My Early Christmas Prezzie

So, here's a pic of my early Christmas present. I think the picture speaks for itself, but if not, I'll add the word, "sweet".

The Land of the Lost - Will Ferrell Style!

The kids trailers threw me off but, OMG, this is funneee! Never seen the original. Doesn't matter. I simply love Will Ferrell.

Time Capsule Update

Well, after receiving an e-mail from the Time Capsule Memorial Register, I decided to call Apple again and see if they would replace my dead Time Capsule even though it's past warranty.

I've got a new one being shipped to me for next week! Free! My faith in Apple has been restored.

Glee and Modern Family

Adding on to Dubby's stellar reco of Parks and Recreation, I suggest two more shows for your watching pleasure:

Glee


Modern Family

Parks & Recreation

This is my new favourite show! The cast is stellar and funny, funny, funny!

RIP Apple Time Capsule

Well, after posting 18 months ago what a great device this was, I join a growing list of disgruntled Apple Time Capsule owners whose equipment has died. Exactly 18 months to the day of arriving at my house, my Time Capsule is dead. Without warning. Kaput. No power, no restore, no love.

Despite more than 20,000 hits to a 17-page discussion thread on Apple's own support forum, they refused to acknowledge it as a problem during my call to support, just a lone incident. There's even an online registry for dead Time Capsules. Of course, their standard warranty is 1 year, and no longer covers my Time Capsule boat anchor. Luckily, I bought it with a gold mastercard which extends my warranty coverage by 1 year, but it will still be an effort to get it replaced.

So I am without my automated backup solution and wireless n network right now. Beware!

Explicit Ills

Explicit Ills is a fantastic film. Never heard of it, took a chance at the video store and boom, boom, pow, I get hit with this. Check it.

Smoosh!

I know this sounds like an odd recommendation, especially since I found out about them on "Yo Gabba Gabba", but these sisters have potential. They apparently have recorded with Pearl Jam, played on Jimmy Kimmel, opened on tour for the Eels, played SXSW... The drummer is really good.

Go to this link: http://jezebel.com/5036003/smoosh-sing-on-yo-gabba-gabba. By the way, DJ Lance Rock is awesome. I would totally hang with that guy.

And don't think what I think you are going to think.

Star Wars in Concert

Not to be confused with Star Wars "EN" Concert, this is the show at the ACC where they have the symphony orchestra play Star Wars music beneath monster screens showing scenes from the movies. And its narrated live by Anthony "C3PO" Daniels!

Mr. and Mrs. Slippy are taking Will to see it! November 26th @ 7:30pm.

Jack Johnson - En Concert

I was just wondering what Jack Johnson is up to and when or if he is putting out a new album any time soon. I checked out his site and it appears a tour doc and live album are next up. En Concert is the result of Jack's largest world tour ever and is the document of his journey. I am sure it will be fantastic and make me jones for some new material.

Battlestar Galactica

Well, we frakkin' did it - finished the whole thing. Was definitely worth it, but there were a few episodes in there that just felt like filler. And Baltar is irredeemable, but I grew to like Caprica Six.

Now what? Maybe some Weeds, Californication, etc., or maybe I'll get sucked in too deep into NHL 10...

Pontypool

I saw Bruce McDonald's Pontypool on the weekend. I was a little hesitant because I thought it was a gory, zombie flick, but I was totally wrong. This is a spooky, thought-provoking, and at times, darkly funny movie. I highly recommend! And hey, it is set in Pontypool near Kawartha Lakes.

Official site and trailer

My Slim Arrived Today

Yes, I caved and got a PS3 Slim for my birfday from the parentals. Wanted Blu-ray capability... Haven't even touched it yet, since I need to unbox other stuff in the house first, plus I have nothing to play on it.

I am finally starting to resurface after a tough few weeks of packing and moving, then a nasty stomach virus that took me out for nearly another week. But thankfully, getting to bed by 9:30pm for a few nights in a row is helping me to get some energy back.

