Slightly late for its 25th anniversary, the legendary punk-era LP based on the Vancouver scene of 1978-79 is being re-issued as a CD for the first time.

Vancouver Complication is a classic punk/new wave release that exemplified the DIY ethos of the movement.  First conceived of by Grant McDonagh, now owner of Zulu Records but then editor of the fanzine Snotrag, the plan was to create an eight-inch flexidisk as a sampler which would be included in an issue of the fanzine.  Chris Cutress took this idea and ran with it, and the result was a full length LP on vinyl with twenty tracks from local punk and new wave bands such as DOA, the Subhumans, and Pointed Sticks.  A cramped 10' X 12' space in the basement of Cutress's Burnaby home became Sabre Sound, and the home-made album became a reality - and a classic.  A benefit at O'Hara's raised $1750, enough to press 1000 LPs.

The re-release of Vancouver Complication is being orchestrated for Feb. 1 by DOA's Joe (Shithead) Keithley on his Sudden Death Records.  A release party will be held Feb. 19 at the Wise Hall at 1882 Adanac St., Vancouver; all proceeds go to the Vancouver Food Bank.

Lezah

Einstein's Gift is a Governor General award-winning play by Albertan Vern Thiessen that has just finished its West Coast premiere, ending a run at the Firehall Theatre. The play is now opening at the Gateway Theatre in Richmond Feb. 3 to Feb. 19.

The play is based on the relationship between two scientists who were also life-long friends, the well-known Albert Einstein and Nobel prize winner Fritz Haber.  The story is based on Haber, his relationships with his wives and friend, his discoveries and the impact they made on the world (both good and bad), and the personal choices he made regarding his country and his religion.

Haber won the Nobel prize for his development of a method of extracting nitrogen from air to make fertilizer, but he is better known as the father of chemical warfare, and an insecticide he invented, Zyklon B, was used in extermination camps during World War 2. "I believe in science," he stated vehemently, and we see his belief in the potential of science to change the world to a better place; unfortunately, that is not how reality played out.  Likewise, his sympathetic friend Einstein also had his atom splitting discovery used against the world in ways he could never have imagined.  There is more than a little irony in the fact that the word gift, in German, means poison.

This beautiful yet troubling play delves into the areas of religion, love, patriotism, friendship, science, and politics.  The self-serving Haber is played by Ron Halder, and Donna Spencer directs. Tickets can be had for $11-22 at 604-270-1812 or gatewaytheatre.com.

Lezah

January 28, 2005 Commodore Ballroom - Sold Out

Have you ever found yourself psyched to be invited to an old acquaintance’s party, only to find that your acquaintance’s new friends are people you normally wouldn’t associate with?

So onward I go to the superficial aspect of the review - the crowd at the sold-out Commodore Ballroom. There was a definite party air, but not with your usual concert-goer types. The clothing get-ups were awful and not in that fun, campy way , but in a did-you-dress-in-the-dark way? Believe it or not, there is an art form to camp dressing. I wondered if many of these people even knew which bands were playing and just decided to show up because it was deemed an “event”. Some very scary looking critters out there.

The opening act was entitled, Hey Willpower, and Lezah and I figured there was an insider joke that we were not privy to. Hey Willpower consists of a singer, two dancers and a well programmed apple computer. The lead “singer” was sadly neither a singer, nor a dancer, and his two cohorts cavorted about in a way that would have made Richard Simmons proud. As we waited through this Karaoke gone bad set, we were shocked at the amount of people rushing the stage, totally interacting with the trio, and mimicking their outlandishly bad choreography. That’s when we decided that the joke must have been on us. It was at this point I became depressed that I had so anticipated this evening.

When the Scissor Sisters took the stage, there was no way we could get near the front. They opened with “Laura” and immediately the crowd went wild. By wild, I mean the old rocker concert wild - Elaine from Seinfeld dancing, and bic lighter clicking during certain songs. Gone are the days of the gay club and my, “Wow can he ever dance!” remarks. However, The Sisters did not disappoint. They were energetic, smart enough to mention “Vancouver” being a great venue, and good at managing the formerly ugly crowd behaviour. Ms Ana Matronic sermonized in her “Church of Disco and Funk” commanding voice, and it was great. She had the crowd happy, dancing and engaged. I’ve never been a fan of their Bee-Gee’s version of Comfortably Numb, but when played live, it was fun and campy; I understand the grammy nomination. They even sampled some other tunes, ie: FF’s “Take Me Out”. They ended on the high note - “Take Your Mama Out” and I left feeling validated that they were still my number one cd choice for 2004.

Christine

Nickelback’s drummer, Ryan Vikedal, insists that he did not quit the band but was fired by Chad Kroeger et al after New Year’s Eve. He has been replaced by the drummer from Three Doors Down, Daniel Adair, whose band toured with Nickelback last year. He was informed that “his heart wasn’t into it”. What a bitter blow (to be axed at the height of their fame). I Wonder what the real issue was? Bad drumming, personality conflict, or just “time to move forward”?

Christine

Philip C. Johnson, said to be the 'dean of US architects' and 1979 winner of the first Pritzer Architecture Prize (the Nobel prize of architecture honouring living architects) died at his Connecticut home yesterday.

Originally an architectural historian and critic, Johnson was the Museum of Modern Art's first architectural department curator, and in 1932 staged the first North American exhibit showcasing the International Style, and also co-wrote the book 'The International Style'.

He left architecture in the 1930s for politics, forming a party based on that of Hitler's Nazi party, as Johnson admired the way in which the German economy had been turned around during the 1930s. This move gained him the name 'America's 2nd most favourite Nazi after Colonel Klink'. Johnson soon abandoned his political leanings and returned to school, where he attended Harvard and received a degree in architectural design in 1943. Following graduation he joined The Army Corps of Engineers.

However, it was his famous Glass House (1949), built on his own property, for which he is renowned. The rectangular house has no interior walls and is said to heavily influence other Modernist designs like that of the famed Kauffman house. In this work he defined modernism for America.

Johnson's supporters say that he was always ahead of the trends, and that he promoted new ideas and designs, thereby encouraging designers and innovators. His critics claim that he had no personal style and fluctuated wildly in his own preferences, jumping from style to style and trend to trend, merely repackaging others' ideas.

Some other works Johnson designed were: Lincoln Plaza's Central Fountain, the MOMA Sculpture Garden (1953), the New York State Theatre at Lincoln Centre (1964), the Boston Public Library (1973), Los Angeles' Crystal Cathedral (1980), and the AT & T Headquarters (1984).

Said to be one of the most successful postmodern architects of the 1980s, Johnson was known for championing many styles, including the International style in the 1930s, Ludwig Mies van der Rohe's minimalist styles through the 1940s and 1950s, Postmodernism in the 1980s, and Deconstructionism in the 1990s.

Paul Goldberger, architecture critic for the New Yorker, is quoted as saying that Johnson, "...has unquestionably had more impact on the intersection of architecture and the public than any other architect."

Lezah

We’ve all seen it... the skinny, to mildly to severely overweight woman scurrying about the mall,park,supermarket, etc. seemingly unaware that there are other options to clothing than oversized t-shirts and leggings. I will be the first to say, “wear what you want” (my personal mantra) and I’ve left my home in some gawd-awful getups, however, I knew I looked bad. Therein lies the difference.

These women seem oblivious to the fact that they look... really bad. Their hair and makeup are done, so it’s not as if they were caught off guard going out. Perhaps they don’t have a clue that Flashdance was a great movie and wasshown over TWENTY YEARS ago.

