Andrew Vincent & Cam Malcolm

So I went down to the Tranzac on Friday for Andrew Vincent's CD release party for Rotten Pear. Andrew Vincent was pretty much what you'd expect. I mean, if you're into brilliant songs from a talented singer, songwriter and musician done with sincerity and a sense of humor then you are a fan of Andrew Vincent. (He'll be in Peterborough at the Spill on Jan 29, Ottawa at the Gluepot Pub Jan 30 and at L'Escogriffe in Montreal on Jan. 31.) I also have some video from the Tranzac but that will come later. For the moment if you really want to grab the new album and aren't going to be at any of the upcoming shows head over to Zunior where you can listen to the new stuff and grab a digital copy of the album.

The real suprise of the night was Cam Malcolm and the Owls. I'd heard a few songs previously but wasn't really familiar with them. If the intersection of Joel Plaskett and the Kinks sounds like a place you'd like to check out then you should make an effort to check them out. Go to their Myspace for more info on when and where.

Cam Malcolm and the Owls - the Thing About Us

2009 Should Be Hot Panda's Year

One of last year's most talked about bands was Edmonton's Hot Panda. For example:

"Hot Panda is a lot of fun, easy to dance to and just might be the latest big thing, which Edmonton seems to have an endless supply of." - Jam

"Really, Whale Headed Girl is a starter album for a band looking to dig their heels into something firmer but by golly, is it ever a good way to kick things off." - Exclaim

"Comment:Hot Panda may be unsigned for now, but that won't last long. Their particular brand of off-kilter rock 'n' roll that blends elements of early, pre-Epic Modest Mouse, Talking Heads and, dare I say it, Pavement. Those are somewhat generic touchstones, but all very apt. They've already garnered a heap of accolades out west, and it won't be long before Hot Panda fever reaches the rest of the country." - Chartattack

and on and on and on and on.

And all of this is on the strength of an EP.

Now Hot Panda is coming back with the support of a label and with a full album to show off.

"It's amazing how the band can produce so much energy, but not rely on it. Usually bands need time together to find the right recipe and more importantly, time on the road to make sure the recipe is right for them. Hot Panda has already been coast to coast, watching the odometer turn (they are playing here at Gus' Pub on April 24th) and if Volcano... Bloody Volcano is any indication of what’s in store, I don’t see any signs of them becoming dormant." - Herohill

Volcano...Bloody Volcano will officially be available on Feb 10 but the send off for the album will be at the Pawn Shop in Edmonton on Valentines Day. (Regina's Rah Rah will be backing them up, doors at 9 - facebook event page here.) There are also Hot Panda dates coming up at Canadian Music Week, SXSW and a major tour is expected later in the year.

Keep up to date at their Facebook Page, Facebook Group or Myspace.

My Platform: Business and Industry

This is another thing I've brought up previously. Even before the current economic crisis business would frequently go to the government looking for subsidies, special tax breaks and other rewards.

I would set up a Department of Public Investment that would invest in business and industry rather than simply offer cash to business. The job of this organization would be to build long term, sustainable industries in Canada and to recoup their investments with a profit.

Any business that wanted money from the government would be referred to the DPI who would examine their business plan and see if it was a suitable place to invest Canadians money. Parliament could give them general guidelines for investment (such as investing in green companies) but would have no direct influence over what companies were invested in, which regions of the country those business operated in or how much was invested.

There might, at some point, be another financial crisis like the current one that requires special bailouts. Hopefully though this kind of proactive, long term approach will make future recessions rare and shorter. For a full explanation of how the DPI would work go here.

---

Previous:
My Platform: Introduction
My Platform: Arts and Culture
My Platform: Poverty

Dead of Winter in Halifax

The In the Dead of Winter Music Festival is set to kick off this Wednesday in Halifax. It will run from Jan 27 - 31 and this year's fest features performances by Buck 65, Jon McKeil, Dan Ledwell, Justin Rutledge, Laura Peek, Rebekah Higgs and many, many others. The full schedule is here.

New Feeds

I have a long list of stuff to look at, but for now these are the newest feeds added. More will be coming soon and, as always, suggestions are welcome.