Glad to hear everyone is doing otay. Am hoping to catch a matinee of D-9 tomorrow!

District 9 - thumbs up!

Caught District 9 last week. It lived up to my hype here on the Moontower! Amazing effects, great story. And I smell a sequel or two based on the ending (at least that's what I hope)!

Coming to the light

Well, it was a tough couple o' days. Let's just say that I NEVER want to move again. But it's over and we're in.

Check you later!

Going Dark

Well, the move is tomorrow, whether we're ready or not. No interwebs for a few days - however will I manage?

Underworld Live!

Shook my ass off at the Kool Haus last night! Underworld rolled through town. Crazy energy, crazy lights, huge production, massive projections, giant balloons. Amazing.

Here is a link to what a show on this tour looks/sounds like.

Weeds

I am just beginning to watch Weeds. I watched the very first episode many moons ago and it just didn't grab me, but I am giving it another try. Is it wrong that my favourite character is the chubby daughter whose mother gave laxatives to?

More Movies! Movies! Yeah!

I should of posted this too. Sure you have seen them but there are a couple of trailers and featurette of Spike Jones' Where the Wild Things Are. This has the potential to be mind-blasting too.

Where the Wild Things Are Trailers

Movies! Movies! YEAH!

Have you seen the images and trailers for Tim Burton's Alice in Wonderland or Tron Legacy. Amazing. Gonna be a good year for movies in 2010!

Alice in Wonderland - Trailer

Tron Legacy - Trailer

Dow to the Dirt

Down to the Dirt

Watched this film last night and would definitely give it a thumbs up. A good ol' Newfie (sorry, Newfoundlander) film! Endearing, dramatic and funny.

I wish I could drive like this

Boyz,

Off to a cottage with the famdamily for a week. Here's how I intend to drive up Hwy #11...

The Night of the White Pants

A quick movie recommend. I had picked up and put down this DVD at my video store so many times! It has Nick Stahl - check. It has Selma Blair - check, check. Could be good, but I didn't know a sole who had seen it or heard of it. And it was released in 2006.

Well, I rented it on the weekend and it was really good. The Night of the White Pants is a solid comedy! Made me laugh out loud a couple of times.

What's Spinnin' on Dub's iPod?"

Here it is folks, the long-awaited edition of "What's Spinnin' on Dub's iPod". Don't know? Well, I'll tell you. I think I might of damn near created the perfect playlist. At least for summer, well, at least at my house when I am doing the dishes these days. Anywhoo, enough of the chatter let's get to the music!

01 "Low" by Flo Rida (featuring T-Pain)

02 "Love Will Keep Us Together" by Captain & Tenille

03 "Boom Boom Pow" by the Black Eyed Peas

04 "Islands in the Stream" by Dolly Parton & Kenny Rogers

05 "Save Tonight" by Eagle Eye Cherry

06 "Take It Easy" by The Eagles

07 "Electric Avenue" by Eddy Grant

08 "American Boy" by Estelle (featuring Kanye West)

09 "How Bizarre" by OMC

10 "Informer" by Snow

11 "On & On" by Stephen Bishop

12 "Cantaloop (Flip Fantasia) by US3

13 "Spill the Wine" by Eric Burdon & War

My Las Vegas Review

Well, we're back. Didn't lose too much gambling (under $100), and didn't gain too much eating (under 100lbs). Here are some quick points from my experience:

Not all buffets are created equal
We stayed at the Wynn, and that buffet was phenomenal. I mean, really, really good. But we also ate at the MGM Grand buffet, and it wasn't nearly as good. Not terrible, but for $32/person, I want really good.

Just 'cause its expensive, doesn't mean its good
This is mainly food-related as well. We ate at a French restaurant at the Wynn called, Daniel Boulud, and it wasn't nearly as good as the hype. Plus, it was $180US for the two of us, with only a half bottle of wine and no dessert. We did have some great meals, though. Two of them at the Venetian - breakfast at Bouchon, and dinner at Canaletto.

