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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.
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