resting. in. peace.

I awoke to yet another harsh reality on the world of Twitter. Martin Streek has passed away. 

I didn't want to believe it, but when I saw Alan Cross confirm it and Josie Dye comment on it, I knew it was real. Tuning into the Edge this morning Josie could barely keep it together as she alluded to his death and played one of his favourite NIN songs.

If you've ever listened to Toronto radio, then you know who Martin Streek is.

I used to work on the Hour with Strombo who had nothing but great things to say about this man. Earlier this year, I arranged for my roommate (who was studying radio broadcasting) to sit down and interview Strombo and his thoughts on media, politics and music as a whole. I leave you with these words that he had on Streek:

"Martin Streak and David Bookman are so important to this city, what they do for music…Streek when he’s on the radio.. quality wins. They believe in music. They are the snipers waiting by the window keeping everyone on their game. Because their music knowledge is impeccable, their passion is unrivled and they’re not afraid to tell you. They understand how important a record can be to your life." 
-George Stroumboulopoulos

RIP Martin Streek.

You were, and always will be a Radio Legend.

the conversation

Nonna: Aleech, whenna you gonna geta boyfriend and get married and have kids?

Me: (laughs)

Nonna: (serious face) 

awkward silence...

Me: umm, soon?

Nonna: Soon? I'ma gonna die and never get to see!

Me: Well you'll have to live forever then :)

The Way You Make Me Feel

The rumours started when I was working at MTV around 5pm. All the TV's were tuned into CNN, CTV, and every other news station possible. It was starting to turn into a mad house as people anxiously hit the refresh buttons on their webpages. Ironically the only answers we were getting were from gossip blogs. TMZ, Perez, Twitter and Facebook were reporting that Michael Jackson had been taken to hospital.

I jumped onto Twitter myself and didn't even have to scroll through the trending topics because nearly everyone I was following was already posting links and for the most part posting "Michael Jackson dead?".

With less than an hour away until our live shows, producers immediately decided to throw their rundowns out the window and address the issue everyone was talking about. In fact, The Aftershow dedicated their entire show to MJ discussing their reactions, how they found out, and some of their favourite memories.

I brought the twenty somewhat audience members up to studio and immediately let them know that this was going to be a very different After Show. No applause. No joking around. MJ was gone and even I couldn't believe it.

What suprised me though was that the audience full of 16-20 yrs old really didn't care. They didn't get what the big deal was. In their eyes, MJ was a pedophile.

To me, MJ was my entire childhood. My dad who was a part-time DJ, had every MJ album on both CD and vinyl and blasted his songs at least once a week. Singing 'The Way You Make Me Feel' at the top of my lungs while daddy blasted the tunes, changed the tenor of my day and it still does to this very day.

During commercial breaks of the live show, I started snapping and humming some of MJ's classic hits hoping to get some sort of reaction from these kids...but they didn't know the words. They had no idea about how this one man changed the face of music. They just knew him as the guy that changed his face.

So for those who don't understand why so many people are paying tribute to the King of Pop (or why he has this title) please read below and take some time to do some research on your own.

"First, people forget that the Thriller album essentially saved the recording industry when it was released in 1982. Suffering from the double whammy of the post-disco sales depression and a brutal recession, Thriller almost single-handedly resurrected the music industry"- Alan Cross, (read his Metro article here)

When Michael Jackson released Thriller, he made a music video for "Billie Jean." It was a good one and his producer, CBS Records, knew it. But when they presented it to MTV it was turned down. MTV had never aired a black musician's video before. So, Walter Yetnikoff, the Chairman of CBS told MTV that if they didn't play Michael Jackson's videos, they wouldn't have access to any of CBS's videos. So, MTV gave in and aired "Billie Jean," which broke the colour barrier.

But he did so much more than just that. He gave music videos life again; creating short films and working with some of the best directors that experimented with new technologies including the face morphing feature in his video 'Black or White'.

And then there was dance. In my opinion, one of his most important contributions was his imperative to dance. Artists such as Justin Timberlake, Usher, Chris Brown and Ne-Yo may have ascended the pop charts because of their excellent songs...but they became superstars because your jaw dropped when you watched them dance. But no one has yet to recapture Jackson as a dancer- the Moonwalk completely rewrote the book on male sexuality in music.

Still to this day, dance groups everywhere are learning the choreography to MJ's songs. From subway dancers to television shows like SYTYCD, there is nothing that excites me more than when someone pays omage to the King of Pop.

So to all the tweeney boppers. I leave you with wise words from the great Alan Cross, "Forget the lurid allegations, the buying of the Elephant Man’s bones, the hyperbaric sleeping chambers, the plastic surgery and the dangling babies...Let’s not focus on the tabloid stuff. The man did enough that we should remember him for the great groundbreaking talent that he was."

R.I.P. MJ

An Ode to the Caesar

Those of you that know me, know that I love the tomato.
I eat them like apples and drink Caesars like water (not to mention my family makes homemade tomato sauce every other year). You'll never find a shortage of 5 things in my kitchen: Vodka, Celery, Clamato Juice, Hot Sauce and Avocados (but we'll get into that another day).

This year marks the 40th anniversary of a truly Canadian cocktail, the Mott’s Clamato Caesar. Every bartender in Canada knows how to brilliantly make this spicy concoction, but as my friend Clint put it, "ask for a Caesar outside Canada, and you’ll get a bowl full of lettuce, croutons, and anchovy salad dressing."