Music Business

Down By the Point Records

Endearing Records

Grumpy Cloud Records

Out of Touch Records

Band Blogs

Cam Malcolm and the Owls

News

April Reign

BigCityLib Strikes Back

GrannyRantsOn

Progressive Economics Forum

Thwap's Schoolyard

My Platform: Poverty

As I said in the introduction, I don't believe that either capitalism or socialism work in a pure form. I think what is needed is a balance between the two. I do not believe in putting ceilings on how high people can climb but I do believe in putting in floors in terms of how far we let people fall.

I believe that the $1,000 / month taxable income plan that I wrote about in October is the best approach. I still haven't figure out how to pay for it all, but I've gotten close enough to know that it's do-able and scrapping a number of targeted programs would pay for a good chunk of it.

This approach is also ultimately less expensive than many social programs in that there is very little bureaucracy involved. There is nothing for people to apply for, no paperwork to fill out and process - a minimum income just shows up like clockwork. So for those people who just need a temporary boost, or even longer term assistance the money will just show up.

This means that there are more social services resources for those people who need additional assistance for whatever reason (special needs kids, people with health issues etc). Social workers would have much lighter case loads and would be able to devote additional time and effort to individual cases. It also means that the working poor and people who experience seasonal unemployment would have a steady (if small) additional source of income.

Another thing that would help pay for this is the economic stimulus provided. In the 80s and early 90s we tried trickle down economics but in the end not much trickled down, the rich got richer, and the poor fell below the poverty line. The reality is that the lower someone's income the more likely they are to go out and spend any additional income. If you give a rich man $1,000 he may save it, or invest it, or buy a bottle of wine. If you give someone with no money $1,000 they will go out in search of food, clothing and shelter - spending all of the money and creating economic activity.

Again for details of how it would work go here.

---

Previous:
My Platform: Introduction
My Platform: Arts and Culture

The Year of Internet Radio

Internet radio has been around for years, but it would appear that it's finally coming into its own. A number of copanies introduced new lines of home internet radio devices last year. Now, via Inside the CBC comes word that the people who officially study media trends, for lots of money, are catching on as well.

“In 2009, Internet radio may not just reinvigorate the medium of radio. It may reinvent it.” This prediction comes from the consulting firm Deloitte, which has published annual reports on upcoming media trends for the last eight years.
If the report is correct, 2009 will see much more widespread adoption of WiFi enabled internet radio sets (like the one pictured above). These sets, which retail for about $200, are designed to connect to digital radio signals from around the world via the internet.

My expectation is, in a down economy that people will begin dumping satellite radio anyway (except maybe a few who drive for a living). For those who want radio at home this provides a great alternative. Instead of 100 stations for $15/month plus the cost of the device, they can get tens of thousands of stations as part of the internet connection they already pay for. For those on the road their upgrade from satellite to internet radio will come at the same rate they adopt 3G phones. Nokia is just one of several companies already experimenting with internet radio for cell phones.

It's come alot faster than I originally thought but the age of satellite radio is over. Within two years there won't be enough subscribers left for satellite radio companies to continue operating and television is following closely behind.

Great Lake Swimmers and Kate Maki Spring Tour

The Great Lake Swimmers and Kate Maki are going to kick off a tour in March that will take them through the Atlantic provinces, northern Ontario, the prairies and the west before winding up back in Toronto on April 25.

You can have a listen to the Great Like Swimmers performing live at NXNE on this episode of the CBC Radio 3 sessions it sounds something like this:



As good as the Swimmers are I like Kate Maki better!

"Born and raised in Sudbury, Ontario, Canada, Kate Maki has a voice as wide and expansive as its moon-like terrain. Her music is “somewhere in the magical realm of Mazzy Star, Nancy Sinatra & Lee Hazlewood, and Belle & Sebastian” (San Francisco Chronicle), and "the kind you end up with a crush on and can't wait to play driving down the highway" (Edmonton Sun). When Kate is not on tour, she teaches Special Education, Science, and French to the next generation."

Read the full bio here.

