twillight

I got invited to see twilight with a friend. Twilight apparently is the first series of young adult vampire books. The theme seems to be paranormal romance, romance where one of the characters turns out to have paranormal powers (ie they are a vampire, or werewolf or something along those lines). Not being a big follower of parnormal and/or romance the movie didn't do too much for me. This film felt like a slow extended episode of Gilmore Girls with some vampires thrown in. I will say that the movie does have some funny moments and some refreshing new spins on the vampire myth. The tiresome catholic dogma and gothic imagery are left out. I was reading that this movie had the highest box office take for a movie by a female director so I suppose it is historically signficant.

heavy metal, the economy and the most dangerous band in the world

Lately I have been thinking about the similarities between the late 80s and early 90s and now. There was much made about how the state of the economy had not been this bad since the great depression... yada yada yada. My perception is that at a street level for the average person things are actually better now than in that time period. Another parallel that struck me recently was the simultaneous release of albums by Metallica and Guns and Roses. In 1991 within a few weeks of each other Metallica released their self titled album (sometimes called the black album) and GNR released the Use Your Illusions (two full length albums released at the same time). I recall an entertainment writer for the Ottawa Citizen - I believe his name was Greg Barr, writing something to the effect that... "economists look to various kinds of financial indicators including the sales of everything from oil to pork bellies, if we accept heavy metal albums sales as a financial indicator the recession is over." Anyway here we are some 17 years later and both Metallica and GNR have again released albums close together. Sales also seem to once again be exceeding expectations. I have listened to Metallica's Death Magnetic several times, I have not heard all of GNR's Chinese Democracy. Death Magnetic is fascinating return to their thrashy roots for Metallica. Axl Rose on the other hand is taking GNR to new territory, with all kinds of experimental sounds on this album. As usual heavy metal is getting little respect in the media. A recent change in Billboard magazine's practice is going to keep Chinese Democracy off the top 200 albums chart - at least at first. Pop figures like Britney Spears, Kanye West, Paris Hilton and others seem more likely to get media coverage for buying a coffee than anyone in heavy metal would get even if they raised the dead, while walking on water. Bands like Metallica and GNR are selling more albums overall than Britney Spears or Beyonce but guess which artists are getting more attetion? If Chinese Democracy hadn't been 17 years in the waiting prompting the Dr Pepper publicity stunt I don't wonder if there would be any mention outside of the new releases. I for one am excited about the potential of Chinese Democracy - the title is just as poignant now as it was when it was first announced - probably about 15 years ago? I won't say that I agree with everything Axl Rose has said or done, buy I will say that he is one of the most interesting mavericks in modern music, one who has consistently challenged the status quo. They may not be as radical as say Fugazi or Rage Against The Machine, but how much airplay do they get? Have any of these bands crossed nearly as many genres or presented as many challenges to concert promoters? How many other bands have caused rioting on the scale of GNR? It may mainly be Axl Roses' trip these days but I stil feel that there is no band more deserving of the title "most dangerous band in the world"

jock talk ottawa redux

Well Grey Cup kick off is about to happen, I am going to watch it. I just thought it was negligent to not mention Paul Kitchen's book Win, Tie or Wrangle - The inside story of the Old Ottawa Senators 1883-1935. I have had the opportunity to meet Paul Kitchen - a former co-worker of my father's a few times and he is really nice guy. As well someone pointed out to me that in addition to the sports I mentioned, we had the triple AAA baseball team the Ottawa Lynx, who won the league's championship in their short history. Baseball is not one of my favourite sports, but it was neat to have a team of that kind in our town. Some of my friends who do follow the games said that many of the players who played in Ottawa for the Lynx - or for another team against the lynx went on to high profile roles in the major leagues. Some of them making it to the "World Seeries". I did manage to catch the last Lynx game ever, as big emotional crowd gave a farwell to another chapter in Ottawa's sports history. Also pointed out to me is that Ottawa has produced a few Olympic athletes probably the most important being Barbara Ann Scott. Well it's almost 6, time for the most high profile all Canadian sports event...

