news feeds nov 19

Those NASA folk can see far. Scientists at the Space Telescope Science Institute in Baltimore have used the Hubble telescope to 'scope' out a galaxy 13.3 billion light years away. It is the most distant galaxy ever discovered in the universe. The tiny galaxy, named MACS0647-JD (catchy name), may be in the early stages of forming a larger galaxy and is only 600 light years wide, as opposed to our own Milky Way's width of 150,000 light years. Light years are a unit of distance in space which measures the distance that light travels in a year, and since MACS0647-JD is 13 billion and change light years away the light were are seeing has travelled 13.3 billion years to reach Earth, back when the small galaxy was a mere 420 million years old, and could be drastically different, or not even exist by now. For us to see it what it is like today, we would have to wait another 13 billion years, give or take a million but unfortunately I am swamped this week.

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Internet wise asses are having fun with the Mayan calendar this year. "Dick Clark dies. Can't ring in the new year. Well played, Mayan, well played." They are slightly amusing at best, as most memes are. Hostess brands have filed for bankruptcy and will be selling off all their assets including the twinkle, which was said to survive a nuclear holocaust (and confirmed by an early Y2K Family Guy episode), are going to stop being made, sparking more meme concerns: "Dick Clark dead. Twinkies dead. We are really all going to die this year," "So, Twinkies, which were supposed to survive a nuclear holocaust, die 3 weeks before the end of the world? Well played, Mayans." Sorry, I got googling twinkle and Mayan memes and have digressed. Don't worry people Hostess is selling off it parts, which include Twinkies, Ding Dongs and Ho Ho's to the highest bidder due to the high brand recognition and the goodwill associated with the name. Twinkies alone has already made $68 million this year alone.. so snack on that for lunch! 

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They have found an etching by Surrealist Salvador Dali at a Goodwill Store in Tacoma, Washington earlier this week. The hand signed pieced was spotted by an employee familiar with Dali/water bongs and has been place on the Goodwill auctioning website. The price started at $999, an absolute bargain and has soared to $10,500 and there is still three days left to go. It ranks among the highest items ever sold on their site, already in second place but a long distance behind an original Frank Weston Benson watercolour that went for $165,002. Just because those places smell a little strange doesn't mean you can find great things. Last time I was there I scored a copy of Doughboys "Crush" on cassette for 30 cents! I just need to get a cassette deck...

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Rage Against the Machine are celebrating the 20th anniversary of the breakthrough self titled debut album with about 10 different reissues of the album. Not really, but it will be put out in the form of a remastered CD, a double CD and DVD, a box set with two CDs, two DVDs and an LP, a picture disc and an 180 gram vinyl LP. They have always been a polarizing act, alienating as many fans as they have gained, but it's pretty much undeniable how great the record was. The band only released two other proper albums, 1996's "Evil Empire" and 1999's "Battle of Los Angeles", with the covers album "Renegades" dropping in 2000. Rage Against the Machine was born when Tom Morello left his previous band Lock Up, and when Zack De La Rocha's hardcore punk band Inside Out was dissolved when their guitarist left the band to become a monk. Inside Out only had on official studio release, 1990's "No Spiritual Surrender" on Revelation Records which is six furiously intense songs, with Zach trademark rapping completely absent, and along with the first full length, might be the best thing he has ever done. Inside Out had finished writing their debut full length, but never had a chance to record it due to the break up, and was set to be titled "Rage Against the Machine," named after a song of the same name, and a staple in their live set. Rolling Stone has put up a demo version of 'Freedom,' the last track from the first record on their website HERE. And an Inside Out tune to check out:

