Coming Up in Toronto

Friday, October 31
Wiccan Halloween Party at The Black Swan featuring Themis Wicca Rock
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Mysterion's Haunted Halloween Birthday
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24 Hours at the Centre Of Gravity
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HALLOWEEN RETRO BASH - 08
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Skin Tight Outta Site and Mysterion Present- Trick or Strip!!!
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Halloween at the Black Swan
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Treats and Tricks
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TWM 27: Insurgentlemen, the Dress Whites, whale Tooth, Cheap Speakers
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Halloween + Comedy Bar = AWESOME
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**The Stormalongs' HALLOWEEN BALL!!! @ CLINTON'S**
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Champagne Birthdays Halloween Jam
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ANAGRAM HALLOWE'EN PARTY
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((((( GOIN' STEADY'S 4TH ANNUAL MONSTER MASH )))))
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PARADISE
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FOXFIRE*PARALLELS*MIKEY APPLES*HALLOWEEN PARTY
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Jeremy Guther (with Trinity Road) Live in Toronto for 2 Nights
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The Rocky Horror Picture Show Revue
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Saturday, November 1
The Toronto Small Press Affair
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bring colour to their lives. part 2.
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HALLOWEEN GHOST CRUISE W/DJ BABA KAHN ABOARD THE COVERED ENTERPRISE 2000
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Sunday, November 2
Wavelength 437: Noah23, Pash (ly), The Greenbelt Collective, Karaocake
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The Ice Bears Tour: Prince Po of Organized Konfusion
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Monday, November 3
Movie Night @ Danish's: A World Without Money, Politics & Religion
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Eyes On Toronto - Two Koreas, Debra DiGiovanni and more
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Tuesday, November 4
Election Night Online Party
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Unbuilt Toronto : The City That Could Have Been | Opening
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Bicylces perform at the ol' Soundscapes
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NOW Presents AMERICA VOTES @ The Bloor
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GoodSoundsGood presents...Melissa Bathory, Stefi Beck & Christina Maria
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Watch the US Election results roll in with the DoC
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Clouds EP Release Party Nov.4th at the Horseshoe! FREE!
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YCYS/The City Streets/Eamon McGrath
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Welcome Back America
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Wednesday, November 5
Dragons Den Marketplace
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Thursday, November 6
Will Fisher Quintet @ Tequila Bookworm
Debut Performance!
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Dirty Penny, All Night Long & Flowers of Hell
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FREE- Stages Concert Series
Run With the Kittens & Hooded Fang
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TWM Presents: Europe in Colour, Luxury Bob & Fire Flower Revue
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RABID EARS/CIUT FUNDRAISER
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Indie Night at Rock N Roll Heaven -SFD,Ministrey of Zen, MJM and more
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Friday, November 7
Ruby Coast ‘Projectable Collections’ EP Release @ Sneaky Dees FRI NOV 7th
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Comedy Bar presents... THE GRAND OPENING!
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TWM Presents: Broadcast Radio, The Boo, Waking Up Cross-Eyed
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®®® ROOM PARTY ©©©
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Saturday, November 8
Real Life Where's Waldo Game
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FUSION: Catwalk Concert to Combat Cancer
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The Comedy Bar GRAND OPENING: Sampler Showcase!
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NOV. 8TH!!! TRIGGER EFFECT (mtl) / THE NEW ENEMY / SMOKE AND MIRRORS
END OF TOUR PARTY!!!
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The Bicycles Present: The Last Schmaltz II
"Oh No, It's Love" cd release!
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THE FRAMEWORK live at the El Mo with THE DUNES and N I G H T S
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TWM 28: Archipelagos, Videotape, Parlovr & Barn Owl
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Sunday, November 9
The Comedians of Video On Trial at The Panasonic Theater!
Come celebrate 100 episodes of hate with Trevor Boris, Sabrina Jalees and Debra DiGiovanni!
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The Return of... SUNDAY NIGHT LIVE!
COMEDY BAR GRAND OPENING!!! + PLUS NEW CAST!!!
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Wavelength 438: The von Drats, Huelepaga Sound System + CONTACT
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Wednesday, November 12
Voices Forward Festival (Nov. 12 - 16)
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Friday, November 14
Art Gallery of Ontario public opening
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ENGINEER, Cauldron, The Womb, Skullfist, Demonthrone - Nov 14th
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Saturday, November 15
Plastic Crimewave Sound w/ Djin Aquarian + Mondo Drag
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Jimmy Hogg's Comedy Onslaught
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Praxis Theatre goes to the bar
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Nov 15 - Timber Timbre / Double Suicide / Evening Hymns @ Whippersnppr Glry
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THIS IS EXPLODING! MULTI-ACTIVE FUN!
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Sunday, November 16
Karmageddon - Toronto
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Wednesday, November 19
Gangbangaz at Wrongbar's Hump Day Bump
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Friday, November 21
NOIR- GANGBANGAZ EDITION
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Saturday, November 22
Good Jobs for All for a Greater Toronto
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Wednesday, November 26
Sworn Enemy, For Today, Better Left Unsaid, W.I.T.W in Toronto
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Mary Bronstein's YEAST (Canadian Premiere)
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Friday, November 28
FUEL TESTS SYMPOSIUM + BOOK LAUNCH
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Two Hours Traffic w. Boys Who Say No & The Danks
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WOAH! GORDO -- KID METROPOLIS CD RELEASE PARTY
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Sunday, December 2
Folk Yeah! Featuring Wendy Leung, Melissa Dalton & Lara Martin
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Saturday, December 6
YONDER w/Mandibles
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Thursday, January 1
WINKY AWARDS
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Thoughts on a Movie Theatre Close to Home

I originally wrote this up as a letter to the editor - and the responsible reporter - on the subject of some changes in the works for movie theatres here in my neighbourhood of Orleans. I would strongly suggest that you read that article, linked in the first paragraph...

After reading the front-page article of the new edition regarding
Empire Theatres' plans for the Orleans region, I'm concerned about the future of the existing Orleans Town Cinema near Place d'Orleans.

I'm worried that it won't be permitted a future.

This would be a shame, given the opportunity to address a need - or
at least a good-sized want - for a decent repertory cinema complex
in the East End. Second-run films, art films of unusual subject matter
or length, first-run Canadian films that would otherwise not get any
chance at all outside of the First Weekend Club, all of these would be
available to Orleans audiences if the right financial supporters
were to step forward now to take the Orleans Town Cinema off of
Empire's hands.

It may be a pipe dream, but the Bytowne and Mayfair alone surely can't serve
the entire repertory market of the Ottawa region.

Reactions? IS my idea completely out to lunch?

Other Voices: An Evening of Latino Writing and Music

Thursday October 30th, 2008 @ 6:30 pm
The Trane Studio, 964 Bathurst St.