Everything is huge
The buildings, the casinos, the food portions, the stores, the hotel bills... Everything. Surprisingly, I didn't see near the number of really obese people that I was expecting. Maybe 'cause everything is soooo huge and you have to walk quite a bit to get from huge place to huge place.

There are lots and lots of boobies
It's not hard to see full boobies in Vegas, but I am even referring to massive shows of cleavage showing on skimpy outfits. At first you are probably thinking, "how is that a bad thing," but then I have to say that in most cases, the women should not have been showing the cleavage, or maybe it was just purely accidental. There were a number of times I thought, "you should be wearing a bra". Sag City.

Stay away from dudes flicking cards on the sidewalk
Got tired really quickly of all the guys (and even some girls) trying to hand you tickets for strippers and ladies with services. Their t-shirts even read, "Girls to your room in under 20 minutes!".

The Hoover Dam is amazing
It really was amazing. We did the powerplant tour, and it is truly remarkable to think how it was created, 2 years ahead of schedule, and 20% under budget by a partnership of 6 companies. Like that would ever happen today.

We had a great time. Saw the Blue Man Group which was amazing (thanks to Dubby for that reco), and also saw David Copperfield in a relatively small theatre. That dude made a car appear on stage. I didn't even know it was coming, and then **BAM** it was there. He levitated a balled up tissue about 8 feet from us, then turned it into a rose.

Good times! Now we just have to sell our house and move in the next 2 months. Easy stuff!

Eastbound & Down

Just finished watching the first season of Eastbound & Down. Highly recommend. Will Ferrell's character is amazing. 

 

Viva Las Vegas!

Ciao, boyz. Back in 4 days.

Prison

So my vision of what prison would be like is actually real! I knew it! Note to self: If you are going to get arrested, do it in the Philippines.

Slippy News

Well, it's going to hit the wire soon. The Slippy McGavin clan will be moving in mid-August! More details to come next week (after Mrs. Slippy and I do a 4-day vacation in Vegas)...

Later!

PS - If you know of anyone with $5mil to spend on accommodations, the Slippy Estate is up for grabs!

Caprica

Watched this flick last night not knowing it was a spin off from the Battlestar Galactica series. Picked it up because my main man Eric Stoltz is in it, but really enjoyed it but it will probably be even better for those BSG nerds among us - apparently it is a prequel to BSG and a series is in the works accocrding to the trailers on the DVD.

The Hip at Massey Hall

Incredible. Off the heels of seeing Ben and R7 rip up the stage and the Phoenix, walking into Massey Hall was like walking into another dimension. Intense, theatrical, epic - such a unique experience to see The Hip in Toronto with thousands of people who also know every word to every song. The tracks from the new album were incredible live. Gord was in true form. Simply amazing.

"It's my fifty-mission cap...I worked it in, I worked it in to look like that!"

Cavalcade of Cartoon Comedy - hilarious!

Watched this last night - Seth MacFarlane's Cavalcade of Cartoon Comedy. Had me crying I was laughing so hard.

New DMB!

Well, Dave Matthews Band has a new album out: Big Whiskey and the GrooGrux King. It's pretty dang good. It's the last album featuring LeRoi Moore (GrooGrux) on the sax, since he died from that ATV accident.

Fanboys

This movie is teh shit. Watch it. Imagine a road-trip movie, with tons of Star Wars references, cameos, and even a good sub-plot, and you've got Fanboys.

To Mr. Train Driver

I don't know what train you drive; VIA, GO or CN Rail. I do know that you drive through Burlington around 11:30pm every night, and you feel inclined to play your horn-song. Guess what? Nobody knows the tune. Stop hitting the horn. I live at least 5kms from your train tracks, but I still hear you. I can't imagine what other residents think of you.

Goodnight.

LeftRightLeftRightLeft

Coldplay fan? Closet Coldplay fan? Free live album direct from the band:

http://lrlrl.coldplay.com/leftright.html

District 9

I love Neil Blomkamp's short film Alive in Joburg which has been adpated into a feature length film called District 9. I think this is going to be gooooood.

