1? Really?
*The thought of boutique agency 86 the Onions sending out holiday greetings in the form of Jason Priestly signed photos from 90210 era. That's so rad.
*Ads: Brace yourself for the media seige from GoDaddy during the next 30 days as the move to get thier Super Bowl spot on air - and yes, Candice Michelle is starring, again. In the meantime, this new 180/TBWA\Chiat\Day spot with Kevin Garnett for Adidas. it's massive. And the new Errol Morris ads for AOL UK ("Bad" & "Good") are very, very good.
*Check out LA Weekly and why can't our own supposed alt weekly, The Georgia Straight, write original columns like this?
It's Thursday January the 5 around 9:01PM and
Cloutier rumours aside, the Canucks had to go to work tonight in the windy city. Older brother Jarkko Ruutu showed his little brother how it is done with a goal on a penalty shot in the third as Vancouver beat Chicago 3-2. That's win number 2 in the last 10.
Plenty of room back on the bandwagon kids. But let's face it, they beat a team that is on an eight game slide too, so let's not get too crazy about this one game winning streak.
It's Thursday January the 5 around 8:55PM and
Got the update and what could be the big news from Nardwuar and his "2006 Election Hip Flip Poll".
Yesterday (Wed January 4th) Paul Martin *did not* do the Hip Flip (1960s twister-like game) when approached by intrepid reporter Nardwuar the Human Serviette -- aka the asker of the infamous "For me, pepper, I put it on my plate" question.
If the Hip Flip poll is to be believed, Jack Layton - the only leader to do this so far in this election - should follow in Paul Martin's 2004 footsteps. Martin won't do it again, and Harper is very slippery.
It's Thursday January the 5 around 12:29PM and
So, the Vancouver Canucks media relations team responded to our interest on the Dan Cloutier rumours we posted last night. It's short and sweet and should help to end the story:
"Thank-you for your interest in the Vancouver Canucks. We too have heard the rumours, and don't know how they are getting around, but can assure you they are false. Cloutier had major knee reconstructive surgery, and was not in any car accident."
It's Thursday January the 5 around 12:03AM and
*Turner Classic Movies had this strange little 1966 film "The Quiller Memorandum" with Alec Guiness and Max von Sydow on tonight. But man, how great was a young German actress, Senta Berger. Hubba, Hubba.
*Meanwhile the tale of Kiefer Sutherland fight with a Christmas Tree, is almost too good for words.
*Our fearless Art Director brings us to the downright incoherent web site for Crumpler Bags which is so crazy it must be pure genuis. And the bags are "pretty sweet".
*The Ipod Nano sarcophagus is pretty ridiculous, non?
*Shameless links: Lindsay Lohan pregnant, in Vanity Fair, in hospital. Meanwhile, Trent has the dish on Britney Spears cutting her hair, and put on a really great shirt praising all that is good about the AK-47.
*Wonkette, well, the potty mouthed blogger formerly known as Wonkette, now citizen Ana Marie Cox has a new book Dog Days which is now available and it's hovering around the top 100 on Amazon. Here's the big NYT review and another one from the Times, but from the future - Jan 8th. Odd.
*How about the best fonts of 2005? This is for the type nerds I know. Take special note of "Arrival" in 2006. (Via Kottke who has so much great stuff today it is crazy...go, now, there.)
*I have a friend in Taipei, and yet, I here of this insane billboard from stranger on the web. Gosh.
*Vancouver's love affair with coffee and starbucks gets the Fast Food Nation treatment and The New Yorker is dishing out the dirt on the future book.
It's Wednesday January the 4 around 11:03PM and
Everybody's favorite Vancouver film writer Lynne McNamara goes out on a real fact ridden, limb with the
state of the nation of film in Vancouver in today's column:
I've been writing this column and chronicling local production for the past 15 years and I think it's safe to say that 2005 was the best year ever for the film and TV industry in BC. And word on the street is that 2006 could be even better -- perhaps due to possible union problems in L.A. coming up in 2007.
Here's some more upcoming films shooting around town that we can look foward to hearing nothing more that how many times they ate at Cin Cin from sweet Lynne.
*Ryan Reynolds - who's Canadian shot "Just Friends" is now up to very respectable $31,575,761 at the box office - returns home for the January 23rd shooting start of Chaos Theory. The film is, "A story within a story about an obsessively organized man (Reynolds) who finds out he is sterile -- and that his daughter was fathered by his best friend."
