New Music Friday Vol. 20

20! Whoa!... and there's some new music to report today too!

- Every time I die have a new album all set to drop at the end of August. But! Two tracks are available on their site now. I like 'em both, a bit of a return to the rocky bits of Hot Damn!

- The Drive-Thru/Rushmore Records Warped Tour Sampler CD is fully availble for download here. Some OK tracks on it - highlights include Socratic, An Angle, and I am the Avalanche.

- Speaking of Drive-Thru, some more new releases have happened. Of note the new Houston Calls, "Mall-kids will love it" is the description I will use (thanks Pepper). Can't seem to find the song for download, but you can check out other stuff at Purevolume.com. Or stream the bad boy here.

- AND... The Early November and I am the Avalanche have a split. Preview ici.

Please note: the Nar is on a much much needed vacation for the next week or so. There won't be any updates to the site until I get back. Wish me luck!

Could someone please buy this man a plasma TV?

Headline courtesy of Engadget.

IRA to end Armed Attacks Forever

10 years ago, this would have been earth-shattering. Today, in light of recent events around the world, it sort of pales by comparison. But let's not let this announcement be discounted: a 30-year gorilla war is over. I wonder what the Bono Boys (aka U2) would have to say about this.

Interesting to note, that whenever the IRA would set off a bomb, they almost always called authorities to give then enough time to evacuate the area.

Kinsella site update

It's minor, but Warren has updated his site - adding a blogroll to the left sidebar. If you get down on your hands and knees and squint, you can see The Daily Nar near the bottom!

We make very few friends here in the basement, so we don't really have a 'blogroll' so to speak. More of a pathetic collection of useless links to junk. Have I told you lately, I love you?

I case I foget, I have FINALLY got some material for The New Music Friday section (see archives). I suspect that Warren isn't reading this site often, otherwise he would have stepped up with his band, Shit From Hell, to face the firing squad of our reviews - Mu-ah ha-ha-ha (or something to that effect).

NEW FEATURE: Digg.com headlines

Check it out on the right sidebar. Right above the ads (clicky clicky please!) You going to see the latest 5 headlines from Digg.com. Digg is a technology news website that combines social bookmarking, blogging, RSS, and non-hierarchical editorial control. With digg, users submit stories for review, but rather than allow an editor to decide which stories go on the homepage, the users do.

The Daily Nar

Now this is something to take pride in as a nation!

Canada wins 'Dumbest Government of the Year' Award. Hooray!

Pepsi: the Choice of the Fat Generation

Apparently this was announced on Friday and we missed it:

Toronto has signed an exclusive Cold Beverage Agreement with Pepsi. This means that Pepsi will be the sole provider of beverages to children at all parks and rec locations in the GTA. Why? Well, not only does the city get some help on offering services to kids, but it reaps a tidy 800K kick-back in the process of selling children's health down the river.

Like her or not, I have to hand it to Olivia Chow - she really does take her job as Children's advocate seriously. She is pissed about this, and is pushing to have the vending machines stock 100% non-cola refreshments. I hope she wins (but sadly, she won't). BTW, Pepsi also have a CBA with York University - so they are making sure ot be the sole supplier of liquid shit to you children from start to finish! Here's the article:

Council voted last night to accept a $2.5 million contract for Pepsi to be the exclusive beverage provider in the city's recreation centres and parks. Councilor Olivia Chow had pushed for the contract to be tendered again on the grounds that soda pop is to blame for rising obesity in children. "A lot of kids are addicted to pop, because it has caffeine in it," said Chow (Ward 20, Trinity-Spadina). "We are encouraging kids in the community centres to drink liquid sugar." While the contract calls for Pepsi to stock half of its vending machines with healthy drinks like water or fruit juice, Chow argued it should be 100 per cent.Councillor Gloria Lindsay Luby urged councillors to accept the contract, saying it should not be up to the city to dictate what children are drinking. Parents should be the ones deciding what their children are consuming, she said. "People have to be responsible for their own actions," said Lindsay Luby (Ward 4, Etobicoke Centre).