This whole phenomenon reminds me of a time in the sixties when my mom’s friends all wore clamdiggers and button down sleeveless shirts. Although the style was fini by the early sixties - you could still count on a couple of time-warp personalities peeking through into the seventies. Come to think of it... no wonder I have some residual psychological trauma regarding capris.

Back to the leggings and oversized t-shirts. Ladies, stop the madness! If you truly need to have oversize t-shirts and leggings - keep them. In the closet, that is.

Christine

It's official:

Other top colour predictions for the upcoming year are (drum roll, please...):

3.  Really Red:  another warm colour, red, is hot.  In the fall we actually painted a bedroom this colour, and with white accents, looks fantastic.  Of course, it did take seven coats of paint..

.4.  Harvest colours:  wheat, pumpkin, cornfield yellow - all those hues that make you think of Fall are in, especially when paired with cream or sage and that ever important black accent.

5.  Pink:  pink and chocolate brown - the hot new colour match (see Swanktrendz Nov. archives).  As well, Better Homes and Gardens is urging you to take pink out of the bedroom and into all the main rooms of your house. unfortunately, Britain's “The House Doctor” disagrees, but to each his own...

 6.  Blue:  ...but it's a new blue.  Blue with cream or pale autumn accents is what is recommended - but if you're really brave, you could also pair it with black or chocolate brown.

7.  Silver:  not in paint colours (can you imagine!) but rather in brushed hardware like steel appliances, faucets and drawer handles, as well as metal lighting fixtures like lamps.

.8.  Sage green:  the newest classic colour as well as consumers choice for the last few years, but this year in a brighter hue, and paired with almost anything - after all, doesn't green go with absolutely everything in your garden? It's the colour least to clash.

9.  Black and white:  for floors or wallpaper, black and white really kicks it up - whatever your style.

10.  Your colour:  is this a cop out?  No, I don't think so.  The message here is to take your favorite colour and bring in accessories that will accentuate your existing palette.

Well, there you have it!  Go colour your world!

Lezah

At Christmas time we stayed at an upscale hotel.  I noticed that there was a sign in the room advertising the bed for sale - that's right - the bed.

Apparently the trend in hotels these days is to create packages so that the customer can take a big, or small, souvenire of the hotel back home with them - for a fee.  It seems that both beds and linens are the hottest items.  My friend looked into cost of the whole bed thing, only to find that it was in the neighbourhood of $10,000.

Well, if that's a bit rich for your blood, don't despair.  I can't help you out bed wise, but it turns out stores like thePottery Barn and Restoration Hardware are now stocking hotel-quality linens and towels.  The biggest difference between these and the ones in your own linen closet has to do with the high thread count - basically, the higher the thread count, the better the sheet, although thread count is not the sole indicator of quality.  The cost of a king size sheet will run you anywhere from $179 to $229 US, but since you spend a third of your life in bed, don't you think it's worth it?

Lezah

At a Milan fashion show in mid-January, men's fashions were gracing the runway, but I don't know that “grace” is the term that exactly came to mind when viewing the collection. It included:

- many outfits in various shades of purple, with mauve being the favourite

So there you have it.  Westwood once again pushes the boundaries - is the world ready?

Lezah

Between now and Valentine's Day, there are a couple of great dance shows to attend.

On Jan.27-29 at the Scotiabank Dance Centre in Vancouver, Nigel Charnock and Company will mix physical theatre with black comedy in a mix of improvised monologues, dance, and song.  British choreographer Nigel Charnock offers a very in-your-face production - true to his 'virtuoso deviant' nature.

On Feb. 10-12 the Ballet BC is performing Twyla Tharp's “Nine Sinatra Songs”. This work had its world premier in Vancouver in 1982, and features costumes by Oscar de laRenta.

Lezah  

Seattle's Experience Music Project (EMP) is featuring an exhibit on rock legend, Bob Dylan. Says former Dylan love interest, Joan Baez, "Everybody's gifted... (but) there are some people who crash through all the barriers with their gift, because it's a particular one, it's unique and it's enormous."

The exhibit concentrates on the years 1956 to 1966, and offers over 150 artifacts from Dylan's career, including never released material from his first ever concert, an autographed album cover from his first album, his guitar, hand-written lyric sheets, and rare handbills and concert posters.  There are listening booths and videos, as well as the usual array of Seattle related music artifacts that are part of the museum's permanent collection.

The exhibit runs until September 5, and is closed Mondays.

Lezah

The February issue of Bon Appetit magazine will have an article prominently featuring two Canadian entrepreneurs.  Long-time friends, Heather Stewart and Deidre Herosian, own Lilyfield and Company of Winnipeg, a business whose goods are selling like hotcakes to well-heeled clients in the US and Asia. Stewart and Herosian have also been featured on the Today show, and in Flare, Elle, Us magazines as well as The New York Times.  Profits for their company topped $700,000 last year.  However, the duo have few orders for their specialized product from Canadian customers, and have received virtually no interest at all in their hometown.

Their product?  Beautifully decorated cakes that are shipped in fabulously customized hatboxes. The cakes average $200 each and are sold on-line.

Lezah     

Greg Shaw

San Francisco native Greg Shaw, founder of sixties fanzine Mojo Navigator, and well respected music journalist, died due to complications related to diabetes. He was 55.  As a writer, Shaw coined the terms 'powerpop' and garage rock', and many believe he was also the first to use the term 'punk rock'.  Shaw was also the manager of the Flamin' Groovies, and through his magazine did much to promote The Ramones and the NYC music scene of that era. Shaw also ran Bomp!, a label which released classics such as Kill City by Iggy Pop. The Bomp! website urged those who knew him “to honour Greg's memory... with anything but a moment of silence.”

”Dimebag” Darrell Abbott

I'm not a heavy metal fan, but the fact that some crazed fan jumped up on the stage during a Damageplan performance and shot and killed four people is a significant event in anyone's book.  Dimebag Darrell was one of the people killed (also killed was a band employee, a bar employee and an audience member).  Dimebag was best known for his former group, the multiple-platinum and 4 Grammy award winning band Pantera. He was touring with his new band Damageplan in support of their album, 'New Found Power' (available on Elektra). The son of Texan country singer and studio owner Gerry Abbott, Dimebag is survived by his brother and bandmate Vinnie Paul; the family is asking that contributions be made to the VH1 Save the Music Foundation, which will use the money to buy musical instruments for underprivileged schools.

Russell 'Ol' Dirty Bastard' Jones

ODB died in November while in the studio recording a solo album. He had recently been released from prison, and it has been stated that his death was drug-related.  ODB was a member of the rap group, Wu-Tang Clan, which he started in 1992 with his cousins; he had also released two solo albums.  I don't like to speak ill of the dead, but his history of drug abuse, rehab stays and multiple prison terms, coupled with the trail of children he fathered with many different women, makes me think he wasn't the most savoury of characters... but then, who am I to judge?

Rob Heaton

For fifteen years, Rob Heaton was the drummer for New Model Army, and he was also co-writer of one of their biggest hits, Green and Grey.  Still involved in the music scene, he had more recently recorded with the Gardeners of Eden, and was involved at a community level with Fresh Milk, a project that helped support and encourage young musicians.  After surviving a brain tumour in 1998, Heaton succumbed to pancreatic cancer in November.

Roger Johnston

Drummer for the original 1960s band, The Monks, Roger Johnston's strong 'overbeat' provided the backbone for the band's radical sound. After the band disbanded in 1967, Johnston worked as a church custodian until renewed interest in the band in 1999 saw them reunite and do a few shows prior to Johnston's unexpected death in November.    