*Coming on the heals of the success of thier award winning Capote, and Just Friends, the local producers from Infinity Media, are gearing up for the Pierce Brosnan and Maria Bello drama "Butterfly on a Wheel". The film's plot: "A perfect family's dynamic is ruined by a kidnapper's brutally efficient plot."
*And it looks likely the lucious Carla Gugino, you might remember her from Sin City, is going to join Ben Stiller in the springs filming of A Night at the Museum. Which is nice for us. Carla, we'd be happy to check you out a Cin Cin or whatever. (via Hollywood North Report and TV Squad)
It's Wednesday January the 4 around 10:15PM and
Jennifer Good, who's Official Canuck Blogger status is in question during the current losing streak, ain't going to be too happy about this Canucks rumor. For the past week or so we've been getting a slow and now steady trickle of visitors coming here searching for some awful news about injured Vancouver Canuck goalie Dan Cloutier. There isn't much but rumors so far, but there is a posting on Craiglists today suggesting that Cloutier was in very bad car accident back in November, that resulted in two deaths. Here's the rumor:
"Cloutier is not injured. He is being investigated for drinking and driving accident where he ran a road block in his Porsche Cayanne then later got in a bad accident where he hit a car with 3 people in it. 2 died instantly and 1 is still in critical condition. Supposed to immerge in the news within a week or so."
And we've had a few comments in some posts here on the Vancouverite that have said much the same including this one from today:
I heard that Dan Cloutier was involved in an auto accident causing the death of 2 people (hit and run), one of whom was a friend of mine. When I heard this rumour (that is all this is at this point) I was shocked as it was my friend Stanley Wong who was mowed down by a Porsche Cayenne outside the Aqua night club. The papers said it was a hit and run. I have heard no updates to this point. I heard this from a so called Canuck insider who did not know I knew the victim, but it all makes sense given the time of the his injury, car involved, and apparent cover up
So, what's the deal with this and when is the mainstream media going to get on the case? Let's see if the Canucks have anything to say.
It's Wednesday January the 4 around 9:11PM and
The issue of guns and gun violence certainly is a hot button issue these days. And with it comes a new subset of gun unintentional and related mishaps:
"Vancouver RCMP have charged a man with weapons-related offences after he accidentally shot his finger off while playing with a handgun in the bathroom. On New Year's Day at about 7 a.m., police responded to a report of a man bleeding profusely from his hand on the second floor of an apartment building. Officers found a shell casing in the man's bathroom and a huge pool of blood in front of the toilet."
It's Wednesday January the 4 around 8:02PM and
The Vancouver Canucks seemingly played 4 periods of hockey in a row that could potentially win actual games. Too bad it was the end of Monday's game and the beging of tonight's game. Tonight the Canucks took a 1-0 lead in the 2nd period. But when you have 7 or less shots on goal each period, you're not going to win games.
The Canucks played a "tight" third period allowing three goals and a finishing with a final 3-1 loss to Dallas. Would suggesting that at least they didn't lose by only one goal this time, be the wrong thing to say right now?
And the gloves are off this ticker intro: "Alex Auld was less than 10 minutes away from his second career shutout. In a span of less than 5 1/2 minutes, the Dallas Stars squashed the goaltender's hopes in a big way." And at least tonight was a new stat breaker, as the Canucks have been 12-1-1 when they have the lead going into the third period. Zing!
Continue reading "Alex Auld Gives 93%, Canucks Lose 3-1" »
It's Wednesday January the 4 around 7:32PM and
Taking transit can be pretty funny. And in no particular order I have some questions about it today.
1. Is it really important for some people to drink pear ciders on the Sea Bus? Honestly rummy.
2. What is the deal with the half-transiting geeks? You know the ones. They put thier bikes on the bus and Sea Bus. Why not just, take the bus instead of the hassle of dragging your bike around town and riding the bus. It just seems wrong. And lazy.
3. How come some bus drivers drive like they are are incompetent. Come on, what's with the harsh "brake stands"?
4. Can we stop encouraging people to take transit? It's just not very fun when you have to see the cider drinkers and such.
Anyway. The real question after this morning's Lion's Gate Bridge shutdown is can you imagine the pandemonium that will grip the city if we have a major crisis in this city? If say a bridge was out indefinetly, or after an earthquake the roads weren't passable. What a nightmare.
And this kind of things isn't helping. "It's just a fact of life in greater Vancouver until our transportation infrastructure catches up with demand," reports CKNW today. In the immoratl words of Han Solo after C-3P0 points out the obvious, " Not entirely stable! I'm glad you're here to tell us these things."