My advice, don't even bother ordering one in the States. Once you get your server to understand that it's a drink and not a salad, they immediately respond with "Ohh, you want a Bloody Mary". EPIC FAIL. Don't let their fancy garnishes fool you with the crap that lies inside this liquid red 'cocktail'. I have been dissapointed all too many times when ordering this drink... It's made with tomato juice, not Clamato and it tastes like shit.

To mark the 40th Anniversary, the TIB has created all sorts of variations of the Caesar including one made with Canadian Whisky and muddled sage..Mmmm. You can’t get more Canadian than that!

For those of you who haven't tried a Caesar yet (gasp!) or just don't know to properly make one. Here is the Classic Caesar as to which all other Caesar’s are variations of…

For more recipes go Motts website (they've got all sorts of downloads and recipes)

Classic Caesar
1 oz. Vodka
2 Dashes of Franks Red Hot Caesar Spicer
3 Dashes of Fresh Cracked Salt and Pepper
4 Dashes of Lea and Perrins Worcestershire Sauce
4 oz. Mott’s Clamato

Combine all ingredients in a highball class with lots of ice. Mix by pouring back and forth and just before the last pour into the glass, add a celery salt rim. Garnish with a celery stick and lime wedge.

My good man Clint's Caesar Tip: Never Shake… it changes the texture and consistency of the cocktail.

Cheers and Happy Birthday Caesar!

the deadline

how do you represent life in a 7 minute video?

...you can't right?

on a lighter note

we had a rough day so we decided to make the best of it.

she thinks they're gross...

... I think they are stunning

the one thing that makes me happy... always

no sugar tonight in my coffee

Its been almost a whole year since my last post.
Wow does time ever fly.
to sum it up:
I scored some sweet tv jobs,
moved into a cute condo,
met a boy,
fell in love,
visited Hawaii
saw the set of 'Lost'

and here I stand baking banana muffins in my booty shorts.

life is sweet

* 

I'll give you confidence...

To all my friends that critique me for always walking with my head down:

I found five dollars on the ground today while walking home.
That wouldn't have happened if I wasn't looking down.

How's that for confidence.

You keep walking with your chin high,
I'll watch out for the bills flying by.

Walking home this morning, I passed by this bench on the Danforth. What a nice way to start the first day of the year,  

And so...

and so tomorrow there will be another number,
for the one who had a name.

Fragmented Female

What do you do when you have no motivation to get the work done?

The papers keep getting put off.
You can't see the floor of your room anymore
and you keep reminding yourself you'll do it...

...later.

You're freaking out on the inside
wondering if you'll fall through the cracks this time.

You stop and think about what life would be like if you just said 'fuck it'.

You suddenly wake up to reality and wonder why the hell you're talking in the third person.

I take one last look around the room, suck it up and start writing the paper.

Calendar Girl

If I am lost for a day try and find me,

but if I don't come back then I wont look behind me.

All of the things that I thought were so easy
just got harder and harder each day- The Stars

satisfaction lies within the imagination

Scenario: Monday morning.

Sitting on the streetcar, looking over my study notes for an exam. A woman comes on, decides to sit right behind me and chop on her gum profusely. I’m talking full open mouth chewing action to the point that I can hear the saliva swooshing around in her mouth. I turn around to give her the ‘annoyed’ look. She doesn’t get it. She continues to chomp. I turn around and grab her by the back of her head and smash it into window…repeatedly until her gum falls out of her mouth. Suddenly I hear “Church Street” over the loudspeaker. I awaken from my daydream, grab my things and exit with a smirk on my face

Still

The World Keeps Spinning

But I am Still. 

Summer Days

drifting away to oh, those summer nights...

Meet Francesca Woodman

Francesca Woodman (1958-1981) was an American photographer best known for her black and white pictures featuring herself and female models. Many of her photographs show young nude women, blurred by camera movement and long exposure times, merging with their surroundings, or with their faces obscured. Her work continues to be the subject of much attention, years after she committed suicide at the age of 22.

 

The beauty and intelligence in her photographs are a testament to the tragedy of her loss and the depth of her sorrow. I am forever in awe of her. 

Chicken Shit

WARNING: I HATE PETA

So I was walking along Front Street today when I noticed a crowd of PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) petitioning about boycotting KFC. I couldn't help but laugh when I saw the sign, "Broken Wings and Legs".
This seems to be a touchy subject in the news right now... so why not feel it up?

First of all, Pamela Anderson of all people is representing this case for PETA. Last time I checked big boobs loves to sport the leather.

Second, this issue is a problem in the United States right now. What the hell are you petitioning in Canada for? All the chickens used in the Canadian chains of KFC come from the same manufacturers that we buy from in the grocery stores. This is clearly another American fuck-up. I understand you're trying to spread the message, but what the hell kind of power do we have over our what our neighbours next door are frying up? Last time I checked, they lived in their own world.

And my last point (although its my opinion) is still a fact of life. They're fucking chickens. They are not endangered, nor do they serve any other purpose in the world than to breed more chickens and feed us. If you love them so much, take one home for a day... I'm sure you'll be indulging on chicken wings when you realize how dumb they really are, along with your idea to protect them.


Don't say I never warned you...