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Speaking of Rolling Stone magazine, their legendary movie critic Peter Travers has ranked all the James Bond films worst to best to coincide with the release of the 23rd official Bond film, Skyfall. I checked it out last week, a thought it was great. Maybe a touch under Casino Royale but light years ahead of Quantum Of Solace. I can't really pick my favourite Bond film, or actor that portrayed James, but I do know my least favourite actor who played Bond: Timothy Dalton. His two turns as the British MI6 agent, "Licence To Kill" and "The Living Daylights" were definitely the low point of the series, so bad that they didn't make a Bond film from fall 1989 to winter 1995. It was somewhere during this point where I saw my dad's favourite entry in the series, 1973's "Live & Let Die" (he loved the sheriff), follow by "Goldfinger" and "Thunderball." I was ready for this guy from that Remington Steele show as Bond. I'm not sure if it was the impressionable age, the exotic locales shot with much more clarity (technology can be a good thing sometimes), the gadgets, the cars, Famke Janssen - I loved Goldeneye. When you add an amazing video game to a movie that was such an epic return I made it a point to see every Bond film I could, if not all. By this point, I've seen every one, including the spoof Casino Royale, where many actors - including Peter Sellers and Woody Allen - taking on the role of Bond. The only one I haven't seen is the Sean Connery non-MGM film "Never Say Never Again" released in 1983, the same year as the official "Octopussy." I haven't seen it not due to any kind of boycott, but simply that it isn't included in any of the official sets I've gotten. Would be nice to see Sean's last turn as James with a young Kim Basinger playing the Bond girl. For some reason, I've always had a soft spot for the 1985 cheese fest "A View To a Kill." Maybe it was because you got to see Christopher Walken (with bleach blonde hair) as the main villian with Mayday, played by Grace Jones as his sidekick, forming one of the oddest couples I have ever seen on screen (James also slept with her). It was Roger Moore's last time out as 007, and even he admitted he was "about 400 years too old for the part," and although he appears to be struggling at times, it looks like everyone is having a good time out there, especially Walken. The new Bond film, Skyfall, is playing 1,000 times a day in every theatre in the world so go see it, and you can check out Peter Travers ranking of the Bond flicks HERE.

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'CAUSE WE WRITE LOVE SONGS IN C, WE DO POLITICS IN G, WE SING SONGS ABOUT OUR FRIENDS IN E MINOR, SO TEAR DOWN THE STARS NOW AND TAKE UP YOUR GUITARS AND COME ON, FOLKS AND TRY THIS AT HOME!

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all kinds of survival kits

Pretty crazy goings on all along the Eastern seaboard. Hurricane Sandy is unleashing her fury on New York and New Jersey states as we speak, with Atlantic City the hardest hit so far. New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg has evacuated 400,000 people from Lower Manhattan, and other major cities, including Boston, Philadelphia, Washington, and Baltimore will be hit by the weather system dubbed "Frankenstorm."

So, survival kits. Those people who ride the subway wearing surgical masks to prevent airborne diseases probably have the best survival kits. Not so crazy anymore! But after watching the Red Cross rep on CP24 (Toronto News channel) describe stuff you should have in the event of an emergency situation, I realized that I have very little of said items. Did I rush out and buy a water purification tablets and flares? Nope, but I did grab some bottled water, bottled wine, Smart Food, some pillar candles, a few lighters, batteries, apple and some extra batteries. And a deck of cards. The ideal survival kit is supposed to sustain a person for 72 hours, even though I would argue that the ideal survival kit would sustain a person for as long as they need. So, I suppose the trick is to always have these items on hand, so if any disaster should occur you are prepared. But is there different kinds of kits for different kinds of disasters? Probably. Well, yes. The items required for a nuclear disaster would differ than that from say, a World War II soldiers pack, so how are you supposed to be prepared for all situations at any given time? Well, you can't. But you can go through these survival kits below and whichever you think applies to you the most, run with it! Or make a greatest hits from all the kits (that rhymed) and be ready to take on anything that comes your way:

HURRICANE

Since this one currently applies to about 60-70 million, give or take a dozen, here's some genuine hurricane survival necessities for your kit:

• At least a 3-day and preferably a 7-day supply of water (one gallon per person per day)
• Non-perishable food
• Formula, diapers, and other baby supplies
• Manual can opener
• First aid kit
• Prescription and non-prescription medicines
• Toiletries
• Cell phones and battery-powered cell phone chargers
• Battery-powered radios and flashlights
• Plenty of batteries
• Extra cash
• Blankets, sleeping bags, books, and games 

WORLD WAR III/NUCLEAR DISASTER

First thing… on this kit and all the ones below you need to have food and water. That's a given and if you need to be told that you need food or water to survive I don't think you'll make it through any of these disasters anyways.  Alright, so the main thing with a nuclear incident would be shelter since radioactive fallout can be a cold hearted shrew. Fortunately, the time line for a nuclear strike would be similar to the 72 hours in a hurricane situation (but if you can stay in an extra day or two do it) since the radioactive fallout dusts loses its intensity quickly since it emits so much energy. As a result, after 72 hours the dust is only 1/100 as strong or deadly, however you want to look at it. So bring some Yahtzee (and some food and water. Last reminder) and spend some quality time while you wait for the radiation dust to lose power by the minute!