It's Tuesday January the 3 around 10:39PM and
*Damn you Buble!!! First we see
Michael Buble are playing the
Las Vegas Hilton, which totally rocks. Then, are you really dating the upcoming british siren
Emily Blunt?
*Quick quiz. Why are they making a sequel to Butterfly Effect? Oh, Erica Durance. Never mind, filming here in town for this direct to DVD diddy, Filming at Lionsgate Studios begins January 9th.
*Former America's Next Top Models with crazy blogs, rule.
*Used to like Sam Mendes - but then he married Kate Winslet - and then he went nuts, lecturing audiences about not getting Jarhead.
*And then this news. Blue, of Old School fame, passes away.
Frank: Blue, how come there's no ice in my lemonade?
[throws the lemonade into the pool]
Blue: Sorry, sir.
Frank: Drop down and give me ten. Now!
Blue: [bends down into a push-up position] Yes, sir.
It's Tuesday January the 3 around 10:20PM and
Finally, caught up on the November Atlantic Monthly this weekend. Corry Kummer writes this bit of fatty wimsy, "Bacon is the new chocolate (according to Dan Philips the founder of the Bacon of the Month club, www.gratefulpalate.com), or maybe the new olive oil (according to Ari Weinzweig, of Zingerman's, the country's leading olive oil perveyor). A search for better bacon is under way in this country, reminiscent of the one for better beer, and with a similar lure of the forbidden."
Thank goodness. And knowing there are a bunch of books on bacon, such as Pig Perfect and Everything Tastes Better with Bacon: 70 Fabulous Recipes for Every Meal of the Day, and even bacon friendly wines - Syrah's like the one's from Clonakilla (Hilltop Shiraz). Seriously, this we've got to see.
It's Tuesday January the 3 around 10:00PM and
Okay. January 3rd, posting mantra hasn't really worked out so far. But here we go again. You're still wondering what The Vancouverite did for New Year's Eve? Or if you were
stranded on a planet by a certain someone, you'd mildly disapointed too. Well, probably not losing sleep over it - and certainly not like the sleep insomnia that watching
Lost Season 1 gives you, because you don't want to start watching. And speaking of Lost, have you ever seen the insane
David Lachapelle dance off or
creepy voice over promos that our friends in jolly old England had to deal with?
Where were we again? Oh right, you were asking about New Years at Chambar. The night's menu as translated by our party:
*Not Jessica Simpson Chicken of the sea plate. Ahi Tuna tartar, coconut & vanilla scallop, raw oyster with bacon.
*Lobster sausage. This shouldn't be done again. Sorry, but sausage should be contained to beef, pork, lamb, etc.
*"Foie Gras McNugget". Seriously, this was insane, with gingerbread - We're lovin' it. Sorry.
*Duck Roulade with tea. Who knew.
*Rose water & champagne slurpees. 7-11 should hook these palate cleansers up for the big bites.
*Roast ostrich and celery tasting mashers. Holy crap. How does something that look like this taste so good. Confirms minor theory, that animals you want to ride around or tip over taste delicious.
*Mandarin oranges done three ways, dessert style.
Wow. Hope you New Year's was 1/2 as good as this pals. Wow.
It's Tuesday January the 3 around 8:15AM and
Dave Nonis, call your office, "your honeymoon as general manager may be over." Well, it only took a 7 of 8 slide to get the commentators to move on from Crawford to Nonis to fix the Canucks. Plenty of next day arm chairing and critics suggestions. Nonis is today's target.
*"How Blue Can you Get?" (The Province)
*"Canucks Can't Beat League's Worst" (The Sun)
*"Dave Nonis Your Move" (Vancouver Canucks Oped)
*"Grading the Canucks" (The Sun)
Meanwhile Brendan Morrison is very smart. "It's no secret that hockey is the sport in Vancouver. We are under the microscope. When things are going well you're the best guys in town and when things aren't going so well then you are the biggest dogs. And right now it would almost be embarrassing to go out in public."
It's Monday January the 2 around 7:36PM and
Did the Canucks not figure out some resolutions or even better yet, some mantras, for 2006? Tonight the Canucks lost 4-1 to the St, Louis Blues. Leave it to the Canucks to get out hussled in the first period (3-1) by a team that had been outscored 42-28 in the first period this season. And Auld, who let in 3 goals from 10 shots in that period stopped everything after that - maybe that is a sign of good things to come.
PS: How do you get beat by a team that is 9 and 22(27) and only 4 wins at home? Just asking. I guess the Canucks really dug deep and found that extra 5% of terrible tonight to impress us. Looks like things are going to have to get much worse before they get better buddies.