March 06 - Cornerbrook - Black Thorn Stick Cafe
March 08 - St. John's - The Ship Inn
March 11 - Halifax St. - Matthews Church
March 12 - Fredericton - The Capital
March 14 - Quebec City - Le Cercle
March 19 - Sudbury - The Townhouse
March 20 - Sault Ste Marie - Loplops
March 21 - Thunder Bay - The Study
March 23 - Winnipeg - Instore Performance
March 24 - Regina - The Exchange
March 25 - Saskatoon - Amigo's
March 26 - Calgary - Grace Presbyterian Church
March 27 - Edmonton - McDougall United Church
March 29 - Vancouver - St. James Hall
March 30 - Vancouver - Norm Theatre - UBC
April 25 - Toronto - Queen Elizabeth Theatre

Cadence Weapon Releases PWYC Album

Cadence Weapon has released his remix album "Seperation Anxiety" as a Pay What You Can album through the website Cadenceweaponmusic.com.

"The 20 tracks brought together in a 70-minute collection include the Mixmag exclusive Hervé/ A-Trak / Cadence Weapon collaboration "Roll With The Winners" and remixes of label-mates The Cansecos and Roots Manuva, The Wet Secrets,and arguably the show-stopper; a remix of The DB Buxton Revue's "Sex with My Ex"

Cadence Weapon’s sophomore studio album“Afterparty Babies”, released last spring, received heaps of accolades and closed the year at the top of an impressive pile of “Best of 2008” lists including; Q Magazine, Clash Magazine, Plan B, Exclaim,and CBC Radio 3, while his video “Real Estate” continues to force a smile on the face of economic bailouts. Cadence Weapon has returned home a hero, after a year of engaging performances at festivals and clubs across North America, UK and Europe to release Separation Anxiety.

The tracklist looks like this:

TRACK LISTING
1.  Roll With The Winners (Prod. Hervé & A-Trak ft. Cadence Weapon)
2.  The Cansecos “Rise Up” (Cadence Weapon Mix)
3.  Pretty Girls Make Raves (Prod. Stuffa, Mapei and Sinden)
4.  Mini T.V.’s (Chad Vangaalen Cover, Live ft. Final Fantasy)
5.  Sailboats Are White “SAW” (Cadence Weapon Hi-Speed Edit)
6.  Sally Shapiro “He Keeps Me Alive” (Cadence Weapon Mix)
7.  Bad Graffiti (Prod. Murge)
8.  Roland Pemberton III “Rupture Vers Le Haut”
9.  The Morning After (Prod. C-Sekshun)
10. RJD2 “Sweet Piece” (Cadence Weapon Ladykiller Remix)
11. Kennedy Curse
12. Kid Sister “Damn Girl” (Cadence Weapon Remix)
13. Shout Out Out Out Out “Coming Home” (“We Do Acid” Demo)
14. Busdriver “Sun Shower” (Cadence Weapon’s Raleigh Remix)
15. Junior Bloomsday “Your Perfect Gene” (ft.Cadence Weapon)
16. The Wet Secrets “The Chinball Wizard (Cadence Weapon Samir-themed Remix)
17. House Music Medley (Bird Peterson, A1 Bassline,The Cansecos)
18. Super Extra Bonus Party “Radar” (Demo)
19. Roots Manuva “Buff Nuff” (Cadence Weapon Tuff Mix)
20. The D.B. Buxton Revue “Sex With My Ex” (Cadence Weapon’s No Sex Mix)

Hey Kids! Let's All Hate Benjamin Button!

