Like the PM or not, this story about him rock'n at the Tory Christmas party, and critics complaining he should have sung these classic rock songs in French too, shows just how nuts this country is. It makes me angry.
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/ottawa-notebook/liberals-lament-pms-unilingual-rock-performance/article1831051/
http://www.ottawacitizen.com/entertainment/tickles+ivories+party+faithful+with+five+song/3948695/story.html
http://www.calgaryherald.com/entertainment/Stephen+Harper+should+have+sung+French+Critic/2072880/story.html
Thursday, December 9, 2010
Friday, June 27, 2008
Return to Forever at Ottawa Jazzfest
Mr. Bitterman caught half of the jazz fusion supergroup Return to Forever set at the Ottawa International Jazzfest, June 26. Frankly, I don’t get what all the fuss is about.
Aparently, many people who were teens and young adults in the latter '70s, eventually got into jazz via “progressive” rock bands such as Genesis, Yes and ELP. (See Ottawa Citizen journalist and jazz pianist Peter Hum's blog) From there, they segued to jazz/rock fusion bands such as Return to Forever, and from there into other styles of jazz.
Obviously, they are great musicians (led by keyboardist Chick Corea, with guitarist Al Di Meola, bass player Stanley Clarke and drummer Lenny White). But I couldn’t help but think that the group was comprised of four extreme egos. From what I caught – the second half of their show – it consisted of each musician doing a solo, one after the other. Apparently they did all come together as a group for a few jazz rock fusion anthems before I arrived, but all I saw and heard were solos. See review in Ottawa Sun.
Mr. Bitterman was never into those progressive rock bands in the '70s. In fact, I went in a completely opposite direction with punk, post-punk and new wave. And ultimately, Mr. Bitterman's interest in jazz came more from my father listening to the likes of Sinatra and Louis Armstrong throughout my childhood. Something like that never leaves you.
Anyway, the crowd at Return to Forever was the largest in jazzfest history, according to reports – so there must be something to it. I think there’s a lot of dudes who, in their formative years in the '70s, were smokin’ a lot of pot and trippin’ to that type of rock. Mr. Bitterman, instead was pogoing to 999, the Stranglers, the Pistols, the Clash ...
Return to Forever was certainly an interesting spectacle. However, when it comes to jazz, Mr. Bitterman is definitely a bop, be bop, and hard bop type of guy. That’s why, instead, Mr. Bitterman will enjoy Charlie Haden moreso on June 27.
Aparently, many people who were teens and young adults in the latter '70s, eventually got into jazz via “progressive” rock bands such as Genesis, Yes and ELP. (See Ottawa Citizen journalist and jazz pianist Peter Hum's blog) From there, they segued to jazz/rock fusion bands such as Return to Forever, and from there into other styles of jazz.
Obviously, they are great musicians (led by keyboardist Chick Corea, with guitarist Al Di Meola, bass player Stanley Clarke and drummer Lenny White). But I couldn’t help but think that the group was comprised of four extreme egos. From what I caught – the second half of their show – it consisted of each musician doing a solo, one after the other. Apparently they did all come together as a group for a few jazz rock fusion anthems before I arrived, but all I saw and heard were solos. See review in Ottawa Sun.
Mr. Bitterman was never into those progressive rock bands in the '70s. In fact, I went in a completely opposite direction with punk, post-punk and new wave. And ultimately, Mr. Bitterman's interest in jazz came more from my father listening to the likes of Sinatra and Louis Armstrong throughout my childhood. Something like that never leaves you.
Anyway, the crowd at Return to Forever was the largest in jazzfest history, according to reports – so there must be something to it. I think there’s a lot of dudes who, in their formative years in the '70s, were smokin’ a lot of pot and trippin’ to that type of rock. Mr. Bitterman, instead was pogoing to 999, the Stranglers, the Pistols, the Clash ...
Return to Forever was certainly an interesting spectacle. However, when it comes to jazz, Mr. Bitterman is definitely a bop, be bop, and hard bop type of guy. That’s why, instead, Mr. Bitterman will enjoy Charlie Haden moreso on June 27.
Wednesday, May 28, 2008
Mad Max beguiled by beauty
Poor Maxime Bernier, Canada's now former Minister of Foreign Affairs. (See Ottawa Citizen "Troubled Bernier quits over document breach") It's an old story, but he succumbed to the wiles of a beautiful woman -- Julie Couillard. It was only last summer they looked like a Hollywood couple as he was sworn in as Minister of Foreign Affairs.
