"I need something more, to keep on breathing for, so give me something to believe...."

So it's leap day!! Happy Leap day to all.
Anything you do today doesn't count right?

Today is also marks an important anniversary! Well, important to me...
February 29, 1992: U2 kicked off their high-tech, multimedia Zoo TV tour in Lakeland, Florida. This was my first real opportunity to go and see my favorite band in concert. When tickets went on sale we snapped up two and my friend Natalie and I took the Greyhound all the way to Vancouver (not recommended). It was my first road trip to The Vancity. Coincidentally, we stayed in a hotel on Heather Street and Broadway so of course we tried to steal the Heather Street sign, to no avail.

This was the tour that supported the Actung Baby album. We sat up in the rafters of BC Place to watch the spectacle with our oxygen tanks. You may not know this but this tour actually made no money because of the sheer size of it. It was my first dose of live U2...and even if you don't like the band that much, cripes even if they turn your stomach, their live show is something to behold. The energy of the band...not just Bono's charisma, but Larry Mullen hitting those drums like his freaking life depends on it! Bono called the White House from the stage trying to get the president on the line as cars swirled around the stage and images flashed on the screen. I had never seen anything like it. I vividly remember the word BELIEVE flashed in white on a black screen and the word started to fade leaving just LIE up on the screen. Not only did this mean I would never misspell that word ever again, but more importantly it challenged me to start questioning the source of my daily information. In hindsight that concert changed me....made me more aware and forced me to sit up and take notice of the world around me. I was much more curious about the things I would eventually study at Uni and emboldened by the thought that maybe I should question some of the things in my world.

That whole trip was so sweet...partying up in North Vancouver (the details of which I can't share here, but let's just say Lonsdale Quay is but a blur at sunrise in my memory), spending our days wandering the campus of UBC, I'll never forget my first ever U2 concert experience because it brought so many other things with it.

Song Du Jour: Believe - The Bravery
The Sun and The Moon stands as my fav album of 2007...they just re-released a double cd with remixes should you feel the need to run down to your local HIV and buy one...

"..something is vacant when I think it's all beginning, I been drifting along in the same stale shoes.."

I don't get it...Peeps are complaining about last nights provincial election leaders debate and the 2 minute-free-for-all-debate after each topic. Well, who's the moron who approved the structure of the debate? Hrm? If the media wants a free for all then yes you will get 4 suits all talking over each other which makes for baaaaaaad TV...and it makes the politicians loook like children behaving badly. After the first free-for-all I think the moderators realized it wasn't going to lead to the kind of fireworks they wanted...and then they tried to moderate those two minutes...to no avail. Whoever planned that debate needs to have their head examined, and I don't blame the leaders.

Most people, here at work, think the Wildrose Leader won the debate. I think he was terrible...using big words for no reason, and how many times did he say "innovation"? How many times did he repeat himself? He spoke of rewarding innovation but doesn't seem to have any innovative ideas himself. But apparently he came off as the most charismatic. Wtf?

I am tired of hearing that these particular politicians lack Charisma...yeah dudes, they're NERDS! I'd rather have a completely socially inept leader than some jackass who is all talk and no substance. Sadly all I saw were nerds with no substance. God love them for getting up there and doing their best. You know it takes a lot of perserverance to stick to it like Taft has. However, every time Taft opened his mouth it sounded to me like the teacher from Charlie Brown, "wha, wha... wha, wha, wha wha..."
Good Grief!

And Mason...although well prepared (okay too well prepared) sounded staged. He also looked the most nervous. His "Zingers" fell a wee bit short and Taft nailed him for flip-flopping....even if Mason didn't flip flop as the Journal reported, Taft hit home that remark. Are you shocked to read that I think Stelmach came out looking fresh as a daisy and calm? Because I am shocked. He's like the Teflon Leader...how do they do that? Steady Eddy indeed.

Daveberta said it best, "I do think that because the expectations are so low for him that an even moderately okay performance by Stelmach will be seen as a win for him (regardless of how painful the experience is for both Stelmach and viewers)."

Song Du Jour ~ Jackass by Beck

"...Afraid of what you'll find if you took a look inside.."

Frick.
So the short answer to my query on bringing U2-3D to Alberta is: Not right now.

Cineplex is booked solid and will not break contracts to show it here.
You'd think that would be the end of it, but no...clearly, they don't really understand U2 fans.
Heck, if this movie was like any other and I just had to wait until my local video store had it I wouldn't be trying so hard, but that's not the case...the only theatre equipped at this time to show this movie in all of Alberta is Cineplex.

Please email:
guestservices@cineplex.com

Tell them you want to know when, after December 2008, Mr. Michael McCarthy from L.A. will show it here. Why can't NG enter into a contract for January of 2009? WHY?

I shall find out friends!

Song Du Jour: Staring at The Sun ~ U2

"...So tell me the truth of your heart, please tell me, please tell me ..."

So I called to see if the candidates in my riding are conducting a candidate forum and the lady who works for the PC candidate finally called me back...and I can't go because it is in the middle of the freaking day! But just on the off chance you are in my riding and can attend here is the info:

Edmonton-Meadowlark
Thursday, February 21st at 12:45 P.M.
The West End Seniors Activity Centre
9629-176 Street.

Additional forums at the U of A for other ridings:

Edmonton-Strathcona Provincial Election All-Candidate Forum
Presented by Your University of Alberta Students' Union
Wednesday, February 20, 2008
Time: 6:00pm - 9:00pm
Location: Myer Horowitz Theatre (2nd Floor, Students' Union Building)

Edmonton-Riverview Provincial Election All-Candidate Forum
Presented by Your University of Alberta Students' Union
Monday, February 25, 2008
Time: 6:00pm - 9:00pm
Location: Dinwoodie Lounge (2nd Floor, Students' Union Building)

Song Du Jour: The Dugout by Ladyhawk

"You said you didn't give a fuck about hockey, I never saw someone say that before..."

