Knock-knock-knockin’ on the marketing department’s door
This week’s Cinema Palermo reviews Knocked up. Oh, you probably haven’t heard of it. But in case you have, Mark has a lengthy, informative analysis of the movie’s marketing techniques over on his own blog. Check it out or we’ll sue Judd Apatow for stealing our incredibly unique, not-remotely-universal, Memento-like ideas.
HRM by Design open house
Can I just say, look at how much space the Cogswell Interchange eats/destroys in this picture? Imagine what we could do with that space. I propose, Ferris Wheel/Waterslide/World’s Biggest Bounce Kingdom. You can make similar suggestions at next week’s HRM by Design open house. Deets as follows: You’re invited to the Public Open House taking…
Grading the Report Card
To the editor, I want to thank you for bringing local issues to the forefront in the “City Council Report Card”—but I think you were a little harsh. When good students are rewarded by their teachers, it encourages them to work harder. Councillors are people, too, and politics can be a thankless job. People like…
Grading the Report Card
To the editor, In the “City Council Report Card,” (May 31, 2007), Mike Fleury stated, “Sue Uteck is not one to shy away from calling bullshit. That might be part of the reason she was named deputy mayor last year, the first woman to hold the position.” While Sue Uteck has proven to be a…
The pest-laid plans
To Tim Bousquet, I just wanted to write and thank you for the great article on the pesticide by-law. With the exception of Farmer Clem’s (as you pointed out), Atlantic Superstores, Sobey’s and Zellers, the behaviour of the big retail chains has been a slap in the face to both the by-law and the will…
The pest-laid plans
To Tim Bousquet, Thank you enormously for your article on banned pesticide sales (“Lawn order,” May 24, 2007). I walked into Canadian Tire on Quinpool two weekends ago and had to walk right back out, wheezing from the overpowering pesticide fumes created by the pallets and pallets of outlawed Weed ‘n’ Feed and the multitude of…
Your Daily Sure Thing
Gang Bang(Girls night out dance party) Mix two parts alcohol, three parts sweaty sweaty dance, one part thumpin’ beats, a drop of irony and you’ve got a Gang Bang special. Plug your nose and cannonball yourself some tonight at Tribeca. (Tribeca, 1588 Granville, 10pm-2:30am, 492-4036) Informal Art Tour(Gerald Ferguson fronts his frottage) When I showed…
Fucking right, I love this shit
Not sure how I missed this when it happened Monday, but an appeals court in the States decided that it’s OK to say “fuck” and “shit” on TV. This ruling doesn’t sit well with the Federal Communications Commission, but that fucked group of Bush-backed censors can eat shit. A great piece on the situation comes…
Knocked AWWT…
This morning I brought a tin cup filled with blogger rage to work over the story about Rebecca Ekler suing Universal Studios and Judd Apatow over the alleged baby-theft of the screenplay for the popular Knocked Up. Because no one has ever slipped on sperm and become pregnant accidentally before. (Thank your lucky stars that…
Your Daily Sure Thing
Three Months of New Paintings(Life as Laura Dawes sees it) With thunder showers on the horizon this evening, it’s hard to suggest anything besides staying inside and hibernating for summer. But if you do feel the need to venture out into the dreary dampness that is June in Halifax, head on over to One World…
Silverman, you diabolical…
Sarah Silverman takes a moment to blast Paris Hilton at the MTV Movie Awards last night, while Paris sits in the audience. It’s the kind of thing we all wish we could do once before we die. And isn’t Jack Nicholson just shocked! Thanks for living out our dream, Sarah.