Jock talk in Ottawa

Sports is not one of the of the first things that comes to most people's minds when they think of Ottawa. However two recent events are thrusting the light on two aspects of Canada's sports tradition beyond the current Ottawa Senators. The leaked announcement that the Canadian Football league wants Ottawa to host the 2014 Grey Cup caught my eye. A good time for this announcement with the Ottawa Senators in such a sorry state. It actually wasn't all that long ago - 2004, that the Grey Cup was last played in Ottawa. While the local football scene was largely a joke at the time, the event was a success. Lansdowne park and Ottawa in general was filled with fans from across Canada. Certainly refreshing for local fans who still recall Ottawa being saddled with the distinction of being the worst sports franchise in North American by Sports Illustrated magazine. This distinction is probably why the "Canadian" Terrence and Philips episode of South Park mentioned the Ottawa Rough Riders but not the Saskatchewan Rough Riders. For years the CFL did have two teams named the "Rough Riders" however that was not the case at the time this episode (episode title "Not Without My Anus") of South Park aired (April 1 1998). At this point however Ottawa doesn't have a pro football team or even a fully functional stadium. Insiders believe that Ottawa will be able to get a team and a stadium in place by 2011. We shall see, part of Ottawa's current Football Stadium - the aforementioned Landsdown Park was demolished earlier this year. It will be interesting to see how thing in unfold in the future. We have a long largely neglected history football and hockey in Ottawa. Something else to keep in mind is the rise of the popularity of soccer (or football as it is known in the rest of the world). Ottawa in fact did have soccer team called the Ottawa Wizards. Local high tech company Oz Optics even built a full sized field in Carp (Stitsville area). Yes the Wizards of Oz - a pun sadly appropriate for the perceived current state of sports here. This reputation is in entirely undeserved an inacurate. While the Ottawa Rough Riders had not won a championship since 1976, that is a completely insigificant in comparison with the over 100 year title drought of baseball's Chicago Cubs. There are many other significant events in Ottawa's history. The most notable being the creation of the most storied and recognized trophy in all of professional sports (at least in North America) - The Stanley Cup. The was created back in 1892 and is the only major sports trophy to have players names etched into it and that travels with winning players after it was awarded. The Toronto Maple Leafs Franchise -who I would like to point out have not won a championship since 1967, were built around an Ottawa born athlete Francis King Clancy. Francis Clancy was born in Ottawa in 1903, learned to Skate on the Rideau Canal and won the Stanley Cup here in his hometown before being traded to the big smoke. The great one Wayne Gretzky played his last game as professional athlete on Canadian ice here. Brian Kilrae has shattered many records and won many titles as one of the greatest hockey coaches ever. But there is more to Ottawa's sports lore than Hockey. Ottawa hosted several sold out nights in Lansdowne Park of the FIFA under20 cup 2007. Plans are also underway for a professional soccer franchise in Ottawa, with Ottawa Senators owner Eugene Melnyk and Ottawa 67s owner Jeff Hunt both having submitted bids. As well Ottawa is starting to develop a basketball culture. The Carleton University Ravens won an unprecedented 5 national championship titles. A showcase match between Carleton and the University of Ottawa has become a new tradition in Ottawa.

Fleshtones play Zaphod Bebblebrox

On a very cold in Ottawa, the city was quiet. I went around to a few bars, most of which were playing the Ottawa Senators VS Montreal Canadiens hockey game. No one seemed to be paying much attention. I finally went to Zaphod Bebblerox. Not sure what to expect, Not sure what to expect of such a legendary band who was playing such a small scale and obscure venue at this point and time. The opening band Magnificent Butchers played a fine set of 70s style rawk, lots of fuzztone guitar, screaming vocals and well placed keyboarding. They threw in a Beatles and Stampeders cover and received good reception from the crowd. The Fleshtones nevertheless delivered an overwhelming set. The played an incredibly memorable set, with a most potent mix of energy, humour and power. Seldom does a band really know the venue and even owner of the venue as the Fleshtones did. They made reference to problems getting across the border and having to call Zaphods owner Eugene Haslam. They also quipped that it was suprising they did make it despite Euegne's intervention. After finishing their set they took the time to sign merchandise and socialize with many admirers. Including Eugene who bought a copy of their book: Sweat: The Story of Fleshtones America's Garage Band.