Yes, the intensity is palpable! Who watched the Oilers game on HNIC? That was uber intense...not to mention one of the most entertaining games I have seen in some time, even if we are in 13th place. Those were two hard won points, errr..well lost points I guess. It started with fights, it ended with a brawl. 39 penalties; seven misconducts, 15 fighting majors and a partridge in a pear tree....
Gagner taking on Kessler was my favorite part...who knew he'd be an fighter? Not me.
It also really bugs me that the Sedin Sisters score such pretty goals. I haven't seen any news of the league taking action on that slash after the Burrows empty-netter...but we'll see...it may be coming.

Ahhhhh...playoffs. Don't you just love this time of year? no? Is it just me? I could feel it at Clare Drake this weekend too as Your U of A Pandas swept the Canada West Semi Finals in two games. Canada West Finals are next weekend friends, The Pandas tackle the Manitoba Bisonettes.
I watched 7 hockey games this weekend...that's intense, or totally retarded.
Apparently that's the theme today...what intense things are happening for you?

Song Du Jour ~ Fireworks - Tragically Hip

"I look around but it's you I can't replace..."

The ipod is a miraculous little invention. Of course, I don't own one but I use one at every Chimos home game to do the music and pump up the players. I love it. One of the players even has the U2 ipod which I covet. Every time I use it I am reminded of just how far music has come. How we buy it and how we listen to it now reminds me of my introduction to record buying...and the introduction of the cassette tape.

Is music important to you? On a scale of 1-10? I would say 15 1/2...but that's just me.

When I was 10 I was always hanging out with the 3 sisters who lived across the street from me in Rio Terrace. One of the older sisters was in highschool (so she was super cool) and listened to The Police. I borrowed her tape...yes tape...and on my "NEW, state of the art" tape recorder I listened to it at night time before I fell asleep, hiding it under my pillow so I wouldn't get in trouble.

Keep in mind that up to that point it was all vinyl...I had lots of records but this was the first time music became portable for me and also recordable. Blank, recordable tapes changed everything! That summer "Synchronicity" by the police became my solace from the world. Back then you knew which side, A or B, your favorite songs were on...you had to rewind and fast forward. In fact, it was common knowledge that rewinding used more battery power which meant most times you would pull out the tape, turn it over and fast forward instead of rewinding, then pull it out and flip it back over to listen to the song you wanted. Holy high maintenance!

That tape recorder opened my mind to all types of music. I would hold it up to the radio and tape songs and make "mixed tapes" (imagine that now...sitting perched in front of the radio for minutes recording a song you've waited forever for the dj to play).

Do you know the kind of tape recorder I am on about?

Classic.

Except mine was silver all over.

Compare that to MP3 players - you can download whole albums and rearrange the songs for your listening pleasure and flip through music in a flash. I don't know if we really appreciate how great it is now, and how it only promises to get better.

So when I think back to those scratchy mixed tapes and the first recorder I had before Walkmans were the rage I am amazed. I didn't get my first walkman until the next year. The first tape I ever *bought* for myself was U2's "under a Blood Red Sky" a live concert album from red rocks (I had The Unforgettable Fire record, but this was my first tape).

Yesterday, I posted a link to another live concert performance by U2 (some 24 year later) and the 10 year old music lover in me can't resist being super excited for such incredible technology (and slightly awed)!


Song Du Jour: Every Breath You Take - Police
(it's so hard to pick just one song off that album....)

"Desperation is a tender trap"

"It doesn't matter to you, It matters to me"

A great injustice has transpired and I feel the need to drag you all in to my heartache and woe. The National Geographic Society and their film distributor have released U2-3D in BC, Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec and Nova Scotia. But not Alberta! I know, I know, it's all a bit shocking! In an effort to fix this ummm..."oversight" I have made a 100 phonecalls (holy run-around batman!) and I am trying to see what it will take to get it here at the Scotiabank Theatre.
Fingers crossed please....toes too!

"Let her talk about the things you can't explain..." ~U2

So VD is tomorrow...everybody be romantic! Society says you have to.

In other news - my favorite player, #51 Brods, decided the last 20 minutes of the game were up to him last night. Too little too late? Of course! This is the coilers I'm talking about, but all the same, I am excited by his play and I choose to focus on the players on the ice, not all the antics going on off the ice.

Tonight I am going to pick up a sign to put on my balcony for the upcoming Provincial election. Even though my candidate doesn't have his own sign, or website for that matter....I have to choose from the more generic signs available.

So readers...Do I want just a plain "Vote NDP" sign or "Vote for Brain Mason" sign?
I figure the 2 people who still visit this blog should get to pick. You have until 5 p.m.
Commence voting!

Song Du Jour: "God's Gonna Cut You Down" - Johhny Cash

"..and you couldn't care about politics; The NDP, The Tories, or the Grits..." - Hot Panda

I was surprised to hear a Stelmach campaign ad on my radio station based on the Tories education/tuition policies. Really?

I was shocked to hear callers on the same station blather on with the same ridiculous excuses for apathy. Since when is Democracy about "other" people? Voters blame politicians, it's always "they suck", or "they do nothing". Democracy is about you. Empower yourself by getting involved!

Why is it always someone else who should run...why don't the people who bitch and moan run for office? Have we made it so undesirable? Why have politics become so esoteric that the people of this province no longer feel they can be a part of the process?

Song du Jour: "It's worth 8 dollars" ~ Hot Panda