I've thought, for a long time now, that Hollywood is almost bereft of ideas. Sure they manage an occasional good one but that I attribute, for the most part, to the infinite monkey theorem, to films made by talented and newly arrived foreigners or to something of quality slipping through the nets that Hollywood erects to block such things. Normally I steer clear of non-Canadian content on this blog so I don't talk much about the suckiness of Hollywood, making crappy films for people who don't know enough to know that they are crappy but I have to make an exception in this case:

Jordan Kawchuk, who's day job is bringing you the wonderful Radio 3 TV video podcast, now brings you (in his spare time) the Official Anti-Benjamin Button Club . If you visit you can find some great info such as:

10 Things I Would Rather Watch Than Suffer Through Benjamin Button Again

1. Jay Leno
2. Larry The Cable Guy
3. Two And A Half Men
4. Jim Belushi movie, K-9
5. The Notebook, Extended Director’s Cut
6. Clown Porn
7. America’s Funniest Home Videos: The Bob Saget Years
8. Encino Man
9. Paul Blart: Mall Cop
10. Old people doin’ it

You can also express your hate for Benajamin Button by following fakebenbutton on twitter or by joining any one of several Facebook groups for Benjamin Button haters!

Whichever way you do it come and get your hate on for “that leathery beasty baby that looks like a haggis ready to be sliced open”

Toronto: Get Your Joel Plaskett Fix for $66

Via JoelPlaskett.com (which also has full track listings for the new 3 album set "Three"). There is a special right now running through Maple Music: For $66 you can get a ticket to Joel's May 23 Massey Hall show and a signed copy of "Three".

If you're not in Toronto Plaskett promises more offers are to come for other locations. So, if you're in Toronto and want to get in on this visit Maple Music and if you're not in Toronto and you're saying "Where's my deal?" Follow joelplaskett.com.

NFB Films Go Online for Free

The National Film Board has launched a 1.3 million dollar project to make it's films available online through streaming according to a report by the CBC.

"Oscar winners such as 1952's Neighbours, 1977's I'll Find a Way and 2004's Ryan are among the more than 700 films now available for screening online at NFB.ca..."This is part of our ongoing response to the digital revolution," NFB chair Tom Perlmutter said in an online news conference on Wednesday.

The NFB, which restructured its film programs over the past 18 months to free up resources for the digital project, plans to put 10 new films a month online.

Classics such as Mon Oncle Antoine and Nobody Waved Goodbye are free for online screening, along with pioneering animation by Norman McLaren and animated films such as The Big Snit and The Cat Came Back."

The streaming site is at NFB.ca and the open source video software they use is available at http://agit8.turbulent.ca/bwp/ - this link is for those of you who are into open source software, you don't need to to watch the movies. Oh by the way, you can also embed them!

twitter.com/thenfb if you want to follow them on Twitter.

the Cat Came Back

My Platform: Arts and Culture

This is primarily going to be a rehash of things I've already written. It is, after all, one of the primary focus' of this blog. But just to make sure all my points are clear:

Arts and culture are vitally important, not only to the economy but to civilization itself. This is how we tell our stories and express who we are and what we want to one another and to future generations. We would know very little about our ancestors were it not for the art and literature and music that they've left behind for us.

So, if given the power I would:

Reverse Stephen Harper's 2008 arts cuts

Implement the Canadian Renaissance Project which is designed to provide significant tax breaks for the arts, both for artists and consumers, in the hope of improving the economic status of artists in Canada.

Implement the full recommendations of the Heritage Committee for the CBC and put a checkbox on tax forms that would allow up to $5 per taxpayer for the Ceeb (check the box if you want the money to go there) so that CBC's relevance with Canadians would have a direct impact on revenues.

There are also a few arts and culture aspects to the technology and internet part of this that I'll discuss when I get there.

---

Previous:
My Platform: Introduction

Canadian Railfandom

It's a natural consequence of riding VIA Rail often enough: you become a bit of a railfandom. You start with buying Trains at the newsstand, end up finding out about magazines such as Branchline, CN Rails and Canadian Rail.

And then it expands from there: Flickr Groups such as VIA Rail Canada. Blogs like Trackside Treasures.

And onward from there...

Chop Shop starts Feb 4 on Slice

"Wednesdays at 8 pm ET/9pm PT beginning Feb.4 2009 on SLICE
Welcome to the CHOP SHOP, the anti-hair salon with a permanent sneer and a heart of gold. This fun, cutting-edge 13 x 30 docusoap follows bad-boy hair salon owner Daniel Hudon and his motley crew of punk rock stylists as they get into each other's hair every day. This counter-culture group forms a tight, rock & roll family who work, fight and party hard under the same roof while delivering wicked style to their clients at Daniels one-of-a-kind hair salon in Vancouver the Chop Shop."