Join Tightrope Books for an exciting evening celebrating Latin music, poetry and performance. Don't miss the best and brightest Latino writing and music has to offer including a bilingual translation of renowned Serbia Poet Goran Simic's work featuring Veronica Garza Flores, a reading by Salvador Alanis, Jesse Villegas reading from Voices In First Person, and a performance by celebrated emerging voice and Cha Cha curator Monica Rosas. Following the readings enjoy the sounds of Cubanos.

www.tightropebooks.com

Breaking Links: Oct. 23, 2008

36 Hours until I move so not much time for blogging, but a few headlines for you all. First I should mention that I run alot of groups on facebook. Check them out and see if there are any of interest that you don't know about at http://www.publicbroadcasting.ca/justin/groups.html

Now, check these out.

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The declining looney and the need to save money in the declining U.S. has the phones ringing again for Canada's film industry. Note to Mr. Harper, Even in a bad economy the arts and culture sector keeps going.

http://www.financialpost.com/story.html?id=901474

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Sign of things to come? Last week French President Sarkozy came out against Quebec Seperatism:

http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/story.html?id=0367988f-81a9-49cb-84d1-7daea0372605

Today two ADQ members defected to Charest's Quebec Liberals

http://www.cbc.ca/canada/montreal/story/2008/10/23/floor-crossing.html

If separatism is finally done a Bloc/Liberal merger could form majority governments for a long time to come.

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Before the election the CBC hired a private company to monitor it's election coverage and look for signs of bias. The report is in and no bias was found.

The J-source article is at http://www.j-source.ca/english_new/detail.php?id=2936

The full report on CBC coverage is at http://www.cbc.ca/news/viewpoint/vp_cruickshank/pdf/ERIN_Interim_Report_Oct_22.pdf

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In an effort to shed their Big Brother image, Microsoft has patented real time voice censoring software.

http://www.channelregister.co.uk/2008/10/20/microsoft_bleeps_undesired_words_censorship/

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Rabble Relaunches with new partners the Council of Canadians, United Steelworkers, and Douglas Coldwell Foundation:
http://beta.rabble.ca

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Champion of deregulation Allan Greenspan admits that industry cannot regulate itself. (Mr. Harper might want to read this one too.)
http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2008/oct/24/viewpoint-us-economy-shares

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Joel Plaskett is coming to a theater near you.
http://radio3.cbc.ca/blogs/2008/10/Joel-Plaskett-At-A-Theatre-Near-You

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The Best Canadian Poetry 2008

The Best Canadian Poetry 2008
Tuesday, November 11 2008, 7 pm
Revival, 783 College Street West (at Shaw) Toronto, Ontario

From a long list of one hundred poems drawn from Canadian literary journals and magazines, this year's guest editor, award winning poet Stephanie Bolster, has chosen fifty of the best Canadian poems published in 2007. With this anthology reader, baffled by proliferating poems and poets, can for the first time tap into the remarkable and vibrant Canadian poetry scene. Readers are invited to explore the currents and cross-currents of poetry in a distinguished volume distilled by a round robin of esteemed editorial taste.

The evenings celebration will include the readings by some of Canada's best poets, including Jim Nason, Dani Couture, Sadiqa de Meier, Michael Lista, Al Mortiz, David Seymour, and more. Canadian Jazz musician Fern Lindzon will be performing.

www.tightropebooks.com

$1000 Solution for the Left?

Yesterday while listening to CBC's the Point they were discussing the fortunes of 'the Left' in Canada. Commentator Michael Hlinka suggested that the problem the left is having is that traditionally Canadians like things that apply to everyone - Universal programs that are for everyone (such as health care). He pointed out that recently leftish parties have been promoting targeted programs rather than universal ones. He has a point, programs suggested by the Liberals and NDP are primarily targeted such as programs designed to help manufacturing, or working moms, or university students. The Conservatives, meanwhile, are heavily pushing universal programs - GST cuts, gas tax cuts, etc., - they may be small and they may benefit the rich more than the poor but they can sell them as universal.

As an example of a universal program that he found interesting Hinka mentioned a $1000/month each payment from the government. I agree, it sounds absurd. But if you consider Hlinka's background, it makes you wonder (at least it made me wonder):

"Born in Toronto , Michael Hlinka received his MBA from the University of Toronto in 1986. After developing property for several years, Michael entered the world of financial services and spent nearly a decade with companies like Standard Life, TD Waterhouse, RBC Dominion Securities and HSBC Securities.
He has been twice awarded the student-nominated, prestigious Golden Apple Award for his teaching excellence. In 2003, he received his CFA Charter and for several years worked with Canadian Academics as a CFA instructor, specializing in Quantitative Methods, Derivatives, Bonds and Portfolio Management. In addition, Michael is a regular commentator with CBC Radio."

So, the guy knows alot about numbers. Unfortunately they didn't talk about it long enough for him to get into numbers so I went and did some of my own research.

There are approximately 33 million Canadians. If we simply handed over a thousand a month to each of them it would cost a shocking 396 Billion - which is 150 billion more than the federal budget. So as a straight up plan it won't work. If however we say a thousand a month to people 18 and over that reduces it by almost 100 billion. We do not, after all, want to get in the business of paying people to have children - under this plan if it applied to everyone regardless of age a couple that had 8 children would receive 120,000/year even if they didn't work - and I don't think most Canadians would support that for very long. If however we keep the so called 'baby bonus' and only provide the money per adult then it would at least enable a very poor family to get by.

Still, we are talking about a program that costs about 300 billion so we have to tweak some more. First of all, Hlinka did mention that the money would be taxable - that means that if you are very poor you keep nearly all of it and if you are very rich you end up giving all of it back. As a general estimate based on average taxation we can guess that at least 25% of the money will come back through income taxes. So that takes the cost of the program down to about 220 billion.

If we return the GST to 7%, Cancel Harper's planned corporate tax cut, and get out of Afghanistan in 2011 that frees up another 61 billion. If we cut targeted programs such as the $100/month day care bonus, and the $500 annual tax credit for athletic programs because everyone is getting $1000/month now to use for whatever they need that helps too. Without examining all of them we can probably find another 2 billion from programs like these. If we say that, if you are receiving unemployment insurance payments that this counts as part of your payment that frees up 17.8 billion (the goal here, after all, is to insure that everyone has a steady flow of income, not to make unemployment more profitable). If we say to people in prison that the money, rather than going to you, is going to pay for part of your incarceration that frees up another half billion. If we institute the Liberal carbon tax, which the environment desperately needs, but use the funds for this program instead of income tax cuts that's another 15.5 billion. Remember that everyone is getting 1,000/month so it should help offset the costs of the Carbon tax.
All put together that's another 96 billion dollars.

So, we still have a little over 120 billion to come up with. But let's set that aside for a minute and see what this program would actually accomplish. For the working poor this would be a lifeline. If you have an entry level, full time, service sector McJob that pays 10 dollars/hour (and I know that alot of them don't pay that much.) you make approximately 375 dollars a week. The thousand dollar a month plan would break down to about $230/week taking these people up to $600/wk which you can actually live on, not well, but you can afford the basics. For the truly destitute, the homeless, this would provide a steady income. If you were homeless and could find a roommate the combined 24k/year would enable you to get a modest apartment and put food on the table in most places in Canada. Obviously this would also help university students (allowing them to borrow less), working parents (allowing them to pay for day care and school expenses), it would help the elderly and others afford prescription drugs. It would help native Canadians, new Canadians and would ultimately considerably reduce the poverty rate.