Watch Alive in Joburg:

Watch District 9 Trailer:

How Backing Up Saved My Bacon - A Cautionary Tale

I thought I would share this since so many of MoonTower's readers are Mac users. Here's a quick description of my set-up:

2.66 GHz iMac running OSX Leopard
2.16 GHz MacBook Pro running OSX Leopard

Since I use the MBP for work, I decided it was a good idea to put a back-up strategy into place, 'cause I just can't afford to lose my data. I bought a 500MB Time Capsule, a 250MB external hard disk drive, and Chronosync software.

I set up Time Machine to back up both machines daily (overriding the hourly back-up default, which is too much for me). In addition, once a month, I do a system image using SuperDuper! software, and put that on the external HDD and leave it at my father-in-law's as my off-site back-up. SuperDuper is free for doing full system backups.

Lastly, I use Chronosync to sync my "Documents" folder between the iMac and the MBP, which runs at least twice a day, or whenever my MBP joins the network. I let this sync more frequently since I will often work on the iMac if I am working from home.

Soooo... why bring this all up? Well, yesterday, while on-site at my client's, my MBP started doing some wonky stuff. I use VMWare to run Windows XP virtually, and that worked fine, but when I tried using Mac apps, the menu bar would completely disappear, and I wasn't able to use the dock or launch any apps from the Finder. After doing hard reboots, the same problem would start again after about 5 minutes of use.

Late last night, I popped in my Leopard install disk, and ran the "System Restore from Backup" utility. I selected my Time Capsule backup, and when I came in this morning, all worked perfectly again. And I did it without losing a single file. Only a few things had to be fixed - Apple Mail had to rebuild the mail database, but that took all of 1 minute, and I had to re-establish some links and default apps. Other than that, everything seems to be working well.

So I think I just got my payback for the $500 I spent on hardware for backing up!

BHR7

Next Wednesday! Right on!

Mmm... Cheese

Roquefort Chive Sauce
Goes on steaks

Ingredients

1 1/2 cups heavy cream
2 ounces French Roquefort cheese, crumbled (4 ounces with rind)
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1 tablespoon chopped fresh chives

Directions

1. Bring the heavy cream to a boil in a small heavy-bottomed saucepan over medium-high heat.
2. Cook at a low boil, stirring occasionally, until the mixture has become thick and creamy, about 20 minutes.
3. Remove the pan from the heat, add the cheese, salt, pepper and chives and whisk rapidly until the cheese melts.

Bruce Parry

Not sure if I have gone on about Bruce Parry. He is an amazing presenter, adventurer and ambassador to the few tribes left in this shrinking world. His series Tribe is amazing. I am just beginning to watch Bruce's 6-part series called Amazon. He is traveling the entire Amazon river meeting, learning and sharing tribal life and culture along the way. A must see!

Californication

I didn't think I was going to be into this show. Partly because I thought is was a soft-core drama kinda show and partly because I didn't think I could ever watch David Duchovny as anyone but Mulder (especially after the X-Files jumped the shark). But...with Duchovny as the tragically flawed rock star author/husband/father/person, Hank Moody, in Californication, I am back on the DD band wagon. This show ranks up there with Entourage. I know that is a big claim, but give it a try, just make sure the kids are in bed - it's a little raunchy!

Holy crap I am busy

Likely, you guys are, too! Lots o' stuff going on. I unfortunately cannot make the April 26 trip - its the weekend when we celebrate my 'rents b-days, and also its when my nana gets back from Florida.

Why does it feel like living in a whirlwind has become the norm?

Huey Lewis & the News

I know that I may be setting myself up for ridicule here, but I gotta say, Huey Lewis & the News was some good shiznit. Maybe it just brings back that nostalgic feeling, but I have been on the Greatest Hits album today, and lovin' it.

Don't need no credit card to ride this train.

April Fools!

Take a look at this image, then take about 8-10 steps back and look again...