The Mayfair halloween night 2008

Mayfair saved

I am extremely glad that Lee Gordon Demarbre and some other investors have stepped up to save Ottawa's oldest Theatre. The Mayfair is a beautiful old school, theatre, they don't build them like this anymore. I have two very vivid memories of being at the Mayfair theatre from this year alone. The first being an extra in the Odessafilmworks project Smashcut featuring many legends of horror. A few scenes were filmed inside the Mayfair theatre (incidentally the Smashcut world premiere is apparently set for February in Germany). The second memory I have from this year is of going to the Mayfair's showing of The Rocky Horror Picture Show this Halloween. An amazing interactive experience. There was concern that with the upcoming closure of the theatre by present owners that this might be the last time of this long established Halloween tradition. I imagine maverick movie moguls like Lee and his partners will keep this thing going for years to come.

another day

Well I finally managed to add a picture to my profile on here. I decided to do a picture of some Graffiti with my name rather than a picture of me. Not quite sure why, I am still trying to decided on my reasons for even doing all this in the first place. I recall a friend of mine - the first person who ever told me they had a blog in fact, did so just for themselves. When I asked for the url, she simply said she declined saying it was a private thing. I thought it strange and still do actually but think I am starting to understand it better now. It was for her a journal of sorts. I mainly want to do this to get in the habit of writing regularly again. I think it would be neat to have both a very personal anonymous blog and a public blog. Thinking realistically I am finding it difficult to maintain even this one. I suppose I do like the idea of others reading this in either case. However I don't know how realistic it is that anyone else will find this in the vast ocean of much better and more established blogs. For now I think I will continue to write these, operating under the assumption that someone might eventually find and read these. For now I am going to stay somewhat annoymous, I have used my real name. There are many men named Nick in Ottawa many of whom work for the government. At times I might want to post something controversial or provactive, although I haven't so far. So far I guess this has been an excercise of "thinking out loud" in written text. I am not sure if its doing me or anyone else any good but for now I plan to keep doing it.

another baby step

So day number two trying to figure this whole blog thing out. I hope that eventually I can navigate these systems more quickly so I don't run out of energy by the time I am ready to actually write something. I am starting to wonder if I will ever find the time to maintain a half worthwhile blog and do other things like oh say sleep, eat, get away from the computer much less work and do other things away from the computer. There are a lot of things happening right now that I feel I should be doing or at least writing about. I guess the foremost is protesting the proposed cuts to arts and transportation here Ain the city. We are blessed with so many world class festivals like the Bluesfest, Animation festival, Writersfestival and so many others. Many of these are second to none anywhere and contribute financially as well culturally in so many ways to Ottawa. There are many meetings, protests and discussions going on. You can check sites like ottawa.ca for or robmaclennan.blogspot.com for information on how you can get informed and get involved.

Quantum of Solace

The second movie featuring the latest James Bond movie is probably the fastest paced one yet. Even moreso than the last outing this is more of an action film. Fast edited action and less on a make out sessions, villan confessions and whacky gadgets. Those tired of the formulaic approach of the previous James Bond franchise may find they enjoy this more - I know I did.

Vampiro a great documentary

Vampiro - Devil, Angel, Hero a documentary by Ottawa's Lee Gordon Demarbre had its premiere at the Canadian Film Institute. It's a documentary on Ian Hodgkins - better known as pro wrestler character Vampiro. The movie has a non-linear fragmented structure. It starts with Ian Hodkins in New York with some of the Guardian Angels (a volunteer street patrol organization for those who don't know). We learn that Ian wants to bring a chapter of this organization to Mexico. This is one of the ways that Ian is an angel and a hero. We see at several points in his troubled life how he has been a devil as well. I found this story of an abused child from northern Ontario who travels the world and becomes a legend in Mexico a highly compelling story. This true story manages to touch on so many great themes. While much of the the screen time is filled with pro wrestling Ian Hodgkins lifestory can be seen as a triumph over adversity. We not only get a behind the scenes look at the pro wrestling, but an inspiring story of man who overcomes his own demons to become a good father and community activist. I don't think I can say enough about how many themes from are touched upon family, loyalty to theology in deeper and more poignant ways than you expect from a movie about "wrasslin". An amazing story I can't recommend enough.