But today, his limo is gone, his beautiful girl is gone, and now he'll sit in the backbenches with the rest of the underachievers and wannabes in Parliament.
Poor judgement? Sure. But have you seen Ms. Couillard? Despite being a Minister of the Crown, he is still human.
I have to wonder, however, what he did to the lovely Ms. Couillard to have her turn on him so. When news came out she had been associated with bikers, Mad Max simply replied that she was part of his private life, and that it was not public.
But she has certainly made their "private life" public. In fact, if you listen to her, it's as if it's his fault she was married to a biker and associated to bikers...that HE is somehow ruining her life. Why, because the press found out about her past choices? And it's his fault.
Yes, poor Mad Max. He obviously made poor choices too. But ...you can hardly blame him. It kinda makes me angry.
But today, his limo is gone, his beautiful girl is gone, and now he'll sit in the backbenches with the rest of the underachievers and wannabes in Parliament.
Poor judgement? Sure. But have you seen Ms. Couillard? Despite being a Minister of the Crown, he is still human.
I have to wonder, however, what he did to the lovely Ms. Couillard to have her turn on him so. When news came out she had been associated with bikers, Mad Max simply replied that she was part of his private life, and that it was not public.
But she has certainly made their "private life" public. In fact, if you listen to her, it's as if it's his fault she was married to a biker and associated to bikers...that HE is somehow ruining her life. Why, because the press found out about her past choices? And it's his fault.
Yes, poor Mad Max. He obviously made poor choices too. But ...you can hardly blame him. It kinda makes me angry.
Thursday, May 8, 2008
More Guess Who at Senators and Leafs games
Mr. Bitterman demands that more CANADIAN music be played at hockey games in Canada. Americans only know American music. It's a disgrace there isn't more CANADIAN music at hockey games!
Oh wait. We're there for the hockey, aren't we.
Quebec publisher Michel Brule needed some publicity and, well, it was a slow news day, I guess. So, as the Ottawa Sun reports, he complained there isn't enough French music at Habs games.
Typical of people of his ilk, he blames it on anglophones. "Anglophones are the most ethnocentric people in the history of humanity," he said. "Anglophones only listen to anglophone music and only read books written by anglophone authors."
So what's he saying? The DJ at the Bell Centre is English? That all hockey fans at the Bell Centre are English?
Boring. Expected if you will. Typical.
And ...it makes me angry.
Oh wait. We're there for the hockey, aren't we.
Quebec publisher Michel Brule needed some publicity and, well, it was a slow news day, I guess. So, as the Ottawa Sun reports, he complained there isn't enough French music at Habs games.
Typical of people of his ilk, he blames it on anglophones. "Anglophones are the most ethnocentric people in the history of humanity," he said. "Anglophones only listen to anglophone music and only read books written by anglophone authors."
So what's he saying? The DJ at the Bell Centre is English? That all hockey fans at the Bell Centre are English?
Boring. Expected if you will. Typical.
And ...it makes me angry.
Thursday, February 21, 2008
Federal government language policy
A young man was hired as the lifeguard at the pool at
the Prime Minister's residence at 24 Sussex Drive.
The PM's family was making use of the pool when one of his children encountered some difficulty and cried for help.
The lifeguard ignored the cries, so the PM himself had to plunge into
the pool to rescue the boy.
Afterwards, the PM grilled the lifeguard. "You ass! Didn't you see that
my son was in trouble?"
"Yes, sir, but I can't swim."
"How the hell did you land the job of lifeguard then?"
"I'm bilingual."
This made the PM angry.
(Disclaimer: this was a joke -- but it does, in a Seinfeld kind of way, sum up the situation with the federal government).
the Prime Minister's residence at 24 Sussex Drive.
The PM's family was making use of the pool when one of his children encountered some difficulty and cried for help.
The lifeguard ignored the cries, so the PM himself had to plunge into
the pool to rescue the boy.
Afterwards, the PM grilled the lifeguard. "You ass! Didn't you see that
my son was in trouble?"
"Yes, sir, but I can't swim."
"How the hell did you land the job of lifeguard then?"
"I'm bilingual."
This made the PM angry.
(Disclaimer: this was a joke -- but it does, in a Seinfeld kind of way, sum up the situation with the federal government).
Tuesday, February 19, 2008
Sportsnet stupidity
I really don't understand Sportsnet. Their contract with the NHL, it appears, is regionally based. But I guess the centre of that regional universe is Toronto. Last night they had NHL games advertised on the on-screen TV guide for Ontario East, Ontario and Sportnet West. The HD channel advertised the Toronto game. Ontario East got to see the Sens vs. Flyers in non-HD TV. And on a 1080p TV, their feed does not look great. But when you tune into the HD channel, where they've advertised the Leafs -- we got poker, and then billiards in glorious HD. How wonderful!