The dope (Jodie) show
Two years ago, Flightplan was opening while I was in Toronto at the film festival. I found out a day late that I had been across the street, in the Cumberland Theatre, from one of my idols, Jodie Foster, who’d been sequestered in the Four Seasons doing Canadian press. I easily could’ve passed her somewhere…
Your Daily Sure Thing
Cauda Equina, 24 Reflections in Miniature(Horse-tail hair needlepoint) You know all those first-date horror stories where the girl thinks the guy is totally perfect until she opens his closet and finds a bag full of hair? Well, it’s very possible Toronto-based artist Keith W. Bentley could be the ground zero. Although I hope he never…
Will Ferrell likes picnics, has a face
Funny or Die, the Will Ferrell-owned site that brought you internet sensation Pearl the Landlord, has highlighted two videos from local pehnomenon Picnicface. Oh, and did we mention they’re recommended by Ferrell himself? See “Powerthirst” — good enough to be an SNL ad parody, says Will — after the jump. Powerthirst How sad is it,…
Chick-lit
Look closely. I have for the past four years, and it’s paid off in a modest collection of Chick tracts. If you’ve never stumbled upon one or had one given to you, Chick bible tracts are the original sin of bible tracts. Most of the time, a bible tract is a small evangelical pamphlet with…
Touring Green – Blog 15: Fernie to Calgary (May 30)
This morning meant more repairs as the last of the spokes were fixed and some break pads and wheels got so much needed re-alignment. After the repairs at a find cycling shop in Fernie (http://www.straightlinefernie.com), I got a good hour bike in before, and I don’t mind saying this as I’ve still got sooo much…
Touring Green – Blog 14: Cranbrook to Fernie (May 28)
Cranbrook to Fernie had curve-balls as, though the weather finally was smiling sunshine on me, I now had the first of my bike problems. The next before, after my long day of biking, I had an accident where I forgot that my bungee cords are really snakes and have minds of their own as one…
Touring Green – Blog 13: Creston to Cranbrook (May 28)
Today was filled with a long climb and not as much rain (though it did come some and kept the feet wet all morning; what would Lt. Dan say about that… oh and on the topic of Forest Gump, which I got to see the other night on CBC along with another shot of the…
Touring Green – Blog 12: Nelson to Cranbrook (May 27)
So, in Behold the Lamb!, I say “Reign down on me” but today (for the first time that lasted a whole day) it “Rained down on me”. I was completely soaked and cold while I biked 124Km over about 8hrs. I find it quite ironic that the two rides that my BC Biking Guide said…
Touring Green – Blog 11: Nelson (May 26)
So the night went kinda late and my biking legs didn’t look like they were ready to kick in at 9am the next morning so, after the kind offer to stay at the hotel for another night in Nelson, I did just that. “Today is your day! Your mountain is waiting. So… get on your…
Touring Green – Blog 10: Castlegar to Nelson (May 25)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1suwip2Xslc I kept this day light (just 44km) so that I only had to bike a couple hours before Nelson so that I’d have time to relax before the show. I got into town around 1pm and proceeded to check out Baker St. while doing my laundry (which consists of 2 pairs of underwear, 2…
Touring Green – Blog 9: Christina Lake to Castlegar (May 24)
Christina Lake to Castlegar is supposed to be my last “major” climb (according to this sweet biking map I have that not only gives you the overhead view but gives you an elevation view as well (and so U2 finds another way into my head each day… Bono… you clever lyricist!). While this day seemed…
Touring Green – Blog 8: Osoyoos to Christina Lake (May 23)
As I left the O.C. of Canada (Osoyoos County), it was hard to say goodbye to the heat of the desert and have to put back on jackets and such. Osoyoos to Christina lake was not the best idea I’ve had with route length too as it involved over 132km. I arrived in Grand Forks…
Ditto
I love Gossip–praying they play London when I’m there this summer–and I admit to having a not-so-secret girl crush on lead singer Beth Ditto, who bares all on the cover of the new NME, giving an alabaster middle finger to all those skeletor waifs crowding the stages these days. I’m saying all this as a…
All you need is to shut up
I am currently listening to Q to hear Jill Barber perform live, but in the middle they have plunked that dude who weaseled his way into the Toronto Lennon-Ono bed-in at 14 and interviewed Lennon via super 8. Ever hear that story before? I don’t know, EVERY TIME THERE IS A BEATLES ANNIVERSARY OF SOME…
Fight nights
Last Friday night, a crowd of people gathered on Cunard Street near Robie to gawk at the fallout after a sidewalk beating. The attack happened at roughly 1:15am; news tipper Francis Gerard lives in a building adjacent to the alley where the fight took place.”There’s a group that all live in a house across the…