The contract calls for Pepsi to pay the city a licensing fee of $1.35 million, as well as 30 per cent of revenues from vending sales, projected to come to $1.1 million over five years. In addition, Pepsi will provide $1.15 million over the course of the contract for special events, a youth soccer program and a recycling program. Previously, Pepsi paid $1.5 million for a five-year contract, which expires at the end of October. The city is expected to receive more than $800,000 in commissions by the end of that contract.

Attack of the Monster Garbage Cans

My friends over at Spacing Magazine, and the Toronto Public Space Committee are (rightly so) up in arms over the city's proposed new garbage cans. These things are simply insane: they are 7.5 feet tall, they block whole sidewalks, and worst of all, barely resemble garbage cans. They pieces of crap are illuminated 24 hours a day, which is just a brilliant fucking move in the middle of an energy crisis. I'd heard about these things, but until now hadn't seen one.

Everyone else is doing their part to help relieve the disgusting smog situation in Toroto (execept SUV drivers), but not the city. Go here to get involved, or here to read the article in the Star. We owe it to each other as citizens of this decaying metropolis to do something...

Finally! Some new music!!!

Everyone should check out Bedouin Sound System. They are from Toronto and they are awesome. This mac doesn't play nice with Blogspot, so here's the nasty HTML to the music. Check out When the Night Feels my Song right freakin now!!

http://www.bedouinsoundclash.com/media.htm

New Music Friday Vol. 19

So there was no new music last week. Well, guess what? No new music this week either!

- Been listening to Still Remains and Green Day's Jesus of Suburbia a lot this week. This either means I am really hurting for new stuff or I am getting old and senile.
-Arkata have taken some time off to show the new Bass player how to play for then 3 or 4 songs.
-I can't seem to come up with anything new to write no matter how hard I try. Christ! I AM getting old!
-The Pussycat Dolls' music is shite - but they are super hot. Does one cancel the other out? Hmmm....

Costco: The Lesser of Two Evils?

This article is interesting mainly because it shows how capitalism makes the average person sick. As evidence, I point to the reference about how "market analysts" hate Costco because the CEO thinks the employees should be treated like human beings. You know... with reasonable wages and stuff? If Costco can manage to make it's average wage $17/hour and STILL be profitable, maybe it deserves a second look. Read the article here, and have a nice weekend.

ATTENTION. Citizens of California

THIS IS YOUR GOVERNOR.

Inicidentially, this is also one of the most f*cked up things I've ever seen.

"Man, dumb lady don't know diddle,"

This is hands down the best article you will read all week.

LOUD ROCK SHOW MAKES TEEN'S HEAD EXPLODE!


P.S. Here's what a Google Image Search gets ya for "Dirt Weasel"

Sometimes you just have to shake your head

Question: What is the best way to help deter potential terrorist attacks on your country? Is it:

A) Use diplomatic channels (e.g. the UN) to help foster dialogue and unity
B) Attempt to show compassion and understanding in a worn-torn and poverty stricken area
C) Bomb the shit out of Mecca

If you answered C, congratulations! You are now a Republican Senator.

New Music Friday Vol. 18

-Raise Them and Eat Them play saturday night at Rancho Relaxo
-Arakta play Rancho tonight
-Joe Satriani is old(er) today -49 I think. He also likes totally stupid hats.
-Linda Ronstadt is even older today too.

[And the Nar has started playing with the brothers Galbraith from Raise Them. Prepare for fame and fortune, potential entourage members!]

Good Article on the London Bombings

As you are probably aware, I haven't been commenting on the recent events in London, mainly because everyone and their mother's blog has probably got something, and frankly I don't like crowds. But I found this article at Adbusters that I thought summed it up quiet nicely. It echos a lot of what I've been hearing on recent Democracy Now podcasts.

So here is my share, which isn't really mine.

"Who the fuck are you?"

The fucking social decency groups in America have lost their fucking minds. Some shit-bag group want to fine the unholy hell out of ABC for fucking up and not censoring the word "FUCK" from The Who's performance of "Who are You?" What bullshit. I wonder, when this same group of arse-faces were teenagers, smoking pot and listening to the same goddamn song, did they have a problem with it? Fuck no!

