This is way to big to ignore. Hold onto your porkpie hats kiddies, Diplo’s about to drop a new …. baby? Rattlesnake? Tijuana brass band? NOPE. Just an EP, oh and a BOOK  (128 Beats Per Minute: Diplo’s Visual Guide to Music, Culture, and Everything in Between - Rizzoli) . But that’s pretty impressive and tactical given summer bangers are ready to get crankin’.  You’ve probably heard at least a couple of these in the past months but here’s the full track listing and some listening links for your audio pleasure.

“Set It Off” f. Lazerdisk Party Sex

http://pitchfork.com/news/46543-listen-diplo-set-it-off-ft-lazerdisk-party-sex/

EXPRESS YOURSELF TRACKLISTING:

1. Express Yourself feat. Nicky Da B

2 .Barely Standing feat. Datsik & Sabi

3. No Problem feat. Flinch & My Name Is Kay

4. Move Around feat. Elephant Man & GTA

5. Butters Theme feat. Billy The Gent & Long Jawns

6. Set It Off feat. Lazerdisk Party Sex

Purchase link:

http://www.bluecollardistro.com/maddecent/product_info.php?products_id=7196&cPath=320_335&store=1

http://www.bluecollardistro.com/maddecent/product_info.php?products_id=7197&cPath=320_335&store=

Apparently the Toronto Star thinks I’m the face of the new Ossington Strip generation, as seen in this pic snapped by photo-journalist Nick Kozak at the 190z condo sales centre launch from a couple of weeks ago, featured on the front page of last Friday’s LIFE section.

The event was put on by KG&A, and featured apps from local restos and a performance by , Eight And A Half, the latest shoegazer/pretty boy indie rock band comprised of Justin Peroff (Broken Social Scene, defunct, RIP) and two members from The Stills (also defunct RIP). Stay tuned for more events at 1090z in their derelict upper warehouse space!

I’d like to spread much love for Palladium Boots who have been persevering for decades in the shoe market. Their latest SLIM collection demonstrates low-profile interpretations of their already classic styles.

The collection features new designs but retains many signature Palladium design elements, such as the rubber outsole and toe cap, in slimmed down versions.  The Slim Oxford, Slim Chukka and Slim Snaps all feature premium materials, like cotton/hemp blend textile and premium-grade leather replete with natural character. Others feature freewheelin’ espadrille-style jute foxing, adding to the summer feel, while the leather shoes feature a Repreve lining, a green fabric made of recycled yarn which wicks moisture away from the foot for sweat control.

Release name :   Where Is My Mind
Release date :    June 29 2012
Label              :   Maetta
style               :   Techno
Catalog number: MAETTA001

Artwork : philomene251 – 2012 – All rights reserved

www.facebook.com/philomene251

I first met FLIM sometime in 2005 or 2006 when he was living in a converted industrial laundromat with the Toronto Freetekno collective, around Vaughn & St. Clair. It was an epic and surreal environment, where anything could happen, and there were so  many tales to tell, but i will have to get to those another day.   Flim’s made some great progress in the past few years and his tunes are regularly listed in  The Hacker’s Top 10 picks on Beatport. I’m proud to have watched Flim’s progress over the years and gives me a weird glitchy feeling in my heart, aw.

Here are a couple of previews of tracks that will be available on BeatPort and other electronic music sites on June 29, 2012.

From the label: Maetta proudly presents their first official release: FLIM’s “Where isMy Mind:  The Abstract Dissonance Sound of the Future”, including “One Night in Lyon”, a high energy crossover style techno EP with minimal and fast techno influences throughout.

[Originally published in TaiwanNights.com, Circa 2007]

The West 15 Diner appeared magically into my life like some kind of sleep deprived hallucination.  First, my friend points it out to me one day, and next thing I know, I’m invited for a birthday dinner there. I was told that it was quite the scene, consisting mostly of Westerner-loving Taiwanese kids, and sure enough, I was greeted with a loud hello from the first table on the outside porch.  As you sit down, the waiter immediately arrives with various courses, each one as “exciting” to the Western palate as the last.  From pork chop quesadilla to country fried chicken knuckles, this place runs the gamut of exciting and exotic American home cooking.   The soup was the most inventive – watery tomato based veggie, featuring celery and black olives? Is this part of the Mexican theme? Equally watery were the beverages, and the floor across from our table due to the leaking drink machines!  The chicken wings were probably done best; one can always count on Taiwan for decent bbq food. Coupled with an all you can eat feature, the restaurant comes with ‘western’ cowboy and cowgirl waiters, sporting plaid shirts and cowboy hats, delivering your food, course by course.  Some of the courses were more Down South style (fried chicken and wings) others were more Italian American (Caesar salad, pizza, spinach pasta with cream sauce) but still the most bizarre part of the meal, that didn’t quite fit in anywhere was the desert, consisting of hot, fresh out of the oven, short bread cookies!? For 298 NT plus 10% service charge, I would say that one does get their money’s worth, so arrive on an empty stomach.  The full meal consists of about 7 courses, with more always on hand if desired.  The restaurant also offers lunch and a reduced ‘tea time’ menu, so as not to alienate any commonwealth expats who might have gotten lost stumbling out of Carnegies (just down the street) after their noontime time bevvy.