For all you Harry Potter fans out there, bad news:  it looks as though the plan for FF to appear in the next HP movie, The Goblet of Fire, will not come to fruition. Apparently the band could not come to a consensus regarding whether or not to appear in the film as a group called The Wyrd Sisters, so FF has declined.  The role will now go to Jarvis Cocker (who is writing the score for the film) and Jonny Greenwood of Radiohead.

The good news:  there is a possibility of a collaboration between FF and the band Sparks. Turns out they met in LA in November, and the Sparks’ fellows, Ron and Russell Mael, have written a song which, it is rumoured, will be released this year on a “Sparks Best of ...” album on the Domino label.  

One of the most prolific singer/songwriters in North America has recently released his 37th album.  Jandek had a banner year in 2004 with an rare personal appearance at a Scottish Music Festival - a documentary film based on the chronology of his career and the mystery of both his motivations for continuing to create music and his true identity. The release of his 37th album, the cryptically entitled, 'The End of It All'. received only two stars from the British magazine Mojo, and reviewer Richie Unterberger describes the "deathbed guitar-as-tennis-racket and despondent stream-of-consciousness lyrics” as more of the same old, same old.  Looks like more fodder for the Jandek theorists out there...

The novella The Punk, by Gideon Sams, has been re-released this year, twenty-five years after its original publication. The UK punk equivalent to North American teen angst classic The Outsiders, this book was originally penned as a school report by its then-14-year old author, and was salvaged from the trash can by his mother. Described in Mojo magazine, by reviewer Lois Wilson, as the 'literary encapsulation of punk nihilism and the DIY ethic'. This story of three young men chronicles their dealings with friends, enemies, parents and the world at large; a musical backdrop is provided by references to the bands of the day such as the Sex Pistols and the Clash. The original novel cover featured a photo of Johnny Rotten, complete with an authentic safety pin through his nose.

Lezah

A couple of the best concerts Christine and I have seen recently were both held over the same weekend last September. On the Friday evening we went to see the Scissor Sisters, and on Sunday we saw The Futureheads open for Franz Ferdinand.

Well, here we are four months later and we are once again looking forward to seeing the Scissor Sisters.  They will be playing their third sold out Vancouver show in six months on Friday, Jan. 28 at the Commodore.  The Futureheads are also returning so we recently picked up tickets to see them March 7 at Richard's on Richards.  So, a couple of good upcoming shows to see - if you can get tickets...

By the way:  the aforementioned Franz Ferdinand has a new song which was named one of Mojo's Top Ten in the most recent edition.  Look up "I'm Your Villain' at franzferdinand.net.  Interestingly, their tour-mates The Futureheads also made Mojo's Reader's Top Ten for their Kate Bush cover ' Hounds of Love'.  As well, Ross Millard of the Futureheads recommends the album, Turn by Dutch band - The Ex, and describes them as being 'danceable without being disco.'

Well, there you have it:  some songs, some albums and some shows to look up in your spare time - all highly recommended.

For more reviews like this, go to http://www.swanktrendz.com/sw...

Superficial observations - the best looking crowd we’ve come across in quite awhile. No ridiculous hats, some intriguing eyewear, and no idiotic drunken behaviour (except some showcasing from a few people in the front, but more about them later). Last superficial observation, the girls from Magneta Lane are very attractive. Promo pictures do not do them justice.

I had a quick chat with the ladies to clear up some of the “buzz” surrounding the band. They did not know they were popular in Toronto and the rest of Southern Ontario. They are from Toronto (around North York) and met in school. Lead singer Lexi Valentine and Nadia King are cousins. Bassist, French (no last name given, but I’ve opted for the nickname “Legs” as that seems to be the focus for the producers of their video, “The Constant Lover”) was good friends with Lexi. They started the band in October of 2003 and were fortunate enough to be signed by Enrique of Paper Bag Recordings during their fourth gig at the Silver Dollar venue (spring of ‘04). Although the label is not huge, the girls enjoy the community/family feel of the label. Let’s hope they still feel that way when they become globally recognized. The so-called “technically teens” write up is not true as they are 20 years old.

The main vibe I got from the girls was that the group was unaffected. There was no arrogance, posturing, or typically bad musician behaviour. If anything, they were rather blasé about whether they hit it big or not - they are simply doing something they love. Above all, they were well spoken and polite.

Now the music - the Piccadilly is a good venue. The acoustics were better than I anticipated and the atmosphere was relaxed. Kids These Days were the first band to hit the stage with their 4 guitars, keyboard and drums All of the group, save for the drummer, could sing. The first one to sing was reminiscent of Neil Young, and I hope he stays with that direction. The other three were adequate singers, good musicians, but the lag time between songs was frustrating. There was some “mood” guitar playing that carried on too long, but overall a decent attempt. They need more experience and exposure to tighten up their act.

Magneta Lane took to the stage rocking, but Lexi broke a guitar string after the first song. Having no backup guitar, the audience had to wait for restringing and tuning. In time, this will pass and the gals will learn to a) continue playing as though nothing happened or b) get enough money for some back up guitars.

Whilst Lexi was fixing the problem, a trio called “Chocolate Soup” took to the stage and filled the musical void. On a scale of 1 to 10 in the annoyance factor, they were a 10. However, when they began freestylin’ a song, their vocals were impressive and something I will be inclined to check out in the future.

Once Magneta Lane were back in action, their talent shone through. Good beats, good playing, impressive drumming and easy banter with the audience. It’s too bad their set had only six songs. Judging by the audience reaction, this group is here to stay.

Didn’t stick around for The Mark Inside as Magneta Lane was whom we came to review. Hope The Mark Inside were as pleasing as Magneta Lane promised. All in all, a good show.

Cynthia Nellis wrote a great article on the top 5 things a grown woman should never wear. I’ve added my own two bits to her list.

Nellis notes the regular faux pas like wearing suntan-coloured pantyhose, but she also notes some other major no-nos.

1. Overalls - they are not body slimming, they do not flatter any figure type and they resemble someone who has been dishing out pig slop at the farm. Practical yes, attractive outside of the farm? No.

2. Pigtails - If you are under the age of ten - these are adorable. If you are over twenty, it’s a desperate attempt to cling to your past. Yes, you were cute when you were younger - enough said. However, don’t dismiss the universal ponytail - it looks good on every woman.

3. Knee socks - definitely attractive on that prep school uniform (accessorized by a flawless skinned, 17 year old). If you must wear leg coverings, go for the opaque tights, or tanned (faux of course) bare legs.

4. Tie dye anything - this is not the sixties or the seventies, and quite frankly, they looked hideous then. If you are a skate punk or New Yorker screaming for attention - knock yourself out. I’ll be the one snickering in the corner.

5. When I was younger - rabbit fur was the poor man’s fur. It still looks like a patchwork of some poor calico cat that was in the wrong place at the wrong time. Definite no-no.

My own addition 6 - toques! Everywhere I look some fellow has a pull down toque, or a female has a crocheted knit cap. God awful! It wouldn’t be so bad if you lived in Canada and truly needed it for the cold, but when these glaringly horrific hats appear in nightclubs, like some thuggin’ dress code, it’s just sad.

Make a resolution to get in touch with what truly looks good on you. There’s no problem marching to your own drummer, just ensure the drummer isn’t your grandma.

Christine

Let's play 20 questions, shall we?