Ben Harper & Relentless 7

So pumped that we got tickets to see Ben and R7. Besides Woods dream-like experience at the Mod Club, the Phoneix is going to be the smallest venue that we have seen Ben play! Countdown on.

Here's Ben & R7 playing some tunes and chatting on KCRW's Morning Becomes Eclectic - nice intro to the new material.

KCRW Morning Becomes Eclectic with Ben Harper & Relentless 7

Shaolin Soccer

Shaolin Soccer - funny, silly film!

I mentioned to Woods that I think little E would get a kick out of this film. It's not a kids film per se, but I would describe it as The Bad News Bears meet The Matrix - just no Kelly and no Morpheus.

Link to trailer

Watchmen

Just picked up a copy of the Watchmen graphic novel from the library - I am only a few pages in, but I am hooked. Looking forward to catching the film adaptation fresh off the heels of reading the comic series!

Woods - vectorized

I was experimenting with some online vector convertors. 

Favicon

Check out the Moontotwer's new favicon! The tiny image in the address bar before the URL.

Thievery Corporation

Heading out to see Thievery Corporation on their Radio Retaliation tour tomorrow night at the Kool Haus. Pretty jazzed!

*UPDATE*

One word to describe the show...AMAZING!

Relentless7

A good read...good sound.
C.

BEN HARPER AND RELENTLESS7 WHITE LIES FOR DARK TIMES


In a hostile sea of disposable, throwaway singles, BEN HARPER AND RELENTLESS7 have made a true album. White Lies For Dark Times is a timeless rock record, with a cohesive collection of music that is as raw, unrelenting and thunderous, as it is arrestingly haunting and emotional.

On the raucous opening track, “Number With No Name,” Harper bellows “the very thing that drives you -- can drive you insane” over an infectious guitar line and a deftly serious groove that both thumps and propels the listener. The band then brings the listener full circle in the closing track “Faithfully Remain,” as Harper sings, “the truth just wastes away in all we can’t explain, but I faithfully remain.” The beauty of these lyrics works as a breathtaking release which balances out the anthemic urgency of songs such as “Shimmer and Shine” and “Up To You Now,” both of which are surely soon to be familiar staples at radio.

This is American rock, the way it is supposed to sound and feel.

In what may possibly be the greatest “how the band formed” story ever, Harper met guitarist Jason Mozersky in the late nineties, when the lead singer of Mozersky’s then band, WAN SANTO CONDO was working as a van driver shuttling bands back and forth to the venue for a Texas promoter. (The three members of the 7 all hail from Texas) The part time driver, part time musician took a risk that all artists must take at some point in their lives in order to succeed. He asked the then captive Ben Harper, “Can I play you my demo?” Harper obliged, and in his own words “was blown away,” and helped the band secure a record deal and release the self-titled Wan Santo Condo / Everloving Records, 2004. The band broke up after one record, but what survived was a lasting friendship between Harper and Mozersky.

In 2005, Harper began recording sessions that would become a double record entitled Both Sides of the Gun (2006, Virgin Records). He invited his now long time friend Mozersky to lay down some guitar work on a track. Upon invitation to continue recording the next day, Jason arrived with at the studio with longtime friends, drummer Jordan Richardson and bassist Jesse Ingalls from the acclaimed Los Angeles based indie rock band OLIVER FUTURE. The session would spawn not only the song “Serve Your Soul” but the framework for Relentless7.

In the summer of 2008, the chance arrived for these four uniquely talented members to reunite in the studio and dig deeper into the chemistry that was born during the Both Sides of the Gun sessions. It was soon apparent that their instincts were correct as the record quickly began to take shape. The songs from White Lies For Dark Times sound off with both the vast musical depth and experience of Harper, while commanding the pure urgency and intensity of an unknown band fighting for it’s life.