Mr. Bitterman emailed Sportsnet for an answer, and this is what we got:
"Dear Mr. Bitterman,
Unfortunately, due to blackout restrictions set forth by the NHL, not Sportsnet, we are only able to broadcast NHL SD/HD games regionally this season. In other words, since you live in Nepean (East of the Belleville/Pembroke line), you will only be able to access our Senators games on Sportsnet East. All other teams' games will be blacked out from you. Please keep in mind that Sportsnet's HD channel is a feed made available nationally -- this means that we cannot air NHL regional games on this channel due to the aforementioned blackout restrictions. Our apologies for any inconvenience that this may cause.
These NHL imposed regional restrictions have been in place since Sportsnet's inception in 1998.
Sincerely,
Daniel Zaiontz
Audience Relations"
If, like Zaiontz says, "Sportsnet's HD channel is a feed made available nationally -- this means that we cannot air NHL regional games on this channel due to the aforementioned blackout restrictions," then why did the online guide advertise the Leafs game, then? Sportsnet is owned by Rogers. I have Rogers. They make me angry. I should get Bell.
Mr. Bitterman emailed Sportsnet for an answer, and this is what we got:
"Dear Mr. Bitterman,
Unfortunately, due to blackout restrictions set forth by the NHL, not Sportsnet, we are only able to broadcast NHL SD/HD games regionally this season. In other words, since you live in Nepean (East of the Belleville/Pembroke line), you will only be able to access our Senators games on Sportsnet East. All other teams' games will be blacked out from you. Please keep in mind that Sportsnet's HD channel is a feed made available nationally -- this means that we cannot air NHL regional games on this channel due to the aforementioned blackout restrictions. Our apologies for any inconvenience that this may cause.
These NHL imposed regional restrictions have been in place since Sportsnet's inception in 1998.
Sincerely,
Daniel Zaiontz
Audience Relations"
If, like Zaiontz says, "Sportsnet's HD channel is a feed made available nationally -- this means that we cannot air NHL regional games on this channel due to the aforementioned blackout restrictions," then why did the online guide advertise the Leafs game, then? Sportsnet is owned by Rogers. I have Rogers. They make me angry. I should get Bell.
Friday, February 15, 2008
Ottawa cabbies won't smile for the cameras
Ottawa cabbies, it seems, are camera shy. The City of Ottawa wants to pass a bylaw to place cameras in cabs -- ostensibly for the public's and cabbies' protection. The cabbies don't like it. They call them "spy" cameras.
I wonder why cabbies don't want to be scrutinized?
Let me relate a scenario. I was talking to the owner of my local pizza joint recently. She tells me her delivery drivers will soon be equipped with wireless Interac machines. That way, when the pizza delivery person arrives, you can pay for your pizza with your debit card. My point here is the technology exists.
Now, whenever I have taken a cab from downtown Ottawa to the suburbs -- at least a $50-$60 cab ride (which is ludicruous in itself), the cabbie has insisted on cash. This hasn't happened just once. It has always been the case; regardless of my asking to pay by credit card (let alone having the opportunity to pay by the wireless Interac machine). They want cash. In fact, the last time I took this trek, the cabbie took me to a bank machine before he took me home. His insistence! He didn't want my credit card.
So why do they insist on cash for these higher-priced fares? So why don't they want cameras in their cabs? I don't know. I'm just sayin'.
But always having to pay cash makes me angry.
I wonder why cabbies don't want to be scrutinized?
Let me relate a scenario. I was talking to the owner of my local pizza joint recently. She tells me her delivery drivers will soon be equipped with wireless Interac machines. That way, when the pizza delivery person arrives, you can pay for your pizza with your debit card. My point here is the technology exists.
Now, whenever I have taken a cab from downtown Ottawa to the suburbs -- at least a $50-$60 cab ride (which is ludicruous in itself), the cabbie has insisted on cash. This hasn't happened just once. It has always been the case; regardless of my asking to pay by credit card (let alone having the opportunity to pay by the wireless Interac machine). They want cash. In fact, the last time I took this trek, the cabbie took me to a bank machine before he took me home. His insistence! He didn't want my credit card.
So why do they insist on cash for these higher-priced fares? So why don't they want cameras in their cabs? I don't know. I'm just sayin'.
But always having to pay cash makes me angry.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)