Okay, here goes:

 
1.  Whose first band was originally called The Impediments, but had to change their name after being banned from a local bar for disorderly conduct?
2.  Who has refused to appear in a new movie in which he figures prominently (called Aurora Borealis), in which an obsessed fan moves to his hometown in the hope of meeting him?
3.  Who said:  "I don't write for dumb people.  I figure if everybody doesn't get it, that's okay.  Someone bright enough will get it, and that's who I write for.  It's probably not the way to make million-sellers.  What can I say?  I won't apologize for trying to write for smart people."
4.  Who is currently being credited with trailblazing the alt-country movement, and in the past was credited with strongly influencing the Grunge movement?
5.  Who is currently working on the soundtrack for two films, Cameron Crow's Elizabethtown and Open Season for Sony Animated Pictures, as well as having worked on the soundtrack for Singles in the past?
6.  Who has spent the last six years as a house-husband and stay-at-home Dad, working as a school playground supervisor and assistant coach for his son's Little League team?
7.  Whose former band was legendary for their shambolic, drunken performances during the eighties while still being able to produce three critically acclaimed albums?
8.  Whose wife is a former member of the pop-punk band Zuzu's Petals?
 9.  Who turned down a role in the TV series Suddenly Susan as the rock-star boyfriend of the character played by Brooke Shields?
10.  Who is not readily recognized by the 'man in the street', even in his own hometown?
11.  Who appeared on Saturday Night Live drunk and swearing - only to be invited back years later?
12.  Who released an EP under the name Grandpaboy?
13.  Who, with his first band, had a cross over hit with I'll Be You, which was both the #1 rock album track and the #51 pop hit in 1989?
14.  Who will soon be touring in support of his recently released album, Folker?

Okay, enough of the questions already.  If you didn't guess the answer from the title of this piece, then I figure that you're not one of the people for whom Paul Westerberg is writing (see question #3).

Yes, Paul Westerberg, former frontman for that wild and crazy self-destructive eighties band The Replacements (fondly known as The Mats), is back at it following a three year self-imposed exile from the music scene. Over the last couple years he has released a number of solo albums, and he is currently getting ready to tour in support of his latest, Folker.  Feb. 17-27 he will be touring the West Coast, starting with a show at the Commodore in Vancouver, and from there to Seattle, followed by Portland, and then on to California.  The second leg of the tour runs from March 3-10, starting in Colorado.  Since Westerberg does not enjoy touring, this might be one of those once in a lifetime opportunities to see a rock legend...   I repeat, once in a lifetime.  Don't let this one pass you by.

Someone in my neighbourhood has one of those new Smart Cars, so they're not that unusual - or so I thought. Then I was on the bus the other day and the bus driver pointed out a Smart Car to me; I got the impression he had never seen one before.

Now we have friends who are considering buying a Smart Car - the odd thing is, neither drive, so that says to me that the Smart Car obviously is so cute as to be  non-threatening (as much as cars can or can't be threatening), if you have confirmed non-drivers wanting to buy one.

It turns out the Smart Car has been around for a little longer than I thought. They first debuted in Europe in 1998, then were first introduced to North America in Mexico in 2003, and more recently Canada in 2005. The first Smart Car to hit the US market is not due out until 2006, but grey-market editions are already available as used cars both north and south of the border.  As well, California-based Zap, an electric vehicle marketer, has just signed a $10 million contract to be the exclusive distributor of the Smart Car, so it sounds as though some may be available in the US before their 'official' release.

This car was originally conceived of by the Swatch watch people. They wanted to develop a funky, fuel efficient 'city car', but had trouble getting anyone interested.  Then along came Daimler Chrysler, and the rest, as they say, is history. This two-seater car, which took Europe by storm, now markets in 30 countries and has annual sales of 120 000 units.

With dimensions of 98.4 inches long, 59.6 inches wide, and 61 inches tall, this pint-sized vehicle has a price tag to match - you can get one of these babies from your local Mercedes Benz Canada dealer for about $15 000.

Dubbed 'the pocket rocket', the Smart Car is joining the Mini Cooper in the small car market, but they will soon have competition: small entry level cars are also planned for release soon from both Audi and Volvo, and there are rumours of a tiny Honda proto-type out there. And if it sounds like this will be the start of some kind of car-wars, well, bring it on, I say:  if they're anywhere near as cute, and also get 60 mpg, then it can't be bad.

Lezah

Boxing Day Sales are a tradition, but now the sales that true shop-aholics hold out for are those annual sales that fall in late January/ February.  Some to look for are:

Bacci's Loft Sale - 2788 Granville Street.  Chloe and Alexander McQueen wear are offered from as low as $50.  Watch the papers for the dates, but the sale often takes place in late February.

Club Monaco - 1040 Robson Street.  Go up to the second floor and you can buy items up to 80% off - year round.

Holt Renfrew Now or Never Sale - Pacific Centre.  This twice annual sale (Late January and July) offers last year's designer wear for up to 70% off.

A couple of new releases have caught my eye recently.

The first is entitled Handwriting, and the artist Khonnor (Connor Kirby-Long) is probably as well known for the fact that he recorded and released the album at the age of 17 as he is for his music.  Even more impressive is the fact that he has a string of internet-only EPs already released - these he started recording and releasng at the age of 15 under the names Grandma and I, Cactus.

Interestingly, Connor uses a twenty year old computer and microphones that originated in Berlitz-type 'Learn a Foreign Language' packages to create and record his music.

But more about Handwriting:  this album has strong indie sensibilities and blends folk with electronica and eighties New Wave to create music that is at the same time reminiscent of The Smiths, Sonic Youth and My Bloody Valentine.

 Originally publicized through word of mouth, this album is now gaining much recognition:  Pitchfork gave it a 7.7 (out of 10), while Uncut magazine gave it four stars.

Now 18, Vermont native Connor is currently attending university in Montreal; hopefully he will be able to squeeze out enough time between tests and assignments to put together another album - soon.

Seattle-based Robert Roth, grunge alumni who has rubbed shoulders with the likes of Soundgarden and Nirvana over the last ten years, has a debut solo out entitled Someone, Somewhere.  Formerly the frontman for Truly, Roth brings his grunge credentials forward to create what is a surprisingly psychedelic sound with traces of Pink Floyd in it  Uncut magazine also gave this album four stars.

Lezah

We were fortunate to get tickets for this show:  the band was playing the very small Media Club two nights in a row (Saturday and Sunday), and both shows sold out immediately, with little-to-no advertising.  There was a line up of ticketless people waiting to get in when we arrived, and the same people (plus more) were waiting outside in the snow when we left, four hours later.

Dave, Christine and I actually needed a bit of hot, hot, heat for our drive down to see the show as Vancouver has been experiencing some unusually cold weather over the last three weeks, and when we headed downtown Saturday night it was snowing heavily; this later turned to freezing rain for our drive back home.  There were some fans who had come all the way up from Portland for the show - hopefully their drive home was uneventful.

I had never been to the Media Club before, and although very small and lacking somewhat in seating, it proved to be a very good room in which to see live acts.  The only drawback was the stage, about which you will hear more later...

The opening act for Saturday night's show was the Vancouver band Elizabeth.  They started their set a bit late and then experienced some technical problems early on, which obviously didn't help matters.  Their first song wasn't bad, but then after that, everything sounded pretty much the same - the only real excitement was when people at the back of the room started passing a blow-up sex doll around over the heads of the crowd.  The nicest thing I can say about this band is that they were easy to look at.

By the time Hot Hot Heat came on, it was getting pretty late.  Many people had already been standing for close to three hours due to the lack of seating (fortunately, not us, though!).  The first thing that happened was one of the guitar players fell off the stage - it was tiny, and had been enlarged by the placement of a coffee table (of all things) in the front.  A couple of songs into their set, vocalist Steve Bays also fell off the stage - mid-song!  He barely missed a beat, though.  Bays is a performer with a lot of presence, and I get the impression that this band is grooming themselves for stardom.