Happy belated Birthday MP3!!

Ah yes, the bane of record companies everywhere, turned 10 yesterday. If I had know I would have bought a gift! Oh well, guess the card with cash'll have to do. Who knew ten years ago that this simple little code designed to help move sound files faster arcoss networks would someday shake the foundations of the most entrenched industries in North America.

Cooter is not amused

As if we really needed another reason not to see this piece of crap, the guy who played Cooter on the original series says the new Dukes of Hazard movie is a sick perversion of the "family-friendly" show. I estimate this movie STILL takes #1 for its premier. Stupid, stupid, stupid.

Mr Cherry? Paging Mr. Cherry...

Da
Da-Da-Da
Da-Da-Da-Da-Da (x2)

D'-Da-Da-Daa-Da-Daaa!
D'a... oh, you get the picture.

The Big, Lonely Carrot

Are you single?
Are you Lonely?
Are you a vegetarian?

Cheer up, carrot top! This site is here for you!

Not so New Music News...

Looks like Washed-up rapper Lil' Kim is headed fo' da clink. Appearantly, looking a judge square in the eyes and lie about a violent crime gets you in trouble. Who'd a thunk it?

New Music Friday Vol. 17

Quick update of some live events going on tonight:

- Arkata, in their first appearance with new Bass Master Leland, \ at the Masonic Lodge in Streetsville tonight. With Proeliis Fere, Ghost Stories, The Love And Terror Cult, Strawman Fallacy, and more....doors open at 5, show starts at 7 I think... we are supposed to go on at 10pm... I think its 6 bux at the door.....

- Raise them and Eat Them play tonight at Neutral, at the corner of Augusta and College. Don't know the details, so just hang around outside until you see other cool looing kids, then follow then in!

New music is few and far between, so as always, mail any thing you want posted or review to thedailynar@gmail.com

Ottawa Caves to big Oil

Wow. Canada Day festivities in Ottawa were sponsored in no small part by Shell Canada. Shell Canada does not like renewable energy. Shell Canada had the NCC remove an infomation booth from festivities that provided materials and a mascott for renewable energy.

If Shell executives had half a brain, they would let renewable energy proponents in everywhere. Why? Because as of right now, the only people that care about renewable energy are the activitsts, who would have been pleased to see this... anyways, asshattery all around.

http://ottawa.cbc.ca/regional/servlet/View?filename=ot-ncccorncob20050705

Those with Glass bridges...

Have you ever been to the glass floor at the top of the CN Tower. It's a pretty scary view. Now imagine that AT 4000 FEET OVER THE GRAND CANYON! That's just insane... but true.

Live 8 on demand

London, Philly, and T.O...

Nothin to do with poverty, ya know?


http://music.channel.aol.com/live_8_concert/london_philly_toronto

How big is your footprint?

Your ecological footprint, that is. An eco-footprint is the amount of stuff you take from the planet to live. For example: the average for Canada is 8.8 global hectares per person. That's how much biologically productive area is needed in this planet to support your current lifestyle. The planet can currently support the entire population living at a footprint of around 1.8.

Because I don't own a car, walk a lot, and am a vegetarian, my score is pretty low for a developed country: 3.9. Alas, it would still take 2.2 planets to support everyone if they lived like me. I find it pretty depressing: I try to my best to keep myself balanced between being ecologically conscience and having an enjoyable life, and I still suck!

Anyways, do the quiz here and email your results (NO CHEATING!) to thedailynar@gmail.com

Save lives with Hydrogen?

How cool is this? Stanford Univeristy recently published an article in Nature magazine detailing the costs and benefits of outrightly dumping our antiquated styles and moving to an all hydrogen society. Very cool ready indeed. Start here, and then use the link to read the Nature article.

Long weekend hangovers...

Ah, the long weekend. It's so hard to get back into the swing of things after such a perfect three days - at least around the Golden Horseshoe. For those of you currently experiencing guilt at the amount of food/booze you consumed over the weekend, I offer you this for a bit of solace. Please keep in mind, this ding-bat is a nurse. Enjoy!