This is clear in the song “Fly One Time” with the lyric “I’m caught in between what I can’t leave behind, and what I may never find” where BEN HARPER AND RELENTLESS7 capture universal emotion while the song pulsates into a bass, drum and electric guitar anthem that would captivate any arena and crush any small club.
In November 2008, the band debuted their new material on the Vote For Change Tour, where they also breathed new life into the Queen/David Bowie classic “Under Pressure,” which has since become a staple of their live set. They ended the year cutting their teeth with a series of small club shows from famed venues such as Spaceland and The Mint in Los Angeles, to The Mercury Lounge and Kenny’s Castaway in NYC. The band is scheduled to tour extensively across the world in 2009.

BEN HARPER AND RELENTLESS7 intelligently has one foot in Harper’s past while every other limb and appendage reach towards the future. Any preconceptions or misconceptions in regards to a “Ben Harper sound” must now be adjusted, or thrown out all together. With BEN HARPER AND RELENTLESS7, the story of modern rock music is now being rewritten.

More Funneeeee!

A couple of funny films to check out...

Foot Fist Way

Apparently a favourite film of Will Ferrell's. Cringy like The Office, silly like Semi-Pro.

Chris Rock's Kill The Messenger

Hilarious. Chris Rock rocks.

Three Deeeee!

Unusual for me, but I went to see movies in the theatre twice this past weekend. Mainly because the films I went to see were in super duper 3D.

Coraline

Great stop motion film by the director of A Nightmare Before Christmas. Not really for the young kids, had some spooky moments. But a little disappointed with the 3D. The film didn't take advantage of being in 3D. If you go, see it in 2D and save the extra bucks for popcorn. 

IMAX Under the Sea 3D

Imax and 3D - always a great combo. Amazing underwater photography brought to life in 3D. My god, at one point you are face to face with a giant cod floating in the middle of the theatre. Only 40 minutes long and the 3D made me feel a little dizzy, but it was pretty cool.

Check out this Bacon

Check out this bacon. NSFW

Housekeeping

What happened to the D&C pic? The Vader pic is really funny, but...

Slip, is there an opportunity to but a header banner on this template? If so, let me know the specs and I can whip one up.

What's Spinning in yer iPod?

Since we like to blog on music, I thought I would throw out an idea - a post per month by one of us (we can rotate) talking about what's getting play on our iPod (or iPhone for Woods). Here's mine:

Coldplay - Viva la Vida
Damn, I like Coldplay. Have for a while, and I am gonna just come out and say it. I know some say they are cliche and stuff, but they throw down some great melodies. And Joe Satriani should rethink his lawsuit.

Jason Mraz - We Sing, We Dance, We Steal Things
I think I like Mraz's stuff more than Matt Costa - it seems to have more variation song to song.

Incredibad - Lonely Island songs from SNL
I nearly pee myself listening to this stuff. Faves include Ras Trent ("Are you there, Jah? It's me, Ras Trent"), Dick in a Box, Space Olympics, and Incredibad. Good for a break on a long commute.

Blind Pilot
Ok - likely a new band for you both. Very acoustic sound, and a great overall groove. These guys toured on bicycle across the US last year, gear and all... I think they were on Carson Daly yesterday, too.


I've also put the iPod on shuffle, and twigged on JT (gotta love him), some Kanye West (the new album - 808s - is a bag full of repetitive crap), and the new Thievery Corporation (Radio Retaliation).

Natty

Just came across this musician. First heard his voice on Nintin Sawhney's "Days of Fire" track. More here:

Natty - official site

The Waterkeepers

We went to see a talk at the Centre for Social Innovation last week. Mark Mattson and Gord Downie talked about The Lake Ontario Waterkeepers ongoing fight to keep Lake Ontario safe for swimming, drinking and fishing, particularly an area near Kingston and The Tragically Hip's Bath House Studio from the actions of LaFarge Cement company and inaction of our government.

It was inspiring to hear about this fight and cause. Mark gave us the details of the legalities and proceeding of the case and Gord reflected on his involvement and played a few acoustic tunes.

For more info check out:

Lake Ontario Waterkeepers