The band started off their set with some of their better-known songs and then introduced some tunes from their new album Elevator, which is due to be released in early April.   It occurred to me that the purpose of this show was two-fold:  this Victoria band has recently re-located to Vancouver and wanted to play a hometown show before departing on their upcoming tour, and also, guitarist Dante has recently been replaced by Luke Paquin (originally from The Stradlers of San Francisco), so it was a chance for Luke and the band to get together in front of an audience.  When a fan in the front requested a particular song, Bays mentioned that they were still teaching Luke - "He don't know that one yet".
Bays sings in a kind of 'yelpy' fashion similar to Andy Partridge of XTC; some might find their keyboard-heavy music a bit derivative of eighties New Wave, but they hold up very well live - they are as strong live as on their album, and their new songs, like Dirty Mouth, are more complex than their older tunes.

Then band is preparing to tour starting in February, but prior to that they will be doing two shows in Europe - Wed., Jan. 26 at the Borderline in London, and from there on to Hamburg, Germany on Mon., Jan. 31.

Dr. Art Hister, from CKNW radio, is my self-appointed health guru. One of the reasons I proclaim this is because he constantly urges listeners to counter whatever he is presenting. As well, he doesn’t jump onto medical bandwagons, preferring to critically filter all incoming claims.

Imagine my surprise when Dr. Hister had a pro-Atkins speaker, Jay Workman, on the air with no callers to challenge the Atkin’s diet. In contrast, numerous Atkin’s testimonials were called or emailed in.

For those not “in the know”, it has been 10 years since Dr. Robert Atkins re-introduced his 1970's low carb diet program (known in the 70's as Dr. Atkins Diet Revolution). The book, now known as Dr. Atkin’s New Diet Revolution has flooded the market, producing what can only be termed "low carb mania".

Aforementioned Jay Workman works with British Columbia’s First Nations Health Program and was on CKNW to explain that the Atkin’s “diet” has been a diet naturally followed by the Inuit First Nations prior to any European contact. He also noted that rheumatoid arthritis and diabetes were conditions not noticeable amongst the Inuit.

For those still Atkins unaware, the diet urges a low carbohydrate diet - no white anything (sugar, pasta, rice, etc.) and good carbs are those vegetables grown above the ground rather than below (such as potatoes). As well, protein and fat consumption are encouraged.

The medical community has decried the Atkins diet as being unhealthy and not heart-friendly, but Workman insists it is a relevant and suitable diet for those in chronic pain. As well, the Australian Medical Journal released a report encouraging people with rheumatoid arthritis to give the diet a try (under physician guidance).

For those who are Atkin’s rebounders (tried diet, and failed) Workman compares the diet to quitting smoking and urges those interested to keep on trying.

Sounds like there’s nothing to lose - except weight and pain - in giving this regiment a try.

Christine

From inauspicious beginnnings, this film has made it big.  An inexpensively produced independent film that was written by Robert Shallcross (who also wrote Little Giants, a peewee football film), for the past year Uncle Nino has been played by a single theatre chain in Grand Rapids, Michigan, after being passed over by Hollywood.

A modern-day Cinderella story, the film has been shown in Grand Rapids over 900 times this year and grossed just under $200,000.  Now a major distributor has picked it up, and the rest of us will reap the rewards.

Starring Anne Archer and Joe Mantegna, the film is about a family that is brought back together again when an eccentric Italian uncle, played by Pierrino Mascarino, comes to visit.

Mascarino himself may be responsible at least in part for the popularity of the film in Grand Rapids: he so believes in the film's message that he attends screeenings, visits schools, attends local club meetings and happily grants interviews to the local news media.  Mascarino has spent so much time in Grand Rapids recently that the mayor has proclaimed him an honourary citizen.

Opening in February in theatres across North America, this film promises to deliver - give it a try

Named by tastemakers as the Vancouver band to watch for 2005, You Say Party We Say Die is a six piece dance punk ensemble for whom 'interactive' is the byword.  Curiously, this band is not from Vancouver at all, but rather, hails from Abbotsford.  For those of you not in the know, Abbotsford is a semi-rural suburb about an hour's drive from Vancouver, famous for being smack in the middle of the 'Bible belt'.  No surprise then that more than half of the band members are Mennonites.  Maybe they'll be the next Violent Femmes?

This band, comprised of three girls and three guys, have been compared to Le Tigre and Erase Errata. They currently have a 4 song EP out called The Dansk Wad EP, and have plans to go into the recording studio soon.  You Say Party We Say Die are preparing for two tours, one heading east and one south, to California.

They will be opening for Pretty Girls Makes Graves at Mesa Luna on Jan. 26.

For more information, go to http://www.shzine.com/yousayp...

Canada's answer to Martha Stewart, sans the prison stripes?  Linda Reeves of Canadian House and Home magazine, and HGTV's House and Home show, of course!

 And Linda has spoken, so listen up -  the nominees for 2005 design trend of the year are:

        Monastic - think tapestries, high backed chairs, wrought iron furniture, and plastered walls
        Starlet - a la Hollywood in the 30s and 40s
        Rustic modern - large wooden pieces, very organic
        70s - lots of bright colours, heavy on the plastics
        Palm Beach - citrus colours and tropic touches
        Black - softer,more textured black furniture, as well as black tiles and paint
        English floral - big cabbage roses everywhere
        Well Travelled - mix and match accessories and patterns (zebra stripes, paisley, etc.)
        Indoor-ou tdoor - Garden elements come indoors
        Architect urally engineered - minimalist

Well, looking over that list, it's obvious they've covered every base!  Can't go wrong that way, I guess...

I was at a high school talent show about a month ago, and of the ten acts, three were rock bands (no surprise there).  What did surprise me, however, was that all three of these bands chose to do what I would consider 'old' songs - for example, 'Cocaine' (think of the versions Eric Clapton or J. J. Cale) and 'Freebird' (Lynard Skynard).  Somewhat incongruously, the boys were all dressed like seventies punks.  Go figure...

Anyway, recently Pollstar named Prince as the top grossing touring act for last year.  Just behind him came Madonna  in the #3 position, followed by Metallica (#4), Bette Midler (#5) and Van Halen(#6) - all acts that have been around twenty years or more.

A friend of mine recently read a magazine article (he couldn't remember where it came from - maybe either Mojo or Uncut?) which was pointing out that a current trend amongst concert goers is to wear t-shirts adorned with the name of older bands.  Further along in this article was an anecdote about  an interviewer doin' his thang with an up-and-coming band when, suddenly, the interviewer stopped short and asked one of the t-shirt wearin' band members if he could name one song, just one, from the band name emblazoned across his chest.  The young artist had to admit he had no idea. Hmm...

On the same theme, in album releases for 2004, The Beach Boys' Smile was one of the top ten albums of the year.  This is an album that was originally conceived and written back in the sixties, and never released.  Of Rolling Stone's top 100 albums of all time, more than 90 of them pre-date 1980.

The Vancouver Sun reported recently that an ever-growing number of youth are now listening to 'heritage' rockers like Led Zeppelin and Pink Floyd.

All this makes me wonder - just what is it about the state of music (and the music industry) today that is causing this phenomenon (for lack of a better word)?  I know there are good bands out there, but apparently they are not being embraced by many of today's youth. I'm gonna sound like an old geezer here, but back when I was in high school we hated it when teachers made us listen to or play 'their' music - sometimes the songs were seven to ten years out of date - an eon, musically, at that time.