So, back to that 120 billion we still need: We don't know, but can assume, that there would be considerable savings on welfare and other programs to help the very poor as fewer people needed the help. There is even growing evidence that if people have more money that we will save on health care. We can also assume that because the very poor would actually spend most of the money that some of the money would be recovered through GST, Carbon Taxes, and other taxation. Is this enough? Does it come to 120 billion? I don't know, but we're at least getting into an area where this plan might be possible. The amount of good it would do is undeniable and it might be worthwhile to go through the Federal budget more carefully to find other funds that could be made available.

The Conservative reaction to this would be predictable - they will say 'tax and spend' they will say 'just let people keep their money in the first place'. But Conservative theories on economics don't work and everyone knows it. What Ronald Reagan called 'trickle down' economics doesn't trickle down - it makes the rich richer and the poor poorer. Letting people keep their money only works if the people we are talking about have money to keep. Taxes are not robbery, taxes are how we build society and work together for common goals. We all pay into health care, we all get health care - obviously the sick get more out of it than the healthy but we accept that as the system working the way it's supposed to. We all pay in to maintaining highways, the post office, emergency services and obviously some people get more good out of these than others. Everyone pays the fire department and we all hope that we don't need it. This program would be much the same but applied to income. If you ended up giving all the money back you should be glad that you are in an income bracket where you don't need it. On the other hand you will know that no matter how bad things get for you, for friends, for co-workers that there will have enough money to live on, not well or comfortably but enough to survive.

I have often said that I don't believe in putting ceilings on how successful people can become, but I do believe as a civilized country that we should put a floor on how far we let people fall. This program would provide a floor. I'm not 100% sold on this, there is more math that would need to be done. But the fact that it might be possible, and that it would obviously have a major impact on our society, helping most those who need the most help means it should be out there for people to consider.

If anyone out there knows Michael Hlinka I would be fascinated to know if he's done the math on this idea.

Elliott Brood in Session

Elliott Brood is on tour in Europe and the US right now. They'll be back in Ontario and playing some dates in Mid-November though (a list of dates is below). In the mean time you can check them out on CBC Radio 3 Sessions:

Toronto's gritty folk trio, Elliott Brood, moves from recording their foot stomping music in slaughterhouses to CBC Radio 3 sessions. Listen for their special Gearheads featuring a suitcase.

For a full list of Radio 3 Sessions available for download visit http://www.publicbroadcasting.ca/sessions.html - You can also join the Sessions Facebook Group or add the page.

Here are those Ontario dates:

11 Nov Club Vinyl Guelph, Ontario

14 Nov 2008 The Montreal House Peterborough, Ontario

15 Nov 2008 Casbah Hamilton, Ontario

20 Nov 2008 Capital Music Hall Ottawa, Ontario

21 Nov 2008 The Grad Club Kingston, Ontario

22 Nov 2008 Call The Office London, Ontario

Elliot Brood - Second Son

Poll: Time to Unite the Left?

As regular readers of this blog will know I have been pursuing the idea of an Unparty. But, coming out of the last miserable election there are growing calls to Unite the Left. So, am I thinking along the wrong lines? Should a broad 'Unite the Left' movement be pushing at the range of political parties that are to the left of George Bush?

I'm torn on this. I can see some interesting platforms and very good teams coming out of a united left and I'm certainly tired of the left getting 2/3rds of the vote but being shut out of power. I'm apprehensive though about a US style two party system. It's a bit like having two restaurants and no kitchen - the two parties (right and left) present menus (platforms) but if your issues aren't on the menu it is very difficult to put them there.

So, just to get a bearing on what people are thinking - what do you think?

Bookninja Finalists

Bookninja is having a contest. Because the publishing business is hurting and publishers and authors are under increasing pressure to dumb down their content for a public that doesn't read anymore (and in an increasing number of cases can't read) Bookninja urged readers to redesign book covers to help booksellers move more product.

Entries include things like these:









Please pay them a visit and help them pick a winner!

Weakerthans Take Home 3 WCMAs

Congratulations to Winnipegs Weakerthans who took home awards for outstanding independent album, songwriters of the year and video of the year at this year's Western Canadian Music Awards! It's about time the Weakerthans got some recognition. John K. Sampson is, arguably, the best lyricist in Canada. I imagine that if he, and wife, Cristine Fellows ever got into an argument the result would still be better than a good chunk of modern poetry.

Also taking home awards tonight were Paul Brant, Corb Lund, k.d. lang, Feist, Nickleback, and

Aboriginal recording: Tracy Bone, No Lies.

Blues recording: Little Miss Higgins, Junction City.

Children's recording (tie): Googol Power, Crazy 4 Math and The Kerplunks, The Kerplunks.

Contemporary Christian/gospel recording: Steve Bell, The Symphony Sessions.

Classical composition: Elizabeth Raum, Dark Thoughts (How Bodies Make Ecstatic Marks).

Classical recording: Jasper Wood, A Child's Cry from Izieu.

Francophone recording: Ariane Mahryke Lemire, Double Entendre.

Instrumental recording: Bob Evans, 4 on 6.

Jazz recording: Altered Laws, Metaphora.

Pop recording: The Liptonians, Self-Titled.

Rock recording: State of Shock, Life, Love & Lies.

Roots recording, duo/group: Twilight Hotel, Highway Prayer.

Urban recording: Souljah Fyah, Truth Will Reveal.

World recording: Alex Cuba, Agua Del Pozo.

Civil Twilight - WCMA Video of the Year

CBC News Axes Two of It's Best

Via J-Source and the Globe and Mail comes word that the CBC is axing two of it's best and most experienced foreign correspondents.

"Ending months of speculation, CBC management has confirmed that it is not renewing the contracts of two of its star, veteran foreign correspondents, Don Murray in London and Patrick Brown in Beijing."

It may just be me but it seems that the world is getting smaller and that international affairs affect Canadians more with each passing day. For evidence of this you have only to look at the current international banking crisis. The CBC claims that it is doing this to save money:

"However, Tony Burman, the former editor-in-chief of CBC News and now managing director of Al-Jazeera's English-language news service, said the CBC's rationale is to save money, even though the salaries of both total less than $200,000 a year, a fraction of CBC News's $170-million budget.

"I think it's shameful that two of the CBC's most distinguished foreign correspondents would be treated this way," he said in an e-mail."

So is it not worth $200,000 a year (thats about two-thirds of a penny per Canadian annually) for Canadians to get a knowledgeable Canadian perspective on events in London and Beijing (two of the world's most important cities from our national public broadcaster? According to the CBC it is not. Let us hope that this is not a sign of things to come for CBC News.

Electoral Reform: My Mixed Proportional System

Since last Tuesday's election Electoral Reform has been the hottest topic in the country. there are discussions about it everywhere you turn. Still, some people have real problems with the idea of proportional representation. Many are concerned that it would lead to a parliament filled with tiny parties who's power in a coalition would vastly outweigh their popular support. Still others don't like the idea of losing their local MP, they want someone to call with local problems.

Having given this considerable thought over the last few years I think I have a solution to the problem that no one will love, but everyone will be able to live with and, in a democracy, that's usually a good sign. The system I propose is actually a combination of first past the post, preferential balloting and proportional representation. It also adds 100 new Members of Parliament (I can hear the groaning already - but democracy is important and it's worth it.)

