Nothing makes me happier than...

when underdog teams triumph.



the modern-day David and Goliath story is actually when capitalist domination falters in the face of raw talent and young ambition, at least in the sports world. I hope the Devil Rays go all the way, no word of a lie. Phillies and Rays in the Series, and I am a Blue Jays fan so taken the Rays all the way is saying a lot. GO Devil Rays, take your 44 million and win the pennant, and f it, i say take the Series. My god I can't believe I am actually supporting an American League team. It feels almost sacrilegious, I guess anything is possible.

Happy Thanksgiving Canada

Home from Barrie. Justin and I went up for Thanksgiving weekend. We had a great time, especially when I fell out of that tree ... eh Just. I hope everyone else had a nice long weekend as well.

Frost/Nixon

I can't tell you how happy I am that CanStage is presenting this play this month. I just finished reading it, by coincidence and it is really good. I posted about it a few weeks ago on the Emerging Art blog. This play was amazing on Broadway, from what I hear, despite its rather short run. I hope it is better received in Toronto.

For anyone who doesn't know the story of the Frost-Nixon interviews it's a pretty incredible piece of television history. David Frost, British, playboy, TV presenter scores the biggest interview, possibly of all times, with Nixon. And he's the one to get the first admission of guilt out of Nixon for the Watergate cover-up. It was Nixon's first interview after his resignation,and he and his manager Swifty Lazar chose Frost because they were going to make tons of money on the deal, and they figured he wouldn't be hard-hitting. I would love to see the original footage, maybe it's on youtube?

Frost/Nixon by Peter Morgan (The Canadian Stage Company). A dubious talk-show host elicits an apology and confession from Richard Nixon. Opens Oct 13 and runs to Nov 8, Mon-Sat 8 pm, mats Wed 1:30 pm, Sat 2 pm. $20-$90. Bluma Appel Theatre, 27 Front E. 416-368-3110, canstage.com.

Who is this guy, and could we possibly be related?

So you know how sometimes you go online for something specific and things spiral unexpectedly from there, until the next thing you know you are in some obscure part of the Internet and looking at something slightly wrong. Ehem, I am not talking about porn - you don't find porn unexpectedly people. Anyway, today I was shamelessly googling people I know. And I can upon this guy John Mattimore of the Dartmouth Lacrosse Team. Now, it may be just a coincidence that he goes to Dartmouth, the same school that my Grandfather, Father and Uncle call their Alma mater. It might also be a coincidence that we have the same last name, but he has an uncanny resembles to my Uncle Bryan. It makes me wonder if his family is originally from New York City, like my grandparents were, and what, if any, our relation might be?

PS I think John Mattimore is kind of cute. Ok that's weird. Well Go Big Green!

My New Obsession

So if you are into contemporary musical theatre it is almost a cliche to love Jason Robert Brown, but I guess that makes me a cliche. I just found this video featuring the original backdrop videos from "The Last Five Years." I also think this song, Goodbye Until Tomorrow is beautiful. I think the Lauren Kennedy version, on her recently released solo album of JRB songs is stronger than Sherie-Rene Scott's, who I believe is featured here.

Toronto City Hall - Nuit Blanche

Saturday night was my birthday party but it was also Nuit Blanche Toronto. Nuit Blanche for those who don't know originated in Paris as a one night, all night, city-wide art party. This is the third year that Toronto has participated. Last year, Nuit Blanche Toronto was so bad that I vowed I wouldn't do it again until there was some worthwhile art. Well it looks like things may have turned around somewhat this year. This shot is from one of the more successful installations. Toronto City Hall's facade was lit up with an ever changing light box installation, which I must say looked pretty cool. If anyone else saw any good art, or really bad because that is good too, let me know and maybe next year I will give Nuit another chance.

This image sums it up for me

In thinking about the upcoming US election I urge all of those on the fence to consider the role the heartbeat job. Especially given Dick Cheney's hijacking of the White House to push his own agenda. I firmly believe that history will condemn Dick Cheney as the most evil Republican of all times, more evil than G.W. Bush, Reagan, Nixon or Kissinger. We'll probably have to wait the full twenty-five years, which is the hold time on confidential documents by the Library of Congress, before the truth about this administration comes out. The really juicy stuff rarely gets released before the hold date. But it will be worth it just to know all of the corrupt and conspiratorial shenanigans that Dickers has been up to.

Now to this election. Palin may be sexy, and Tina Fey might makes her seem almost endearing, but this is a woman who believes that the bible should be interpreted as fact, while the Constitution should be open to all kinds of interpretations. Particularly the idea the the Vice-Presidency should also be considered part of the legislative branch and be able to actively influence Congress? What the F. This is despite the fact that the Constitution clearly says the Vice-President's only legislative authority is in the act of breaking a stalemate. And Joe Bidden, here's a guy who was outspoken in his support of John McCain as a possible running mate for John Kerry in 2004. Great he looks like he is really going to challenge the status-quo on Capital Hill. He's got no spine and is a total career Congressmen, doing any and only what it takes to stay in office.

Some progressives might argue that the least worst is the best, but that is just not my opinion. I know there are many out there who think like I do, but wont say or do anything about it. To them I say, boy it sucks to be you, voting not as a citizen but as a politician. I feel blessed to vote in the great State of California, a State that barring some sort of electoral calamity will go to the best of the worst in November, and I can vote my conscience without guilt. If I had to be a politician voter in some swing state like Pennsylvania or Ohio I don't what I'd do.

I suppose we can all sleep a little easier at night knowing that who ever gets elected wont be bringing Dick back with them. But somehow I think he will continue to haunt this world with his considerable evil authority.