---

Boost: Canadian Film and Television is a Facebook Group that, once a week, asks people to watch a television or film trailer on youtube, rate it, comment on it and share it on facebook if they like it. There is frequently a link to a facebook group, page or other source where people who like the music can find more information or keep up with the band. Canadian artists frequently have little or no money for marketing/promotion - this is a small step to try and help them out by putting their trailer in front of as many eyes as possible.

Boost: Rites of Spring 3D Music Video

Yep, you read that right, a 3D music video from the Superfantastics. If you don't happen to have 3D glasses (guessing alot of you don't) you'll just have to imagine, or maybe this will give you the excuse you've been looking for to go get some. Whether you can get the full effect or not, you have to applaud the initiative - to create a 3D music video!

the Superfantastics - Rites of Spring 3D



If you like please pass it on, the link to share it on Facebook is right here. If you want to hear more of the Superfantastics (I highly recommend seeing them live) check out the Facebook Fanpage and grab a few free downloads here.

---

Boost: Canadian Music is a Facebook Group that, once a week, asks people to watch a music video on youtube, rate it, comment on it and share it on facebook if they like it. There is frequently a link to a facebook group, page or other source where people who like the music can find more information or keep up with the band. Canadian artists frequently have little or no money for marketing/promotion - this is a small step to try and help them out by putting their video in front of as many eyes as possible.

Coming Up in Toronto

Thursday, January 22
Artists of the Revolution
Presented by The School of Image Arts
Facebook Event Page

DanceLikeYouFuck THURSDAY @ STRANGELOVE JAN.22ND Feat. A.D/D (MARIO J)
Facebook Event Page

Friday, January 23
EXAMINED LIFE - philosophy is in the streets!
Facebook Event Page

Circus O Burlesque A Mania 2
Facebook Event Page

ELECTRONIC SHAMANISM
Jackson 2bears & Ted Hiebert, Joseph Lefevre & Martine Koutnouyan, Geoffrey Pugen and Alyce Santoro
Facebook Event Page

Richard Underhill Trio at 10 Feet Tall
Facebook Event Page

Manic Panic University w Fritz Helder&The Phantoms,Autoerotique and more...
Facebook Event Page

GLASS CANDY / NITE JEWEL @ WRONGBAR
Facebook Event Page

TWM Presents: Boxes & Bags, Our History of Cowboys, Itchy Watery Eyes
Facebook Event Page

Stranger
World Premiere of Praxis Theatre's original adaptation of L'Etranger by Camus.
Facebook Event Page

MODERNBOYS MODERNGIRLS 2009 Kick Off!! TORONTO
Facebook Event Page

Saturday, January 24
Sneak Peek Orchestra - "Heartstrings"
Facebook Event Page

Jimmy Hogg's Comedy Onslaught
Facebook Event Page

TWM Presents: The Balconies, Knock Knock Ginger, The Action Mob
Come and hear Ottawa's next big thing!
Facebook Event Page

ZONA PELLUCIDA & THE NEEDLE EXCHANGE
(January 9 - 24)
Facebook Event Page

RYNECOLOGIST & MEECH & NASTY NAV @ WRONGBAR NASTYMIX SATURDAYS
Facebook Event Page

Sunday, January 25
Wavelength 447 - Oh No Forest Fires, Adolf Glitter, The Weirdies
Facebook Event Page

Tuesday, January 27
Toxic Trepass - TorontoTheBetter Movie Screening
PWYC Movies: Speakers, Discussion, Action.
Facebook Event Page

Wednesday, January 28
IndieCan Wednesday at Annex WreckRoom
Facebook Event Page

Thursday, January 29
IndieCredit No. 1
Lovely Killbots, The Wilderness of Manitoba, Wendy Leung
Facebook Event Page

Drop Your Shorts VI
Facebook Event Page

Friday, January 30
TV Screenplay Festival Event - Friday January 30th at National Film Board
Facebook Event Page