Before I get to the voting system I'm suggesting I'd like to point out a few other changes I think are needed to make our democracy work outside of the voting system.

First elections should be held on weekends, giving people a full 48 hours in which to cast their ballots

The management of debates needs to be removed from the group known as 'the Consortium' and made a matter of law, enforced by the CRTC. Any party receiving over 5% of the popular vote in the previous election must be included in the debates and debates must be presented to receive the largest possible audience. They should be aired in 'prime time' on all licensed Canadian stations (television and radio), re-aired at least once on a weekend afternoon and made available in their entirety online.

The power of the Prime Minister must be scaled back so as not to infringe on the democratic rights of other members of parliament. Ethics rules need to be put in place to prevent any disciplinary action by a political party when a Member of Parliament votes against party lines. Additionally, it should be considered a violation of ethics for any party to prevent an elected MP or party candidate from speaking publicly on any topic they choose or to punish a candidate or elected member for such speech.

Local Riding associations should have the sole power to choose local Candiates. Under the system I'm about to suggest, party leaders will still be able to have their 'star candidates' in parliament

Civics courses, including the workings of government and the importance of voting should be a part of every school curriculum and should be re-presented several times over a student's academic career.

The voting age should be changed so that interested young people can participate in the system (this too I will cover in the plan I'm going to propose.)

The Plan

It's election weekend, you head down to your local polling station to vote. It works the same as it always has, even the ballot is the same.



The first thing that has changed is you no longer put an X in the box next to your candidates name, you put a "1". Under this new system the need for 'Strategic Voting' is gone so choose the party you really, really like - what is most important in this election is which party gets that "1".

Now, having done that you pick the candidate who you would vote for if you couldn't have your first choice and you put a "2", then you pick the candidate (if any) you like best after that and put a "3".

You're done. That's all you need to do, the rest is vote vote counters.


Counting the Votes

In each riding the ballots are counted, initially they just look at the "1" and come up with a total for votes. If none of the candidates has 50%+1 of the votes, they set this original number aside (because it's important again later). The vote counters now take the top two from the first count, and go back to the ballots for other candidates. For ballots where the "1" vote was for a candidate outside the top 2, they count the "2" votes then re-total the numbers. If one of the top two candidates now has 50% + 1 of the votes they are declared the winner. If they do not have a majority though the vote counters once again return to the ballots. Looking at only the ballots where neither of the two top contenders was "1" or "2" they now count the threes. The candidate who is ahead at this point (50% or not) is declared the winner. That person is the candidate that most of the voters in the riding at least found acceptable, even if he or she wasn't their first choice.

Now that that's done the totals from that first ballot are brought back out. The "1" votes are the ones that will determine Federal funding for parties, they will also, in part, determine the proportional seats. I say in part because there are more votes to add here. While voters 18+ were voting for their local MP, High School students were also voting. In an effort to empower them and get them in the habit of voting they were casting 'party only' ballots - that is they were voting for which of the federal parties they liked the best. These votes are added to the "1" votes nationwide and a total emerges.

Let's pretend that the numbers were like last tuesdays vote totals:

Conservative 37.63%
Liberal 26.24%
NDP 18.2%
BQ 9.97%
Green 6.8%

The proportional seats are awarded based on percentage of the vote 1 seat per 1% rounded up (but a party would have to receive at least 1% to get a seat). So the Conservatives would receive an additional 38 members, the Liberals 26, the NDP 18, the Bloc 10 and the Greens 7. These 'at large' members would be appointed by the party and could be used to return members not elected to parliament, to fill gaps in representation (regional, minority etc), to fill gaps in expertise or to bring in those 'star candidates' I mentioned.

This is not, as I said, a perfect system. It doesn't give everyone what they want, but it does answer everyone's concerns - it insures that parties with public support get a voice in parliament, it provides an opportunity for minority voters (Conservatives in Toronto, Liberals in Red Deer etc) to be represented in party caucus', but at the same time it does not give undue power to small extreme parties and it allows people to retain local, riding level, representation in parliament.

Bicycles and Diableros on the Road

Summer touring season may be over, but that just means that fall touring season is starting. the Diableros and the Bicycles are both hitting the road (note the Bikes also have a new album coming on November 4.) Check out some of Toronto's finest wherever finer shows are sold (or at least inexpensive beer.)

Diableros

October 21 | Sydney | Maxwell's w/ Rich Aucoin

October 22 | Halifax Pop Explosion | Coconut Grove w/ The Spades, Shortpants Romance

October 23 | Fredericton | Capital w/ Matthew Barber, The Spades

October 24 | Charlottetown | Baba's Lounge w/ Parlovr

October 25 | Ottawa | Zaphod's w/ My Dad Vs. Yours

October 26 | Toronto | Pedestrian Sunday 5pm set outdoors on Augusta

Bicycles

October 23rd - Ottawa @ Zaphods

October 25th - Halifax @ Coconut Grove (part of Halifax Pop Explosion)

October 26th - Fredericton @ The Capital

October 27th - St. John, NB @ Backstreet Records (instore performance)

October 28th - Moncton @ The Paramount

October 29th - Sackville @ Mount Allison campus pub

October 30th - Quebec city @ Le Cercle

October 31st - Montreal @ Friendship Cove

November 1st - Kingston @ The Grad Club

November 4th - Toronto @ Soundscapes (instore performance)

November 6th - Peterborough @ Montreal House

November 8th - Toronto @ Lee's Palace (CD release show!)

November 11th - Thunder Bay @ The Apollo

November 12th - Winnipeg @ Lo's Pub (tentative)