I started thinking about bands I like, and realized that the Scissors Sisters has a definite seventies disco/Elton John sound, while The Go! Team has a strong mix of early eighties hip-hop with a sixties twist, and Franz Ferdinand has a strong eighties sound... the list goes on.  Where do they go from here, I wonder? To quote Johnny Rotten, perhaps '...it's all been done before.'

For more articles like these, go to http://www.swanktrendz.com

Anything shiny, glittery, sparkly (and downright gaudy) has attracted the celebrities of late. Flipping through celebrity rags... I mean mags... I viewed a plethora of designer t-shirts with crystal beaded declarations, crystal crusted bustiers, crystal embossed jeans/jean jackets, and just about anything else those in the jet-set (and 12 year olds) are immediately drawn to. Not so swank to mix and match a confusion of sparkly garments. The crows will soon be attacking.

For more articles like this, go to http://www.swanktrendz.com/sk...

Christine

Mary Polak - that name rings a bell... hmmm.  Yes, I've got it:  she's the woman who, as a Surrey School Trustee, spent hundreds of thousands of  dollars - all taxpayers' money - to keep same-sex books out of schools - and all this during times of financial restraint and huge cutbacks where it really counts, in the classroom itself.

More recently, Ms. Polak was trounced in a provincial by-election by NDP candidate Jagrup Brar in their riding of Surrey-Panorama Ridge. Not prepared to take 'no' for an answer, Ms. Polak then decided to run in neighbouring Langley instead - that is, until the outgoing Langley candidate found out.  Then all H-E-double hockey sticks broke out in the local papers.  Not to be outdone, Mary's mother-in-law jumped on the bandwagon - by joining Brar's team.  Yes, that's right, Polak's mother-in-law has crossed the floor and is standing in opposition to Mary, albeit behind Mr. Brar.  When questioned about it, , Polak replied that it had nothing to do with politics, and everything to do with hating Mary.

Yikes!  I can imagine that things will be a little frosty in the Polak residence next Mother's Day...

For more articles like this, go to http://www.swanktrendz.com

Well, if we didn’t see this coming, then we haven’t any psychic “gifts”. I’m talking about the latest entertainment focus on communicating with the dead. The movie, Sixth Sense, should have foreshadowed what was to come, but I guess I missed the clues. White Noise, the latest movie starring Michael Keaton, focuses on spirits communicating through electronic noise. On television, both the shows, Cold Case and Medium, are centred around the dead aiding the living in solving their murders/deaths. The first has a police detective who help spirits have their murder cases reopened and solved, and the latter involves a housewife whose career aspirations are sidelined by continuous visits from spirits needing death resolution. Once again I wonder if our viewing habits mirror what’s happening in society? We are waning from the Survivor/Bachelor ”who’s the best mode”, and delving into the “why do we exist mode”? Interesting, more reflective direction, or simply another subject to flog to death - no pun intended.

Christine

Diamonds, silver and bikers - they all kind of go nicely together, yes? No, you say? Well, just what until you take a look at Birks' latest line of jewellery: silver and diamonds with street cred., an edgy sensibility, and a price tag in the range of $165 to $4800 help to make these future heirloom pieces.

For more articles like this, go to http://www.swanktrendz.com/sw...

This popular event returns yet again from January 21 to February 3. Last year my brother went to a couple of restaurants as part of this promotion and truly enjoyed it. This year a record 125 restaurants are participating, and basically, what happens is this: for $15, $25 or $35, you pick a restaurant and choose from a three course prix fixe menu. It's tremendous value and allows you the opportunity to visit restaurants you may not otherwise go to. For more information go to www.tourismvancouver.com, or you can phone 604-682-2222 any time after January 1/05.

Eckhart Tolle is a Vancouver-based author whose book 'The Power of Now' is currently taking the world by storm. Released in 1997, the book had a limited run of 3,000 copies; since then, a groundswell of popularity has occurred and the book, with little advertising, has taken off - it is now available in 25 languages and over 2 million copies have been sold, making Tolle Vancouver's bestselling author.

A lot of the book's popularity has come through word of mouth - a good friend of mine read the book about four years ago on the advice of his psychologist, and he in turn passed the book onto me. Now celebrities like Oprah, Deepak Chopra, and Cher are singing the praises of the book.

Eckhardt himself has overcome adversity in his life, including a failed suicide attempt while a student living in Britain. His message is a simple one: live in the moment. Forget the past, and don't worry about the future - what you have to deal with, enjoy and live, is the now. Other books by Eckhart include 'The Practise of the Power of Now' and 'Stillness Speaks'. He is published by New World Library (California).

I was always one of the few who used the Opera web browser, after a bored geek at a customer's office showed it to me one afternoon years ago. It was clearly better than the Internet Explorer version I'd been using up until then, so I downloaded a copy and used it from there on.

Netscape's Navigator browser was released in 1994. At that time, browsers were little more than a geeky hobby: I have old (1995) computer magazines here, and there are no web sites listed in any of the ads. Not until 1996/97 or so did web sites begin to have a commercial presence. From humble beginnings, the web exploded into a phenomenon, and soon everyone wanted a web browser. Netscape charged $30 or so for theirs, and quickly grew very wealthy from its sales.

Microsoft came late to the game, and its first two versions of Internet Explorer (IE) were pretty lame. But they constantly improved it - at times by inventing their own 'standards' - and when it reached version 4, it stood as a comparable competitor to Netscape. And since it was included with every version of Windows 98, IE soon had far more users.

Coming late to the game (AKA 'the rush to market') coupled with bending the rules usually means a buggy product, and inevitably IE became one of the favourite targets of virus writers. They could exploit vulnerabilities that let them take over your computer, spawn email bombs, etc. Meanwhile in a different building, Microsoft's marketing grew increasingly pervasive(some would say malicious) as they strove to dominate (some would say eliminate)Netscape in what came to be known as 'the browser wars'.

Microsoft has decades of experience dominating competitors, so it was no surprise that Netscape almost died, only to be revived by AOL, who at the time were flush with imaginary cash. To AOL's credit - and in the online world AOL is desperately lacking credibility-they kept it alive, and tolerated the open-source Mozilla project which existed alongside it, and from which Netscape took some/most of their code.

Open-source software(OSS)is software that is collaboratively developed and made available to anyone who wants it, for free. Hundreds of thousands of highly motivated programmers around the world work voluntarily on various projects, and then post the results on the Net for anyone to download and use.

They do this for various personal reasons, ranging from pride in their own work, belief in the 'hacker ethic' (see Steve Levy's book 'Hackers: Heroes of the Computer Revolution' for an explanation of that), and an earnest altruistic desire to contribute to a lively and useful community.

The most successful OSS project to date is the Linux operating system, which has shown itself to be remarkably versatile and robust (think a better Windows or an equivalent Mac OS-X, both without the $500 price tag), although slow to gain wide acceptance. It came about because its originator realized that he couldn't do it all by himself, so he asked for help and promised to share the results. Contributors had to agree to share as well, and many stepped up and did just that. The result has grown over time to become a presence that has the world's largest PC software corporation running scared.