Steam Whistle Unsigned #9
Facebook Event Page

TWM Presents: Michou, Make Your Exit & Voila
Facebook Event Page

VAMPIRO: Angel, Devil, Hero Toronto Screening
Facebook Event Page

LEE MORTIMER | DUBSIDED UK @ WRONGBAR
Facebook Event Page

Saturday, January 31
Two Nights of Music & Whiskey in Toronto
Facebook Event Page

WINTERCITY FESTIVAL | SHAD + THUNDERHEIST |
(Free)
Facebook Event Page

TWM 33: The Unsettlers, Hot Kid, Bellevue
Facebook Event Page

Sunday, February 1
Wavelength 448 - mein, electroluminescent, Fire Hydrant, the Unsettlers
Facebook Event Page

Tuesday, February 3
Hi-Hat Comp #3 -- Art Party @ Rancho!
Facebook Event Page

Wednesday, February 4
Bruce Peninsula In-Store Performance
Facebook Event Page

PWYC Weds w/ Skullians, ,The Kettle Black, Sleep for the Nightlife
Facebook Event Page

Thursday, February 5
TWM Presents: The Robot Ate Me, Braxton Clover, Emperor X & Your Volunteer
Facebook Event Page

Friday, February 6
TWM 34: Ryan Masters Band, Five Blank Pages, Tin Star Orphans
Facebook Event Page

Saturday, February 7
TWM Presents: Whale Tooth (EP Release) w/ Green Go & The Balconies !
Facebook Event Page

Rencontres en chanson
Facebook Event Page

Themis - Wicca Love Songs
Facebook Event Page

Sunday, February 8
Wavelength 449 - Machetes, Sadie May Crash, Key Witness
Facebook Event Page

Monday, February 9
The Last Comedy Show
Facebook Event Page

Tuesday, February 10
New Music Night @ The Shoe (w/ "Follow The Accident")
Facebook Event Page

Thursday, February 12, 2009
WAVELENGTH 450 / Ninth Anniversary Festival / Feb. 12-15, 2009
Facebook Event Page

Friday, February 13
Back to the Rivoli!
Co-Headlining with BC Duo Jon and Roy
Facebook Event Page

Sunnyside Tattoos Opening Celebration
Facebook Event Page

Saturday, February 14
Matthew Barber Live Valentines Day In Toronto
Facebook Event Page

Valentine's Retro Bash 09!!!
Facebook Event Page

Sunday, February 15
CITY LIMITS
TORONTO VS. MONTREAL (Gene King, David James & La-z-e vs. Michael Terzian)
Facebook Event Page

Friday, February 20
Seconde Nature: Marilyn Lerner & Diane Labrosse in Concert
Free Improvisation for Piano & Electronics — Cross-Provincial Border Collaboration
Facebook Event Page

Saturday, February 21
Jill Barber Live In Toronto
Facebook Event Page

Imponderables 101
Weekend Sketch Intensive.
Facebook Event Page

Sunday, February 22
Wavelength 451 - The Rural Alberta Advantage, Poppyseed and the Love Explos
Facebook Event Page

Saturday, March 8
Rock for Sick Kids by Facebook Pals
Facebook Event Page

Wednesday, March 11
Indie Night In Canada
An Unbelieveable Line-up of Canada's Top Indie Bands!
Facebook Event Page

The Happiness Project by Charles Spearin: Live at the Music Gallery
Facebook Event Page

Saturday, March 21
Junkhead Blows The Roof Off Of The Smiling Buddha
Facebook Event Page

My Platform: Intro

As I said the other day I'm going to make a few suggestions for, what I believe, would make good government policy going forward. A few of these will be recaps of things I've already suggested but most of them will be new. Since I'll no doubt be covering other things on the blog over this time, I'll be putting these under the broad heading of 'My Platform' and once it's all done I'll send it on to the members of Un-Party to get some input there.

Broadly I'll be covering arts and culture, poverty, industry and government subsidies, crime, labour/workplace reform, electoral/political reform, education, Canadian sovereignty, and aboriginal/first nations affairs and digital technology/internet.