November 13th - Saskatoon @ Amigo's

November 14th - Edmonton @ The Pawnshop

November 15th - Vancouver @ Di'Metric Studios

November 18th - Cumberland @ The Waverly

November 19th - Kelowna

November 20th - Calgary @ Broken City

November 22nd - Regina @ The Club

November 23rd - Kenora @ Inn of the woods

November 24th - Marathon @

November 28th - Waterloo @ Trepid House

November 29th - Brantford @ The Ford Plant

Coming Up in Toronto

Friday, October 17
Wooden Sky & Mother Mother
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Mozart in Love
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FLOW: FOR THE LOVE OF WATER
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TEN KENS, Chang-a-lang, Whale Tooth & Sunriser
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TWM: Pale Horses, The Broadcast, Picturesound, Radio Revival
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Second Pass Live at Hollywood on the Queensway
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Toronto After Dark Film Festival - 2008 GALA OPENING PARTY!!
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RTRD'D
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Saturday, October 18
Hexes and Ohs Bedroom Madness CD Release
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TWM: Megan Hamilton, Ryan Shearing + Belle Star, Sea of Gold & Burgundy
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[boxhead]
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TWM: Megan Hamilton, Ryan Shearing + Belle Star, Sea of Gold & Burgundy
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Children's wish foundation parade and show
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GIANT KILLER SHARK: THE MUSICAL: The Homecoming
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the oxford hotel presents: jordaan mason, basket of figs, paleo, whatever j
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CRYSTAL ANTLERS, SPORTS: THE BAND, HOT FRIENDS, VOMIT MOUNTAIN @ TERANGA
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Fox Jaws @ The El Mocambo Sat. Oct. 18th
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Sketchersons Party 5!!!
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Sunday, October 19
2008 Toronto Zombie Walk
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Super Jam Contest. 2nd Month Round (2)
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Mike Bullard Host's "All Souls Night Party" - A Benefit for the Ashray
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Gabby-Fo-Fabby Birthday Bash With Boxes & Bags!!!
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Monday, October 20
TWM: Krista Muir, Luther Wright & the Wrongs & the Schomberg Fair
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Tuesday, October 21
X AVANT New Music Festival III — "Space is the Place"
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2008-09 4th Annual TorontoTheBetter Movie Series
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*Showcho*
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Stand-Up Showdown 3
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Shai Cookie Peer's birthday celebration
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Wednesday, October 22
LIVING WITH ART
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Accent on Toronto Comedy Night
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Cheap Beer And Metal Night #3 - The WW Tour!
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Thursday, October 23
Come party with us! rabble.ca relaunches Oct. 23
raising a ruckus! Emerging media finding common ground, making change
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EP / Cambridge (van) / Broadcast Zero
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THE OWLE BIRD RELEASES AN ALBUM.
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TWM Presents: Streetlight Light, Provincial Parks & Record Breaker
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World Peace through Inclusion Tour
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7a*11 International Festival of Performance Art
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Friday, October 24
1st ACT to ACT to ACT Screenplay Challenge - Fri. Oct. 24th 7pm at the NFB
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"make space." new art by gregory serpanchy
opening night!
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Hi-Hat/TWM Compilation #2 Release at Rancho Relaxo!
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Saturday, October 25
AWSUM INK presents....Surefire Machine!!!
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Yes, In My Backyard Festival
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Dinosaurs In Need (Ontario) Protest
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BIBM at C'est What
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Women In Tragedy LP Release w. The Pink Noise + Toddler Body
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Bruce&Pinto's B-day Bash!!!
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EXTERMINATION MUSIC NIGHT FUNDRAISER
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GIGGLES and SCREAMS Short Film Festival - NFB at 7pm on Sat. Oct. 25th
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HALLOWEEN F'UNREAL
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Sunday, October 26
Canzine
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Pedestrian Sundays - HALLOWE'EN! Honouring Our Ancestors
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Tuesday, October 28
Quo Vadis & Profugus Mortis In Toronto
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Thursday, October 30
Flourish A Brighter Future Through Culture
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Out of the Shadows
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4th ANNUAL FUCKED UP HALLOWEEN WEEKEND OCT 30th-NOV1st
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The Faceless, Abigail Williams, Decrepit Birth, Neuraxis, Veil Of Maya
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HALLOWEEN GHOST CRUISE
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CATS
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Friday, October 31
Wiccan Halloween Party at The Black Swan featuring Themis Wicca Rock
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Mysterion's Haunted Halloween Birthday
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HALLOWEEN RETRO BASH - 08
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Skin Tight Outta Site and Mysterion Present- Trick or Strip!!!
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Halloween at the Black Swan
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TWM 27: Insurgentlemen, the Dress Whites, whale Tooth, Cheap Speakers
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Halloween + Comedy Bar = AWESOME
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**The Stormalongs' HALLOWEEN BALL!!! @ CLINTON'S**
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Champagne Birthdays Halloween Jam
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ANAGRAM HALLOWE'EN PARTY
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PARADISE
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FOXFIRE*PARALLELS*MIKEY APPLES*HALLOWEEN PARTY
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Saturday, November 1
The Toronto Small Press Affair
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bring colour to their lives. part 2.
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Tuesday, November 4
GoodSoundsGood presents...Melissa Bathory, Stefi Beck & Christina Maria
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Friday, November 7
Ruby Coast ‘Projectable Collections’ EP Release @ Sneaky Dees FRI NOV 7th
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Saturday, November 8
Real Life Where's Waldo Game
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Friday, November 14
Art Gallery of Ontario public opening
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Saturday, November 15
Plastic Crimewave Sound w/ Djin Aquarian + Mondo Drag
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Nov 15 - Timber Timbre / Double Suicide / Evening Hymns @ Whippersnppr Glry
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Wednesday, November 26
Sworn Enemy, For Today, Better Left Unsaid, W.I.T.W in Toronto
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A thought on bio-pics

On the subject of getting back to culture and the arguments to be had discussing it...

A friendly acquaintance of mine, James Nicoll, came up with an interesting thought.

Which Canadians would you want to see a biopic done on? Full-blown movie at the theatre, TV mini-series, whatever you like. The original discussion's being had over at James' blog, but why not hold a satellite discussion over here while we're at it?

The Unparty: Beta 0.1

The Unparty is just a rough idea right now, but it reads something like this:

The basic idea is for a no-party/unparty (those are actually the suggested names)

The problem that we keep running into is that politics is about personalities and parties rather than issues. The Conservatives are in now and they will no doubt move in the wrong direction, the Liberals were in before that but we still had a hard time getting things done. At the same time we have to be realistic about third parties, the majority of Canada is not simply going to put the NDP or the Greens in power, at least not anytime soon. So, the no party/unparty would look something like this:

1) The unparty would not run any candidates of it's own. The last thing we need is yet another party on the left.
2) The unparty would exist to promote progressive causes/issues and organizations, regardless of who is in power.
3) It is meant to be a home to people who are generally progressive but may not have loyalty to any particular party, it also openly welcomes members of existing parties who are concerned about issues first and foremost.
4) During elections we would endorse and promote strategic voting in the short term but would promote electoral reform, and push all parties to endorse some form of proportional representation or preferential balloting for the long term.
5) We would not allow it to be co-opted by any other party, so even if a government was elected that ran on our issues and promised to do everything we supported we would not simply join that party or say 'mission accomplished' we would continue to exist as the un/no party and make sure they carried through on the promises.

I think this would draw in alot of disenfranchised people because we stand for something concrete. Many people are sick of the parties and have no confidence in them, we would welcome these people and give them an agenda to fight for: an agenda, but not a party.

If you are interested in the idea please join this group (it is temporarily closed to keep trolls out, just say you want in and I can add you).

Election Post-Mortem

Well, another Canadian Election is come and gone and while it's not good news, it could have been much worse. Yesterday Canadians decided to follow the American example and re-elect a neo-conservative despite a terrible record on everything. But thanks to a combination of Newfoundland, Quebec, Northern Ontario, Toronto, Vancouver and multi-partisan groups such as AnyoneButHarper.ca, voteforenvironment.ca, Anti-Harper Vote Swap Canada, avaaz.ca and departmentofculture.ca Harper was denied a majority.
So, party by party here is how things broke down.