Microsoft hates OSS, and the feeling is mutual. Microsoft sees it as a threat to their not-quite-yet monopoly. The OSS participants see themselves as valiant warriors, and Microsoft as an oppressive enemy who has grown rich by charging turbo-inflated prices for inferior products, and by eliminating their competition with Gestapo-like ruthlessness. The rhetoric is risible on both sides, so the truth can be hard to see. My own opinion is that Microsoft is guilty as charged, and my experience shows me that the reasons for using selected OSS products are compelling: cost ($0 usually); quality (high); and responsiveness (very fast; any flaws found are usually fixed in about 2 hours and a new version is available to download about an hour later. A new way to produce and get quality software has arrived, and it came about through the efforts of thousands of unpaid volunteers who were united in their desire for a better computing environment.

And that (finally) brings me to the Firefox web browser, recently released by Mozilla. This is a new and exciting OSS browser, available for free download from Mozilla.org. They couldn't have timed it better: The US federal government's Computer Emergency Readiness Team (CERT) are now advising people to dump IE, due to ongoing security holes, which Microsoft can now barely contain, much less fix.

Firefox had something like 8 million downloads in its first week of existence, and one of those was mine. It has some nice features; nothing groundbreaking (unless all you've ever used before is IE) and nothing I didn't already have in Opera, apart from the 'coolness' factor. It does what's expected from a modern browser: supports plug ins and proxy servers, blocks those $%@3#! popup ads, has reasonably good privacy options, has the Google search field right on the toolbar, and is easy to configure (way easier than Opera. It runs on Windows, Mac, or Linux.

There's a few features I have in Opera that it doesn't have, but most people wouldn't care about those. In fact, most people should be pleasantly surprised by Firefox. It's fast and clean, easy to download and run, easy to configure, and way more secure than the currently dominant IE. And remember,100% free.

If you like it and wish to contribute (remember, OSS means anyone can join), visit www.mozilla.org/contribute and read all about it.

Currently, they're looking for people to filter bug reports, and write software documentation. Or you could just buy a T-shirt. Every little bit helps.

Link 1: http://www.getfirefox.com

Link 2: http://ars.userfriendly.org/c...

Terry

Shows like Queer Eye for the Straight Guy and What Not to Wear have made it safe for men to be... men?  Metrosexual is a new word in most people's vocabularies, and that's exactly who these new spas are shooting for.  Men now make up over 35% of all spa goers, accounting for a growth of more than 300% over the last ten years.  While close to 3/4 of the spas out there offer some services for men, less than 20% use products especially designed for the coarser and thicker male skin.

As of April, 2004, the Absolute Spa at the Fairmont Hotel Vancouver became the first spa in Canada (and only the second in North America - the other is in New York) to offer a spa exclusively for men.  Complete with video games and stock market read outs in the chairs, this spa is decorated in natural earth tones.  Go to http://www.absolutespa.com for more information.

If you're still not ready for the whole spa experience but want a little something extra, how about a shave and haircut?  Think back to the old Andy Griffith show (Mayberry RFD?) and Floyd the barber with his razor and strop.  Did you know that it is almost impossible to get a shave like that these days, as the practitioners have to be specially licensed in order to do a shave?  Places are few and far between where you can get a shave (other than your own bathroom), but here's one to try:  Frank's Barber Shop on West 11th off Granville (Vancouver).  Call 604-731-1508.

 For more articles like this, go to http://www.swanktrendz.com/sw...

I was listening to CKNW yesterday, and I heard Melody Young (of Healthy Heart - St. Paul’s Hospital, Vancouver) explain why she believed child obesity was more significant today than 20 years ago. I believe the number bandied about was 28% of our children are obese - almost 3 in 10 children.

She outlined several potential reasons for obesity, but focused on two main points: children are inactive and children are not nutritionally savvy. Then she went on to say that parental observation can often lead to the source of the obesity. Parents are the main role models; busy parents often have too much to handle to maintain healthy habits at home. As well, often the television/computer will suppress any healthy living communication opportunities.

Community schools should generally have no vehicular traffic because students are within two kilometres of the school, yet parents drive their kids to school because of a hectic schedule, or out of fear for their child’s safety. Melody suggests that parents already active in the school organize neighbourhood walks where groups of children will join together with a parent leader to walk to school.

What can we do to promote change? Melody suggests duel income earners have the hardest time managing, so they should attempt to set aside one day on the weekend to have dinner together. Don’t attempt a whole new schedule; focus on baby steps to a healthier lifestyle. Allow the children to participate in buying the groceries for the meal and have them read labels or question where the food originates. As for activity - if you notice your child has not been out, suggest they walk to the store with you for a needed item, ie: milk or rake the leaves. etc. If you actually mention the dreaded word, “exercise” you will turn your child off. That will seem to be yet another chore to resent. As well, you cannot point out to a child that they need to lose weight, you have to model it. Words are just that - words, and actions speak louder than words.

I’ve added another variable to Melody’s proposal. Parents living below the poverty line are often forced to purchase items that are cheap and in abundance (dried noodles, kraft dinner, etc.) Fast food meals are often cheaper than nutritious home made meals. You could argue that vegetables are just as cheap as fast food, but again, that depends on the growing seasons and the importers. Do you think these families are going to go out and buy that ideal combination of salmon, sweet potatoes, spinach, avocados strawberries and blueberries? Not a chance - very few can afford these luxuries.

Bottom line - one of the leading causes of diabetes is obesity. Given what my sister had observed at John Hopkins (with respect to diabetes) I wouldn’t wish this on my worst enemy. Diabetes is a preventable disease. So, what are you going to discuss with your child today?

Christine

I was listening to CKNW yesterday, and I heard Melody Young (of Healthy Heart - St. Paul’s Hospital, Vancouver) explain why she believed child obesity was more significant today than 20 years ago. I believe the number bandied about was 28% of our children are obese - almost 3 in 10 children.

She outlined several potential reasons for obesity, but focused on two main points: children are inactive and children are not nutritionally savvy. Then she went on to say that parental observation can often lead to the source of the obesity. Parents are the main role models; busy parents often have too much to handle to maintain healthy habits at home. As well, often the television/computer will suppress any healthy living communication opportunities.

Community schools should generally have no vehicular traffic because students are within two kilometres of the school, yet parents drive their kids to school because of a hectic schedule, or out of fear for their child’s safety. Melody suggests that parents already active in the school organize neighbourhood walks where groups of children will join together with a parent leader to walk to school.

What can we do to promote change? Melody suggests duel income earners have the hardest time managing, so they should attempt to set aside one day on the weekend to have dinner together. Don’t attempt a whole new schedule; focus on baby steps to a healthier lifestyle. Allow the children to participate in buying the groceries for the meal and have them read labels or question where the food originates. As for activity - if you notice your child has not been out, suggest they walk to the store with you for a needed item, ie: milk or rake the leaves. etc. If you actually mention the dreaded word, “exercise” you will turn your child off. That will seem to be yet another chore to resent. As well, you cannot point out to a child that they need to lose weight, you have to model it. Words are just that - words, and actions speak louder than words.

I’ve added another variable to Melody’s proposal. Parents living below the poverty line are often forced to purchase items that are cheap and in abundance (dried noodles, kraft dinner, etc.) Fast food meals are often cheaper than nutritious home made meals. You could argue that vegetables are just as cheap as fast food, but again, that depends on the growing seasons and the importers. Do you think these families are going to go out and buy that ideal combination of salmon, sweet potatoes, spinach, avocados strawberries and blueberries? Not a chance - very few can afford these luxuries.

Bottom line - one of the leading causes of diabetes is obesity. Given what my sister had observed at John Hopkins (with respect to diabetes) I wouldn’t wish this on my worst enemy. Diabetes is a preventable disease. So, what are you going to discuss with your child today?