Til’ death (metal)
American death metal lords Dying Fetus make their way from Maryland to the Maritimes on June 1. Dying Fetus is reported to play “the ultimate blend of death metal, hardcore and grind.” The band has toured the world extensively and has an impressive roster of albums—they’re here promoting their newest, War of Attrition. Aside from…
Back in biscuit
A newly expanded Biscuit General Store will be re-opening on June 1. The popular boutique has taken over the former Studio Argyle space next door. Owner Wendy Friedman says the renovated store will offer larger menswear, cosmetics and accessories sections, as well as brand new departments. “One is what we’re calling a Family Fun department,…
Against the boards
It’s drifting into our least favourite time of year, that of sweaty, over-cologned, under-clothed summer. If you’re asking us, there’s only a tiny handful of reasons to go outside between June and Labour Day—they include alFresco filmFesto, Canada Day fireworks and charcoal barbecues. There’s also the old Halifax tradition of getting the hell out of…
The Dandelion Report
What is it about the dandelion that provokes such irrational hatred in people that they poison the environment and break the law by dousing their lawns with illegal herbicides? It is, after all, simply a flower. Not a bad looking one, at that. Like other wars we know about, getting the public roused up enough…
Up with Apatow
This time two years ago, most of the world had yet to experience the distinct pleasure of watching Steve Carell get his extremely hairy chest waxed. Thanks to writer-director-producer Judd Apatow, that’s now changed. In August 2005, Apatow’s film The 40-Year-Old Virgin hit theatres, fulfilling an unforeseen collective desire to watch Carell become a “man-o-lantern”…
Hummer of love
Surely you’ve noticed it’s summer. The mercury shoots up into appropriate-for-early-June territory and the city goes mad. Men rip off their shirts and strut down Barrington in the insufferable 20.6 degree heat, women stuff their bikini bottoms up their cracks and sunbathe on the north Common (I saw it!), those cock-rocket 200-decibel motorcycle dudes zoom…
Conversion
Jon Boudreau is usually a warm and outgoing guy. Every time I visit the CDPlus location he manages on Barrington we talk for a while about new albums we like and local bands we hate. That all changed a few weeks ago. As I brought box after brimming box into his store, containing all the…
Pirates of the Caribbean: World’s End
“Could this be it?” I wondered as the boat was pulled into the void. My dissatisfaction with the first two Pirates movies was facing the unexpected outcome that this new movie was becoming enjoyable. Granted, the Pirates movies have had good things in them. The actors’ spirit carries through the whole series, and Dead Man’s…
FREE WILL ASTROLOGY
Just say no to the haters, Taurus, says Rob Brezsny.
SAVAGE LOVE
Dan Savage helps ensure you’ll never drink milk again.
Down Mexico way
Although a perennial favourite of Coast readers in the annual Best of Food poll (vote now!), I’ve never dined at Mexico Lindo. Not for any particular reason, I’ve just never had it on my radar. But after years of “Best of” awards, plenty of good publicity and some recent renovations to the dining area, I’ve…
Power struggle
Jen Crawford is a 26-year-old graduate student and activist. She has an engaging smile, an effervescent personality and a passion for feminist issues. She can see herself running for office in the future. Forty-two-year-old Catherine Meade recently sought the federal Liberal nomination in the riding of Halifax and lost by a slim margin. She is…
Road to ruin
The Critical Mass bike ride wound its way through downtown last Friday night, before heading down Chebucto Road to end at the Mumford corner. There, in the parking lot of Saint Agnes church, the 60-or-so riders crowded around the church steps to listen to a short speech from Kevin Moynihan, one of the locals determined…
2007 City Council Report Card
The last time this happened, Peter Kelly was exciting. No, it’s true. The last time The Coast published a City Council Report Card, which came in the spring of 2000, Bedford rep Peter Kelly had all the qualities of an ass-kicking/name-taking municipal councillor. He fought hard for his district. He was the most active participant…
Report card answers
Who are you? Dawn Marie Sloane What district do you represent? District 12 Halifax-Downtown How long have you served as a HRM councillor? 6 years 7 months and 16 days (May 18th is the present day)Won in 2000 and then re-elected in 2004 Please state your opinion/musings on the following municipal issues. The Twisted Sisters…
Savage love wextra
Here is the very nearly complete transcript of Woman Enjoys Tag Teaming’s online chat with Guy Turned Bi. Enjoy. GTB: Hi there, nice profile… what do you think of bi guys? WETT: one moment please, checking out your profile… WETT: What the hell? You’re in ! What am I to do with a guy, bi…