Before I get into this though I want to lay out a bit of where I'm coming from.

I think that the general mistrust of any and all government is left over from feudal Europe. The government is us now and our taxes, rather than go to pay the expenses of feudal lords, go to pay for these that we collectively have decided need to be done - kind of like everyone chipping in to buy a gift for someone. To the extent that this isn't true it is mostly our fault for not being active enough in our politics. I will though address government corruption and expanding democracy in the electoral/political reform part of all of this.

I think that religion plays too large a role in our politics and society. I do not care about your religion or its teachings. I'm very happy for you if it means something to you but it doesn't mean anything to me. Don't get me wrong, I do believe in a higher power but I believe that virtually all organized religion and virtually all of it's leaders are interested in earthly wealth and earthly power and not in anything spiritual. The deceptions and atrocities committed by religious organizations and in their name disqualify them in my mind from having any say in anything that we choose to do or not do. I believe that faith is a personal matter and should stay that way other than as a point of friendly philosophical discussion.

I believe that Carl Marx and Adam Smith were both had their points but that both socialism and capitalism, in pure forms, are fatally flawed. 'Give according to your ability, take according to your need' is, of course, ideal. The problem is, and everyone who's ever had a job knows this, there are too many people who will do the opposite - take according to their ability and give according to their need. In other words they will take all they can while doing the minimum necessary in order for them to keep taking. On the other hand Smith's idea, that everyone acting in their own best interest all the time is ultimately best for everyone is also wrong. There are too many people who are completely selfish to the extent that they don't pay any attention to consequences for themselves or anyone else. It is this kind of thinking that has let to the current state of global poverty, the environmental crisis, the great depression and the current 'economic crisis'. The best we can do is try to find a balance between the two, one that recognizes the strengths of both systems while minimizing the flaws of each.

One final note: Many will notice that the environment isn't directly listed in the above list of topics I plan on covering. That is because the environment is such a large, pervasive and vital issue that it's impossible to talk about it without talking about nearly everything else. So I will discuss it along side many of the issues listed above, it's there, just not as a heading.

Best Live Music Venue in Canada?

Nominations are now underway in a new contest on CBC Radio 3. They are looking for Canada's best live music venue.

"... And the choice is up to YOU! Simply nominate your favourite Canadian club on our blog, or email your nomination to searchlight@cbcradio3.com. Your choice must be indoor, cater to live music, have a legal capacity of 1,000 people or less, and be operational as of today, January 21 2009.

The nominations will be open until next week when they'll post the long list of nominees and voting can begin. From there it will be narrowed down to a top 20, then a top 10, a top 5 and on February 25 the winning venue will be crowned. I don't really know what's in it for the venue except for some serious bragging rights.

Oh No Forest Fires in Exclaim

Toronto's Oh No Forest Fires would like to point out that they got a really excellent review in Exclaim!.

"Canada continues to dish out quality pop rock acts frosted with idiosyncrasies bred in the touch of winter seclusion. The War On Geometry is an apt title for this hefty EP rife with bullet blasts of well-calculated math rock peppering the precious Can pop chameleon prince body that nobly leads the way through most of the disc's seven tracks. It's like snipers of weirdness lay waiting inside the psyches of the scruffy members of ONFF, who, to outward appearances, are accomplished, polished, even stately composers of epic, almost saccharine pop gems. These defenders of the strange sometimes barely fix their sights on a song, but when those trigger fingers get itchy, the bullets do fly and that princely construct of a band that'd fit in opening for the Arcade Fire or R.E.M. are riddled with holes, staggering and twitching under an angular post-punk assault that refuses to allow the songs of ONFF to maintain traditionally comfortable shapes or structures, leaving the chameleon prince bleeding out its internal oddities. War on, good sirs. (Independent)"

I caught these guys at Rolly's Garage last Saturday and Exclaim! is right, they were pretty awesome and had an incredible amount of onstage energy - though that may have something to do with Rolly's Garage not being heated and a desire to stay warm.

Oh No Forest Fires - It's Not Fun and Games Unless Someone Loses and Eyes