At Home in Hespeler

They must have rocks in their head Edition…

Government-funded agency Waterfront Toronto is defending its decision to spend $529,800 on… two large granite rocks trucked in from the Laurentians and painted with candy-coloured stripes that adorn its signature urban beach… it spent $470,000 to clad a pavilion at neighbouring Sherbourne Common in zinc shingles — some of which now have to be replaced at the city’s expense because they were damaged by pucks fired from an adjacent ice rink (which doubles as a splash pad in summer). It was intended for skating, not hockey.
This being Canada, hockey was played.

But wait, it actually gets more absurd. Waterfront Toronto was given money, $1.5-Billion worth, and told go spend. No councilor voted for half-million-dollar rocks and $12-thousand umbrellas.

Then it gets even better:

But for Waterfront Toronto to continue its mission, it says it needs more money. The $1.5-billion startup fund will run dry by 2017, and the organization is asking for permission from the three levels of government to borrow money.

The one thing that troubles me, though. Why paint the rocks “with candy-coloured stripes”? Well…

The red and white stripes hide the seams where the rock was reassembled.

Even if I get the $529,000 for the rocks, the $800 won’t buy some mortar and a guy who can apply it?

And these guys think their a laughing stock because of Rob Ford.

Uncategorized

All the fluffy news about those nutty celebrities

Now where was I? Ah yes, just before the unexpected Fluffernutter hiatus, Justin Beiber had a spot of bother. Something about eggs and a neighbours expensive panel work as I recall. Now I know some of you thought I must have been too tired, busy or lazy to write the Fluffernutters, but really, I couldn’t possibly write any more while this story was unresolved. As proof, I offer that Fuffernutter is suddenly, unannoucedly back, and TMZ Monday reported “D.A. to File Vandalism Charges Today in Egging Case.”

This all leads to the one inescapable question: whats worse, a 20-year old who eggs his neighbours house? A D.A.’s office that investigates an egging, never mind taking six months to do so? A prosecutor who says “If this isn’t a felony, nothing is,” about throwing eggs? Or a media that uses the phrase “egging case” without irony?

To paraphrase “a prosecutor in the case,” if this isn’t nuts, what is?

Meanwhile, A-1 cutey Selena Gomez, aka the former Beib-friend/current Beib-friend/former Beib-friend is, once again, on Beiber’s arm. This has friends and family worried that Beiber is a bad influence on the nice girl Gomez.

On cue, in the fashion of young ladies from time immemorial, Gomez set out to prove them right. On Tuesday night police were called to Gomez’ house after neighbours complained of a loud party. Because neighbourhood relations are something you go to Justin Beiber for advice on.

I hate talking Miley Cyrus. From cute little girl singer to hopelessly crass skank in one short step, it’s just so disappointing. This week in Spain she put in a concert in which she wore a one piece money suit, and yanked it up in wedgie fashion, showing far more than any sane human wants to see. Oh yea, and she was sticking her tongue out in that german shepherd with it’s head to the window way she seems to think is sexy.

Funny thing about the last three stories. Notice Selena Gomez is the nice girl here. Notice too, the story is her friends and family are worried about her. Now consider that Justin Beiber’s dad was one of the posse when Beiber was busted for racing on the Florida streets a few months back and Miley Cyrus’ dad, Billy Ray, has previously declared himself proud of her skank-shenanigans. A family around who’s worrying about your welfare, instead of enabling your stupidity is such a difference in a young stars life. Here’s a prediction: Gomez will be fine, but I’ll be writing about Cyrus and Beiber until I get sick of them and put them on the Paris Hilton/Kardashian list of people who, short of murder, I just won’t write about.

Harrison Ford is said to be “on the road to recovery,” after having an accident on the set of Star Wars VII: The Infinite Sequel. The 71-year old Ford, who is reprising his role as smuggler Hans Solo, broke his leg when his ship, The Millennium Falcon, fell on him. While initially reported to have broken his ankle, Ford had surgery on his broken leg, and will begin rehab shortly.

To get this straight, Han Solo is now 71 and the Millennium Falcon is falling out of the sky. I’m thinking maybe I’ll take a pass on lining up dressed as a Wookie for opening night of this one.