The Liberals: Ran a terrible campaign. Stephen Dion is, no doubt, a great guy and very smart. I think that he upped his credibility over the course of this election. I also think he is done as leader. He simply let Harper pound on him for too long before fighting back and will not ever be PM as a result. His votes with the Conservatives, during the last parliament and his constant abstentions turned away alot of Liberal supporters and rightly so. Personally I'm disgusted that 40% + of Canadians opted not to vote yesterday, but Dion's Liberals did not set a good example. Remember if you don't vote you can't complain. Bright spots for the Liberals include the addition to caucus of Gerard Kennedy and Justin Trudeau. Trudeau will help bring in young Liberals and Kennedy is the best leader available to the Party. Dion is almost certainly gone, Ray will hurt the Liberals in Ontario (and they don't need to be any weaker here), and while Stephen Harper cannot call Michael Ignatieff on his support for the occupation of Iraq, Gilles Duceppe certainly can and will which will hurt the Liberals in Quebec.

Kennedy who was running food banks when Adscam happened is youngish (but not too young), energetic, charismatic and fluently bi-lingual. He has ties to most of Canada: He was born in The Pas, Manitoba but went to school at the University of Alberta in Edmonton. He ran the Edmonton food bank from 83-86 then moved to Toronto where he started and ran the Daily Bread food bank. While he is not a Francophone, his wife is Jeannette Arsenault-Kennedy is a day care professional and Acadian from Prince Edward Island. The Kennedy win is sad on the one hand because Peggy Nash (NDP) was a great MP and did nothing to deserve the loss, but Kennedy's win means the Liberals may have a chance at rebuilding.

The NDP: Ran a better campaign than the Liberals, but not a great one. They picked up some seats, but they primarily took these from the weakened Liberals, not the Conservatives or the Bloc. They did however win a seat in Alberta, which is probably the biggest coup of the election for the Center/Left.

The Greens: Ran a good campaign, even if it was shy on resources. Elizabeth May should have chosen a riding that was winnable. May clearly did the best of any of the candidates in the debate, unfortunately for her this seems to have translated into votes for the Liberals or NDP and not the Greens. The fact that the Greens got 6.8% of the vote and no seats shows, yet again, the urgent need for electoral reform in Canada.

The Bloc: Ran a great campaign and, if they would finally give up the separatist ghost could play a much more significant role in National politics. A merger between the Bloc and Liberals would be tough to beat in an election. A merger between the Bloc and NDP could conceivably form a government. There are many signs that Bloc voters are ready to abandon separatism, but so far no political party has been able to make the right appeal to lure them from the separatist party. It may be that only the Bloc itself can do that.

The Conservatives: Ran a weak campaign, but won by default. Low voter turnout certainly helped them, as did the fact that no other party was able to effectively show people an alternative. Ok, when I say no other party I mean the Liberals. The Greens showed people an alternative, but couldn't convince people that the Greens would wield any power. The NDP showed an alternative but couldn't convince people they were a realistic possibility for government. The Liberals simply spent most of the campaign on the defensive and were unable to persuade voters to bother leaving the house on voting day. Given all of that though the Conservatives showed a great weakness. There was no reason why they shouldn't win a majority, they failed because (given their current policies) they have reached their limits.

In the aftermath of this election, publicbroadcasting.ca will return to more arts and culture stuff, but will continue to be somewhat political. I am also moving so it will be quieter than usual for a bit. Do stay tuned though, details of the Unparty to come.

Things Dwight's Up To

I've been rather quiet hereabouts due to a number of things, including the matter of staying out of Justin's way while he posts the (very necessary) stuff re: our election campaign in progress. For the moment, though, I thought I'd break blog.silence to let you know about a couple of events I hope to be taking in over the next couple of weeks. Both involve Canadian culture to varying degrees, and while I'm not planning on selling anything at either one(this year), I hope to see what others will be selling.

First off is Con*Cept 2008. It's a science-fiction/fantasy convention held annually in Montréal, and it covers most of the pop culture disciplines currently in play: literature, film/video, comic books, and so on. That's next weekend.

Starting at the same time as Con*Cept but held here in Ottawa for roughly a week and a half is the Ottawa International Writers Festival. It's held twice a year, and this is the fall 2008 edition. Names including John Ralston Saul, Lewis McKenzie, Tarek Fatah, Michael Adams, Maureen Jennings, Peter Robinson, James Laxer, Paul Quarrington, Sandra Gulland, and a slew of others. I've done volunteer duty for WritersFest off and on over the years, and I've never regretted it. If you're actually paying cash money to attend any part of the Festival...you will not feel inclined to ask for a refund afterwards, I think.

I strongly recommend you take a look at both of these events if you can over the next half-month.

The Toronto Small Press Book Fair Presents the Small Press Affair

The Toronto Small Press Book Fair Presents the Small Press Affair

On Saturday, November 1st, the Toronto Small Press Book Fair is holding a special evening mini-fair, The Small Press Affair, at the Tranzac Club. From 6 pm to 11 pm, writers, fans and friends of Canada's smaller presses/publishers/publications will gather at the Tranzac to support a new twist on a long-standing tradition on the Canadian literary scene. The Small Press Affair will feature lively entertainment, including readings and musical performances - all celebrating the spirit of independent press.

While enjoying the evening's eclectic literary entertainment, attendees can browse a range of vendor tables. Small presses of every size, from the micro to the not-so-tiny will offer all kinds of books for sale, including chapbooks, spoken word CD's and zines that offer different perspectives and opportunities to enjoy alternative literary experiences.

The Tranzac Club is at 292 Brunswick Avenue, just south of Bloor, between Spadina and Bathurst.

Email: torontosmallpressbookfair@yahoo.ca
Web site: http://www.torontosmallpressbookfair.org

The Paranormal Show is coming to the Campbell House Museum (starting November 13th)

The Paranormal Show has just completed a successful two month run at the Diesel Playhouse, performing six amazing shows a week! NOW you can witness The Paranormal Show in an intimate setting that puts you in the middle of all the action! Opening November 13th 2008, The Paranormal Show can be seen at Toronto's oldest remaining home, The Campbell House!

Your journey into the Paranormal will begin on the top floor in the Campbell House Ballroom. The Victorian candle lit corridors, shadows dancing on the walls and the ambient cello music playing will set the mood as the evening progresses. After seeing some spectacular feats the mind bending journey will end when the audience makes their way down to the cellar to experience a full blown Seance!

The star of the show is Vladimir Eisengrimm, the harbinger of lost secrets and the host of this Supernatural Extravaganza! During the first half of the show Vladimir will astound the audience with performances of hypnotism, mind-reading, Psychokenesis and will use Retrocognition to attempt to solve the crimes of Jack the Ripper! Plus see Vladimir play a game of Russian Roulette with a 9 inch spike!

Vladimir Eisengrimm will perform feats of 'Mind Over Matter' such as, pounding a 6 inch nail into his skull, swallowing razor-blades and drinking boiling water! Using his Shamanic skills and a true understanding of the East Indian Fakirs, Vladimir will shove a shark-hook through his unpierced tongue and attempt to lift 45lbs of rocks without registering ANY pain!

As the audience falls deeper under the spell of the Bizarre and Supernatural the audience will journey down into the cellar, Vladimir will delve into the Spirit World and attempt to commune with the spirits and unveil 'Edison's Machine to Talk to the Dead'. Will he make contact? Rest assured it will be a white knuckled roller coaster ride as the SEANCE comes crashing down to its Grande Finale!