Christine

I read recently that British artist Damien Hirst's controversial work 'The Physical Impossibility of Death in the Mind of Someone Living' was rumoured to be fetching a price in the neighbourhood of $15 million US.  Now this work, if you're not familiar with it, is the one in which a 14 foot-long tiger shark is suspended and preserved in a tank filled with formaldehyde.  This piece is conceptually ingenious for its symbolic representation of death on a number of different levels.

With all that out of the way, however, here's a bit of background:  this work was originally commissioned by Hirst's patron, Mr. Charles Saatchi, for a price anywhere between $32,000 and $120,000 (I've heard both prices, so don't quote me).  Anyway, my understanding of this is that Saatchi commissioned the piece, so Saatchi owns it, which in turn means Saatchi gets all the dough.  Now, don't feel too bad for Mr. Hirst, though:  it's things like this which will just push the price of all of Hirst's present and future work up.

Hirst comes with a sterling pedigree - he won the Turner Prize for his work in '95; prior to that, he garnered national attention when his work 'Away From The Flock' (another formaldehyde piece) was vandalized at a show in '94.  He works in a number of different media; aside from his animals in formaldehyde work, he also does sculptures, spot paintings and spin paintings, and is involved in both the food and music industries.

Hirst has been lucky on a number of counts:  his association with Saatchi has ensured him private financing; Saatchi, a former associate of Margaret Thatcher, has plenty of connections; and Hirst himself is not at all shy about selling himself to and dealing with the media.  But that, to me, sounds more like a businessman than an artist - or can the two be mutually exclusive?

There's no denying it:  art is big business these days.  But that in itself makes me more than a bit sad...  It begs the question:  will Hirst's work go down in history for being conceptually radical, or will it be remembered just because of the price it fetched?

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Tattoos can be nice, but they're just so - permanent.  Or at the very least, expensive - if you decide to go those extra painful steps to get one removed.  Branding just never really took off (ouch! - I wonder why?) except in certain 'select' groups.  Piercings and studs, ear lobe stretching, teeth filing - there's so much out there one can try, but much of it is just a little too 'outre' for most people.

Even so, people these days still want some form of body decoration, and the hottest thing this season is hand-painted latex tattoos which are then dusted with a metallic glitter.  The glitter sticks to the latex and presto: you've got yourself a swanky lookin' tattoo that'll last for about two weeks.

Mehndi hand designs created from henna, similar to what one would see at an Indian wedding, are also gaining in popularity.

 So, if you've always wanted a tattoo but have never taken than extra step, maybe you can try one of these on for size first...

The first that I ever heard about travelling gnomes was in a short story I was forced read in English class in high school.  The amusing little tale involved a nasty old lady whose garden gnome was kidnapped; said gnome then proceeded to send his former owner postcards from around the world (picture a gnome in front of the Eiffel Tower, Buckingham Palace, of the Taj Mahal), which served to drive the lady to distraction - and beyond.  I promptly forgot the story until I saw the French film 'Amelie', which had a similar story as a subplot.  Then Travelocity in the States started featuring 'roaming gnomes' in a series of ads that ran in late 2003.  All this gnome action made me wonder: what was up?

It turns out people are kidnapping garden gnomes all over the place these days.  Stories out of the States, England as well as Saskatchewan and Alberta recently have featured kidnapped garden gnomes, but the big news comes from France, where over 6,000 gnomes have been 'liberated' since 1997 by a group calling themselves the Front de Liberation des Nains de Jardins (Garden Gnome Liberation Front). Recently 11 gnomes were found hanged under a bridge in eastern France, with 'suicide' notes pinned to them declaring that ... "when you read these words, we will no longer be part of your world in which we serve only as a decoration."  Apparently, the kidnappings are an attack on the bourgeoisie and are increasing in frequency.

So, lock up your gnomes, concrete squirrels and statues of St. Francis... the culture guerrillas are out there, hunting as we speak...

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Natural Disasters and People who Take Advantage.

Some people are just plain mean-spirited to the point where you can only shake your head and wonder why. Christopher Pearson is one such man. He was hauled into Britain’s Court of Law for sending 40 emails telling British relatives that their missing loved ones were dead. Imagine how those people must have felt? He managed to pull this off by logging onto Sky TV, which is a website to help people contact each other. He then took note of email addresses of those waiting for news regarding their missing ones. To date, 150 British are unaccounted for, and 49 are dead. Luckily, one email recipient checked with Sky TV and they were able to track Pearson back to his home in Lancashire. Pearson was charged with malicious conspiracy and creating a nuisance. He couldn't even explain why he did it as there was no money involved. Just a cold-hearted cad.

Of interest to Atlantic countries, years ago Professor Bill McGuire of University Centre , London, noted potential problems regarded a tsunami. He warned anyone who would listen that there was an active underwater volcano by the Canary Islands and it continues to erupt every few decades (last time 1971). He discovered an underwater rock slab 8 km long that was moving 1 cm a year. Today he saying that he warned people back then, and now an eruption would cause a tsunami traveling 800 km an hour, meaning it would reach Britain in 6 hours and then Boston, New York and Miami. He is requesting an early warning system set in place so that people will have time to react. At this point , he is just hoping that officials will finally take him seriously.

Christine

Johnette Napolitano and Concrete Blonde

I have been a faithful follower of Concrete Blonde since the good ol’ days. Can’t believe it’s been almost 20 years. Unfortunately, I haven’t the funds to follow them around the world, but I do live vicariously through Johnette’s online journal.

What makes Concrete Blonde stand above the rest? Well, in all the concerts I’ve attended, her voice not only gives me goosebumps, but she brings me close to tears with her lyrics (and actual tears with Andy Prieboy’s lyrics to Tomorrow, Wendy). Her voice can be soft and soothing to downright Janis Joplin rockin’. Her banter with the audience is hilarious and she appears at ease (and dare I say friendly). Rumour has it though, that you wouldn’t want to get on her bad side, especially during sound checks.

Also, Johnette is worldly in a good way. She’s politically savvy, eco-friendly, loves animals and has had enough sorrow in her life to make her believable. Not that sorrow=believability, but it does make her lyrics more profound.

She’s also versatile , having played with the Talking Heads (sans Byrne, hence the moniker Heads); she’s played with Marc Moreland (Wall of Voodoo fame whose voice is forever silenced) Danny Lohner. She redid Everybody knows of Leonard Cohen’s (wonderful Canadian as we all know). She appears on soundtracks and quite frankly, her voice was made for soundtracks and I hope she doesn’t scorn me for that statement. She adds depth, rebellion, suspense, and mood to any scene.

My cd purchasing philosophy is: there should be at least 3 songs on each cd that I would want to hear again. Three songs before I dole out the cash from my dusty wallet. I have bought every single Concrete Blonde, Johnette cd including her side projects (Pump Up the Volume, Underworld soundtrack, Replacements, Wicker Park, Vowel Movement with Holly Vincent, Steve Wynn, Pretty & Twisted, Dream 6, The Heads, You’ve Got Your Orders, Eddie Vedder and Nick Cave, Carpenters Tribute, etc.) However, I never did get Concrete Blonde’s 2X2 Limited Edition cd. Hate when that happens.

The whole point of this article is to point out the consistency in which the band delivers. Bands that started around the same time as Concrete Blonde have had their shot at fame and are living out their lives doing... uhm remembering the good ol’ days? Concrete Blonde doesn’t have time for that for there are always projects in the pot, and flamenco to learn. The indignant part of me demands that they fill stadiums, but the selfish part of me wants to maintain the intimacy (and sound) of the smaller venues. All in all - give Concrete Blonde a listen - you won’t regret it.

Christine