This place is hard to miss, just look for the Saloon/Verandah looking place with the equally surreal storybook house school across the street.

No.15, Lane 11, Leli rd.

[JS]

I ran into an old acquaintance last week, @LaurynElanZuk a few weeks ago in Kensington Market and was questioned on my knowledge of the War of 1812. Naturally, I couldn’t resist getting a little silly on camera.  Looks like I need to go back to my history books, because I got things a bit wrong, but it’s too bad they cut my Southpark Cowboys Vs. Aliens-inspired rant!

Lucky for Lauryn and her team, The Huffington Post picked up the promo piece and wrote it up below.

http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2012/04/25/war-of-1812-video_n_1453556.html

Why so much confusion about the War Of 1812?

Quick history quiz. Who started the War Of 1812? Who fought in it? Who won?

If you’re like many Canadians, chances are you don’t know the answer to these questions. Even though the war played a pivotal role in the eventual creation of Canada and would shape the development of the United States.

Or as writer Stephen Marche explained in the Walrus, “For the US, the war confirmed its status as a sovereign state and tested the limits of manifest destiny. On this side of the border, the matter is much simpler: if we hadn’t won the War of 1812, we wouldn’t be Canadian.”

The producers of 1812: Forged In Fire, an upcoming documentary about the conflict, took to Toronto’s streets and asked people what they knew about the War of 1812. The answer, not a heck of a lot. It’s a bit surprising considering one of the war’s pivotal battles took place right here in Toronto (then called York) and nearly destroyed the fledgling city.

People do remember that story about British (Canadian?) troops burning down the White House (sorta).

So this is me. No, not the stunt walkin Rabbi, but the Rabbi’s double. The guy who pulls the quick change and leaves the cabby at the end of the ad.  Not exactly a masterpiece of modern commercial acting, but a piece of acting none the less that landed me my first ACTRA (actors union) credit, after banging my head against a wall to no avail for a good five years prior, to the point where I gave up on the whole endeavour and moved on to other things, only to return to my old agents in December 2011. Getting into ACTRA is no mean feat, and I like to call my entry an act of G-d.  My casting for the role was pure serendipity — an application for a vague position posted on Jigsaw Casting Ltd.’s Facebook page that stated  ”Seeking!!! – Male, caucasian. To fit the following sizes. Height 5’8 / 5’9. Neck 16, Jacket 40, Waist 34. Possibly has curly hair but dont limit.”… and the decisive line… “does not need to be union.”   I wrote in stating my stats which were in the right ballpark and forgot about it.

A day or two later I got the call to come in for the fitting and bingo-bango, I was in.  To be honest, I was told very little about the role and almost didn’t show because I thought I was going to be used as a stand-in for the actual Rabbi (for no pay since the TJFF is a charity, making this a PSA).  Good thing I sucked it up because little did I know that this was an ACTRA production, which meant that anyone on the set was elligible to join by default.  And so, my life has changed as the little seed I planted, watered and nourished years ago, has now flourished.  I wish I could quote some wise words from the Talmud or the Tanach because I’m sure there is a  story in there that mirrors my experience, but I ‘ll leave that  to the pros, and the more experienced Hollywood jews, hehe.   I’m grateful for the blessings and my entry into the union couldn’t have been more fitting.  Yes, G-d is great. :)

I’ve not yet met designer Henrik Vibskov, in fact, but I did get to chat with Danish rock star/dj/producer  Anders Trentemøller whom he toured with last year during his phenomenal Coachella tour, so I guess that I do have 1 degree of separation, which is pretty damn cool. I’ve always been a fan of his abstract and avant garde fashion, so i was  blown away when I heard he would be sessioning with the band.  Here’s a little quote from Anders, on his time with Henrik.

“Its funny, I didn’t know he was famous when I met him. We were just jamming with friends one night, really drunk. It was later that I went to a local shop and saw his name on all the clothes that I realized. It was nice for him to take a break from fashion and have music as a creative outlet. The fashion world can be very superficial sometimes.”

From the release, “Henrik Vibskov is the first comprehensive presentation of his remarkably multifaceted creative vision. Many of the enlightening texts and project descriptions are written by Vibskov himself. They offer deeply personal insight into the twisted yet tantalizing worlds that he creates on a daily basis.

Forty years ago Henrik Vibskov was born in the backcountry of Denmark. Ten years ago he founded his fashion label whose acclaimed collections are now shown regularly at international shows such as Paris Men’s Fashion Week. In addition, Vibskov keeps himself occupied touring as the drummer of various musical projects. His art has been exhibited in museums and galleries around the world including MoMA PS1 and Sotheby’s Gallery in New York, Palais de Tokyo in Paris, Akira Ikeda Gallery in Nagoya, and the ICA in London.

One does not need to understand Vibskov’s work in order to instinctually grasp how relevant it has become for the future of art and fashion. Capturing his incomparable skill at melding and staging concept, space, and object, this monograph is inspirational for anyone working creatively.”