The Paranormal Show has been showcased on The Discovery Channel, TLC, and Much Music. This is the only show of its kind in Canada! Loaded with audience participation and laughs galore, this will be an evening you will NEVER forget! Critics agree, THIS SHOW IS A MUST SEE!!!

Never on any stage has such a vast assortment of Metaphysical Feats been attempted!

An amazing mixture of Sideshow Feats and experiments in the world of the Paranormal!

www.theparanormalshow.net

SHOW INFORMATION:
Location Campbell House Museum, 160 Queen St. W, Toronto, Ontario, M5H 3H3
Box Office 416 597 0227
Dates November 13th, 14th, 15th, 20th, 21st, 22nd, 28th and 29th
Showtime 9pm
Price $40.00

Thanksgiving: What Will Future Generation Be Thankful For?

For most people the election will be put on hold tomorrow as everyone sits down for Thanksgiving dinner. It is unlikely though that most dinner tables will totally avoid the taboo topic of politics. If yours drifts in this direction, take a poll around the table. Ask people what your children and grandchildren and great grand-children will be thankful for when they site around their Thanksgiving tables in the future.

Will they be thankful for a reduction in greenhouse gasses, cooler temperatures, clean air and clean water or will they be thankful for a 2 cent reduction in diesel fuel prices?

Will they be thankful for a strong national health care system or will they be thankful that 14 year olds are getting life sentences?

Will they be thankful for a stronger more diverse national economy, and revamped infrastructure or will they be thankful that corporate board rooms got a big tax cut?

Will they be thankful for a strong public education system and a chance for everyone to go to university or will they be thankful that the $100/month day care credit was adjusted for inflation?

Will they be thankful for a strong, vibrant Arts and Culture sector, for music and film and literature that talk about them and their lives and experiences or will they be thankful that they didn't get a PM with a French Accent?

Obviously the Conservatives represent one side of this equation and (while they may have differences on the details) the Liberals, NDP, Greens and even the Bloc (if you're in Quebec) agree about the other side.

This election is actually shaping up to be very, very close. According to CPAC/Nanos the numbers currently look like this:

Conservatives 32 (-1) Liberals 28 (+1) NDP 22 (no change) BQ 10 (no change) Green 8 (no change) 18 % of people remain undecided

I know that other polling firms are showing different things, but in the last election Nanos was pretty close to right on the money. The table below will show you their final polling numbers compared to the actual result.



The other thing to keep in mind is the 18% undecided. There is a gulf in ideology between the Conservatives and the other parties. If people were going to vote Conservative they'd vote Conservative. It's far more likely that they are contemplating which of the Center/Left parties to vote for (Liberal/NDP/Green etc).
Although I don't have actual nationwide numbers on this at this point this example from the Winnipeg Free Press shows what they have found locally.

"What's more, voters who remain undecided going into the campaign's final weekend -- about seven per cent -- are leaning heavily to the opposition parties. About 30 per cent are seriously considering the NDP, 25 per cent are leaning to the Liberals and 16 per cent to the Greens, compared to 26 per cent who are leaning Conservative."

So, by their numbers anyway 71% of the undecided are going to break to the left on voting day but, due to the divisions, if we are going to take out the Tories we need to be motivated, we need to get our friends and relatives and neighbors and co-workers motivated and we need to vote strategically. Check out Anyonebutharper.ca or voteforenvironment.ca for information on strategy.

You Have A Choice

Bribery and Perjury Charges for Conservatives?

Remember the Cadman Affair? the One Stephen Harper is suing the Liberals over? Just in time for the election it's back. The audio tape at the center of the controversy was sent, by Stephen Harper, for inspection and his expert came back with results that aren't helpful to Stephen Harper.

"But former FBI agent Bruce Koenig, the sound expert Harper hired to prove his allegations, submitted a report dated Friday to Harper's lawyer, which also had to be sent to the Liberal lawyer Chris Paliare.

In the report, Koenig concluded that the first part of Zytaruk's interview with Harper, which contains the key portions that the prime minister has contested, was intact.

The second part, beginning roughly one minute and 41 seconds into the tape, was a new recording that was made over the final part of the original recording, he said. But the first crucial minute and 41 seconds had not been altered.
Koenig reported that the tape "contains neither physical nor electronic splices, edits or alterations, except for the over-recording start that erased and replaced the end of the first part of the designated interview.""

On the tape Stephen Harper says

""I don't know the details, I know that, um, there were discussions," Harper said. The Conservatives who approached Cadman believed there were financial issues, he said, and "Of the, uh, uh, the offer to Chuck was that, it was only to replace financial considerations he might lose due to an election."

Last month Harper's lawyer convinced the court to postpone a hearing into the veracity of the audio tape until after the election but Harper has stated in sworn testimony that the tape was edited and has denied saying that he did not know the details of the offer. So in addition to possible bribery charges, there is now the possibility of a perjury charge.

Harper spokesman Kory Teneycke has said that ""This report supports our position that the tape does not represent the complete interview, and as such is favourable to our case," however that does not seem to be the case at all. The fact that the recording was apparently recorded over a different recording does not, in any way, indicate that that tape was edited or altered and while it may not be a recording of the "complete interview" that was never the question.

It remains to be seen whether this information will enter public consciousness before Tuesdays election or, should the conservatives win, what would happen if a Prime Minister were charged with a crime while in office. Perhaps Stephen Harper should reconsider his position on house arrest?

Hooded Fang & Walrus Magazine on Harper and "Regular People"

Toronto Band Hooded Fang share their thoughts on the joys of Government Funded Arts Galas, the bathtub full of cash available in Canadian poetry and aboriginal television programming and generally lets "ordinary Canadians know exactly what..'s going on at the wild ideological parties they..'re paying for."

Download the song for free at http://www.walrusmagazine.com/files/arts_gala_song_hooded_fang.mp3!!