Actor Michael Jace appeared in court this week in the April shooting death of his wife. On May 19th Jace was charged with murder and is being held on $2-million bail in LA. Jace called 911 at the time of his wife’s shooting saying he had killed his wife.

Appearing today, the month in prison has not been good to Jace. The 52-year old star of The Shield (and black panther in Forrest Gump) looks like a 70-year old man. He has aged dramatically in the month since he first appeared.

Jace faces a 50-year sentence if convicted, but don’t look for him survive anywhere near that long.

Casey Kasem (1932-2014)

Up until a couple of years ago, “who is the voice of Shaggy in Scooby Doo?” made a great trivia question at a party. Nowadays, however, everybody seem to know that DJ Casey Kasem voiced the Great Dane’s hippy pal.

Kasem was known primarily as the host of America’s Top 40, a radio show that ran from 1970 to 2009, although it is primarily remembered nostalgically for it’s heyday on the 70’s and into the 80’s.

In his final years he suffered with Parkinson’s Disease, which ultimately took his life, and were marred by fighting over his treatment between his wife of 34-years and his children from a previous marriage. The disagreements sadly prevented Kasem form having some dignity in death, something he always projected in life. None the less, he will be remembered for his silky smooth voice and wonderful way of introducing songs through stories. May he rest in peace.

Fluffernutter Casey Kasem, Han Solo, Harrison Ford, Justin Beiber, Michael Jace, Miley Cyrus, Selena Gomez, Star Wars VII

Times sure have changed from the beer at the strip club days. Friday night last, or more technically Saturday morning, the LA Kings arrived at the North End Bar & Grill in Hermosa Beach, the same club that they celebrated their Stanley Cup victory 2-years ago, with the Cup in hand. As part of the evenings proceedings, they filled the bowl of the cup with M&M’s (Plain, Peanut and Peanut Butter).

Here’s the video:

Hockey, Sports LA Kings, Stanley Cup

One likes to believe in the freedom of music.

Rush – Spirit of Radio.

“I just heard Slade’s Cum on Feel the Noize on the radio,” a friend texted me the other day. “I felt 13 again.” Yea well, I’ve had Kiss 40 playing on my iPod for the last four weeks, so I know what you mean.

Kiss 40 is a new compilation in celebration of Kiss’ 40-years as a recording band, featuring 40-tracks, one from each album released (live, studio and hits collections) plus some bonus demos and live material from the past ten years. The collection is a fairly complete set of Kiss songs that ultimately leans heavily on the early years and satisfies an original member of the Kiss army, even if I haven’t been in good standing for 37-years.

The first thing you notice on listening to Kiss 40 is that the sound on the songs from the first three albums, Kiss, Hotter Than Hell and Dressed to Kill, are greatly improved from the original. Widely considered in music geek circles to be albums that suffered under spotty production, Kiss’ early albums get a major sonic upgrade here (presumably the same upgrade the re-released vinyl albums got), and Nothin’ to Lose, Let Me Go Rock and Roll and C’Mon and Love Me all sound fabulous, allowing the quality of the songs and performances to come through.

Moving into the Destroyer, Rock & Roll Over, Love Gun era, the bands professionalism and songs improve, although understandably, some of the youthful fun and energy from the early albums seem to fade. But material like Beth, Hard Luck Woman, Christine Sixteen, as well as a demo of God of Thunder and live Shout it Out Loud remind you the band was at it’s peak commercially and artistically in the mid-70’s.

Offering something from every Kiss album, (the four 1978 solo albums included) means music from every era from disco, to 80’s hair metal to the modern era. You will learn Kiss were, if nothing else, a band that adapted to it’s surroundings (perhaps Gene Simmons is really a lizard). Some of the material can be spotty (Paul Stanley’s Hold Me, Touch Me or Shandi) some can be very good (Ace Frehley’s New York Groove, Gene Simmons Radioactive) but most is just good, serviceable rock and roll.

Compliation albums like this really should be easy to listen to in the modern age, yet nostalgic. Listening should be visceral experience that takes you back to being 13. Kiss 40 succeeds spectacularly at that.