Hooded Fang - Arts Gala

Coming Up in Toronto

Friday, October 10
Rally: Harper in Toronto on Friday -- All Welcome
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SPARE CHANGE
Toronto premiere of Ryan Larkin's new posthumous animated film
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ALL TOGETHER NOW The Beatles meet Cirque du Soleil
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The Second Footprints Reading Series! CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS!
Seeking submissions of short theatre pieces by emerging female artists!!
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ONFF CD RELEASE!!! "The War On Geometry" w/ Black Hat Brigade & Dinosaur Bones
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AWSUM INK presents...Special Ops!!!
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Ghost Bees @ Tranzac w/ Emma McKenna and Steven McKay
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Pants and Tie 12"/CD Single Release
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DINOSAUR BONES @ Supermarket - Friday!
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DJ Shannon Presents...ALL REQUEST w/ DJ CALVIN @ Annex Wreckroom
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Saturday, October 11
Toronto CD Release Party for - What the Boat Gave the River
Mark Berube and The Patriotic Few
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TWM: Vive Quebec Libres, Rival Boys, Nineteen Seventy Seven, Bold Saber
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Sunday, October 12
Super Jam Contest. First Monthly Semi- Finals, & Week 1 Again.
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Tuesday, October 14
Vote Against Stephen Harper on October 14
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Distribute the rabble rouser!
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Art Party @ Rancho for Hi-Hat Compilation Version 2.0!
Come pARTy with us!
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Dear Mr. Halpin on an Elvis Monday
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Wednesday, October 15
Guest Speaker - Neil Hetherington, CEO of Habitat for Humanity Toronto
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LAUGHstock PRESENTS: PLEASESTANDBY/GUNNARRAPIDO/THESMILE
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Young Widows w/METZ, Anagram @ Sneaky Dee's
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PWYC Weds w/ Miss Scarlett, St. Clair, Blood Rexdale & the Walls Are Blonde
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Thursday, October 16
OPEN HOUSE - PMP WORKERS ACTION CENTRE
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Abandon All Ships, A.F.D, Synastry, & Our Lady Of Bloodshed
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FUnhUnT @ The Rancho
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Jean-Paul Kelly: And fastened to a dying animal.
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Forest City Lovers / Fall Horsie / Stacey Lloyd Brown @ Tiger Bar
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FW & DI @ ROK BOUTIQUE
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Said the Whale at the Horseshoe Tavern w/ Awkward Stage, Sylvie and Vancougar
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Friday, October 17
Wooden Sky & Mother Mother
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Mozart in Love
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Saturday, October 18
Hexes and Ohs Bedroom Madness CD Release
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TWM: Megan Hamilton, Ryan Shearing + Belle Star, Sea of Gold & Burgundy
Facebook Event Page

[boxhead]
Facebook Event Page

TWM: Megan Hamilton, Ryan Shearing + Belle Star, Sea of Gold & Burgundy
Facebook Event Page

Sunday, October 19
2008 Toronto Zombie Walk
Facebook Event Page

Gabby-Fo-Fabby Birthday Bash With Boxes & Bags!!!
Facebook Event Page

Tuesday, October 21
X AVANT New Music Festival III — "Space is the Place"
Facebook Event Page

2008-09 4th Annual TorontoTheBetter Movie Series
Facebook Event Page

*Showcho*
Facebook Event Page

Wednesday, October 22

LIVING WITH ART
Facebook Event Page

Cheap Beer And Metal Night #3 - The WW Tour!
Facebook Event Page

Thursday, October 23
Come party with us! rabble.ca relaunches Oct. 23
raising a ruckus! Emerging media finding common ground, making change
Facebook Event Page

World Peace through Inclusion Tour
Facebook Event Page

7a*11 International Festival of Performance Art
Facebook Event Page

Friday, October 24
1st ACT to ACT to ACT Screenplay Challenge - Fri. Oct. 24th 7pm at the NFB
Facebook Event Page

Saturday, October 25
AWSUM INK presents....Surefire Machine!!!
Facebook Event Page

Yes, In My Backyard Festival
Facebook Event Page

Dinosaurs In Need (Ontario) Protest
Facebook Event Page

BIBM at C'est What
Facebook Event Page

Bruce&Pinto's B-day Bash!!!
Facebook Event Page

Sunday, October 26
Canzine
Facebook Event Page

Tuesday, October 28
Quo Vadis & Profugus Mortis In Toronto
Facebook Event Page

Thursday, October 30
Flourish A Brighter Future Through Culture
Facebook Event Page

Out of the Shadows
Facebook Event Page

The Faceless, Abigail Williams, Decrepit Birth, Neuraxis, Veil Of Maya
Facebook Event Page

HALLOWEEN GHOST CRUISE
Facebook Event Page

CATS
Facebook Event Page

Friday, October 31
Wiccan Halloween Party at The Black Swan featuring Themis Wicca Rock
Facebook Event Page

Mysterion's Haunted Halloween Birthday
Facebook Event Page

HALLOWEEN RETRO BASH - 08
Facebook Event Page

Saturday, November 1
The Toronto Small Press Affair
Facebook Event Page

bring colour to their lives. part 2.
Facebook Event Page

Friday, November 7
Ruby Coast ‘Projectable Collections’ EP Release @ Sneaky Dees FRI NOV 7th
Facebook Event Page

Friday, November 14
Art Gallery of Ontario public opening
Facebook Event Page

Saturday, November 15
Plastic Crimewave Sound w/ Djin Aquarian + Mondo Drag
Facebook Event Page

Wednesday, November 26
Sworn Enemy, For Today, Better Left Unsaid, W.I.T.W in Toronto
Facebook Event Page

Canada: Do The Right Thing

I pointed out yesterday that voting strategically is a win-win-win situation. Today, at least to an extent Elizabeth May has agreed with that assessment and I feel the need to expand a bit on what we gain this time through strategic voting. As I said yesterday, strategic voting means more seats for the NDP than they would otherwise have, it means at least 1 seat for the Greens which they would otherwise not have, and it means a Liberal minority government. With only 5 points (and a margin of error of about 3 points) separating the Conservatives from the Liberals this is do-able. I know that many people find strategic voting objectionable, but this is no time for that kind of sentiment. There is too much at stake and everyone in Canada, except the Conservative Party, would gain from it.

On the Environment: If you have grown up in the last 50 years you have heard that the environment is important. That we need to do something to protect it, reduce emissions, stop global warming ... but it has always been something we should do someday, eventually, in the next 10 years or 20 years. Well the time has come to do something, not someday but next Tuesday. Stephen Dion's carbon tax plan is actually modest by carbon tax standards, but it's a start. I know Mr. Layton prefers 'cap and trade' but environmentalists and economists almost universally support the carbon tax model to get the most benefit while doing the least harm. If you'd like a few examples - try Al Gore, Kenneth Green (of the American Enterprise Institute), David Suzuki, Elizabeth May and of course, as of yesterday, 230 of Canada's top economists.

I know people will say that the timing isn't right, what about the economy, etc. but if you'll notice the timing is never right to do something about the environment. If they economy is strong they say 'you'll sink the economy' when the economy is weak they say 'not right now, wait for the economy to improve.' The reality is we've already put this off for far too long, this is a revenue neutral plan which means that the average Canadian won't pay any more than they already do (they'll just pay in a different way) and many will actually save money. The time to do something about the environment is Tuesday.

Beyond the Environment, Mr. Dion has stated that the Liberals would
restore and increase arts and culture funding, boost higher education, provide funds for infrastructure improvement (helping Canadian cities and boosting the economy by creating jobs), provide funds to re-invigorate manufacturing, provide 1.2 billion to help farmers modernize and improve efficiency, and he has said he'd move quickly to insulate Canada as much as possible from the coming economic storm.

This may not be everything on the wish list of the NDP and the Greens but it's a pretty good list and far better than we'd get under Harper. The reality is that neither the NDP nor the Greens are going to form the next government (unless it's by coalition) The NDP (as of this morning) is 13 points behind, and the Greens are 20 points behind and no party has ever covered that kind of ground in 5 days. But the NDP and the Greens can both be in Parliament, with a larger number of seats, helping to craft legislation IF and only IF enough people do the responsible thing, vote strategically and get Stephen Harper and the Conservatives out of office, otherwise we do nothing on the environment (for who knows how long) and everything that I listed above is off the table.


Below is a Widget from anyonebutharper.ca to help you vote strategically. If you don't like this one have a look at voteforenvironment.ca and see what they have to say.