Unless indicated all selections are album versions
CD 1
1.     Nothin To Lose
2.     Let Me Go, Rock ‘N’ Roll
3.     C’mon and Love Me
4.     Rock And Roll All Nite (Live)
5.     God Of Thunder (Demo)
6.     Beth
7.     Hard Luck Woman
8.     Reputation (Demo) – PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED
9.     Christine Sixteen
10.  Shout It Out Loud (Live)
11.  Strutter ‘78
12.  You Matter To Me (Peter Criss)
13.  Radioactive (Gene Simmons)
14.  New York Groove (Ace Frehley)
15. Hold Me, Touch Me (Paul Stanley)
16.  I Was Made For Lovin’ You (Single Edit)
17.  Shandi
18.  A World Without Heroes
19.  I Love It Loud
20.  Down On Your Knees
21.  Lick It Up
22.  Heaven’s On Fire

CD 2
1.     Tears Are Falling
2.     Reason To Live
3.     Let’s Put The X In Sex
4.     Forever (Remix)
5.     God Gave Rock ‘N’ Roll To You II
6.     Unholy (Live)
7.     Do You Love Me? (MTV Unplugged)
8.     Room Service (Live)
9.     Jungle (Radio Edit)
10.  Psycho Circus
11.  Nothing Can Keep Me From You
12.  Detroit Rock City (Live)
13.  Deuce (Live 2004) – UNRELEASED COMMERCIALLY
14.  Firehouse (Live – 1999/2000)
15.  Modern Day Delilah
16.  Cold Gin (Live 2009) – UNRELEASED COMMERCIALLY
17.  Crazy Crazy Nights (Live 2010) – UNRELEASED COMMERCIALLY
18.  Hell or Hallelujah

The Freedom of Music 40, Kiss

I said he had to go almost 2-years ago. It was obvious then; it was obvious the previous October. But he refused to go, his people insisted he’s the guy, simply has to be. Richard Ciano even sent out an email explaining how big a win it was to lose two different by-elections. Two! On the same day!! As I pointed out then, what a concession speech. Plus ça change, plus c’est la même chose.

Signage outside a polling station, Hespeler, Ontario.

Hey Tim, you wanted to stay. Stay. Act like a man and face the party. Let your ass be unceremoniously fired, and all of your advisers with you. This is your mess, own it, explain yourself, and then take your march to the guillotine with dignity.

Meanwhile, Doug Ford is 100% right on this:

I’d give that PC party an enema from top to bottom.

It need a thorough cleaning out, and it needs to start offering a sellable message now.

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Related: Former Liberal Cabinet Minister and Mayor of London Joe Fontana found guilty of fraud, forgery and breach of trust. Note how quiet this is. The day after a government whom nobody is denying committed an illegal act was re-elected, it tells us something about where we are as a province, and it’s not a good place.

Elections have consequences

By now, everyone has seen the picture. The dog is by the coffins, a ramrod straight Mountie standing to attention in front of them. My Facebook page lit up with this picture Tuesday afternoon, half-a-dozen Facebook friends posting it within’ minutes of each other. The combination police coffins and Police dog was too compelling for people not to respond, so they posted.

What did you see when you saw it? The Coffins? The Dog? Me, I saw the at attention Mountie in ceremonial uniform. But then, I’m getting used to seeing pictures of Rob.

That Mountie is my friend and former neighbour, Rob (no your not getting his last name). Every once in a while you get the morning paper and there he is. “You’re on the front page of the paper today,” I’ve texted him at 7:00 in the morning before. The Blue Jays opening night ceremonies once, saluting President Obama coming off the helicopter another time. One November 11th at the cenotaph I looked to my left and was standing beside him in full red serge.

My two favourite Rob stories involve my son. One day when the boy was about 10, Rob came over and knocked on the door on some neighborly business or another (likely borrowing a tool). He was just getting home and was in uniform.

“There’s a policeman at the door! There’s a policeman at the door!” my son came running into the room.

Answering the door I turned to him, “It’s Rob!”

“Oh,” he says, and walks away pleased that nobody in the house will be going to jail on this day.

The other time happened last summer, when the Mounted Police were in England as part of the Queen’s Silver Jubilee. A picture (above) hit the Facebook page of a mutual friend. Rob, about three feet from Her Majesty, engaged in a formal salute. It’s a close up, Rob’s from the shoulders up, the Queen’s head. We passed it around the table when it first appeared. “Who’s the old lady with Rob?” my son, now 16, asks.

Uncategorized Mounties, Queen