DETAILS ON TURNING YOUR BASEMENT INTO A NUCLEAR SHELTER

[NOTE: This may seem a little uneven now since the first half was written before the storm and the second half after. Toronto was hit pretty minimally, with power outages, a tree down here, a streetcar delayed there but compared to our friends down in NYC/NJ/Mass/DC we got basically nothing, so just hopefully everyone from Haiti, to the Carolinas all the way up to Quebec City are alright. It is still good to be prepared for any kind of natural or undead crisis. In fact, according to this video, if Mitt Romney is elected then a zombie apocalypse could be inevitable]

END OF THE WORLD 2012

Since the Mayan calendar is coming to an end and December 21 is the last day on earth, a company in Mexico has come up with an end of the world survival kit called "Just In Case." Those cheeky bastards. The kit includes chocolate abuelita, which is dark chocolate lace in cinnamon covered in sugar. Apparently it will make you feel well under any circumstance. Hope they have done their research of potential circumstances. A yellow notebook to track your post-apocalyptic adventure or for those balmy winter evening it can also be used to start a fire. A simple knife is included which is a clean blade knife, with no serrated edges whatsoever. It doesn't seem quite as functional as the Swiss Army blade which has a knife, a nail file, a fork, a spoon, a corkscrew (the wine will still be good right?) and a magnifying glass to burn insects with. There is a pack of black matches to light a fire in style. While the colour of the match pointed out, it failed to indicate whether they are water proof at all. Onto the liquid. There is one litre of basic water that if rationed properly can keep you going up to ten days. When that runs out and there is no hope they were kind enough to include a Mayan Liquer called Xtabentun D'Aristi to tie one last one on. The packaging is sleek, and it actually does look quite fashionable. Unfortunately, I don't think you'd survive too long with this thing other than the warm syrupy Mayan liqueur. 

Some people take the end of the world a little more seriously, going fully McGyver with their kits. US Special Army Forces Cpt. 'Mykel Hawke' has pieced together a killer survival kit, Gary Busey style! Here's his killer list of stuff:

• Small Compass: General direction type
• Emergency Space Blanket: Lightweight, pocket type
• Emergency Poncho: Lightweight, pocket type
• Signal Whistle: Any type will do
• Wire Saw: BCB International
• Signal Mirror: One or three piece type
• Pocket Knife: Folding type w serrated blade
• LED Flashlight: Extra batteries attached to it with tape
• Orange Duct Tape: 30 inches, used for marking trails, first aid bandage
• Magnesium & Flint Fire Starter: Remove the metal striker & use the knife to strike the flint side to start your fires
• Orange Plastic Shelter: This is a 7x2.5 foot trash bag used for leaves that can be cut up and used to make a shelter, rain poncho or for signalling
• Paracord Inner Strands: Minimum 100 ft, use as fishing line, tie down, putting up shelters, snares, traps
• July 4th Roman Candle: Modified, cut down & sealed in wax to keep it waterproof along with 3 "strike anywhere" matches
• Condoms & Purification Tablets: 2 x condoms & 8 x water purification tablets (why are the condoms and tablets listed together?)
• Thick Rubber Bands: When attached together they can be used to make an improvised weapon such as a sling shot, spear gun or cross bow
• Orange Toy Punching Balloon: Can be used when blown up as a signalling device and as an improvise flotation device
• Snare Kit: 12 feet of wire along with 5 mini split rings and/or swivels for making animal traps & snares
• Fishing Kit: 20 feet of fishing line and 6 assorted hooks, swivels, and 5 screw eyelets for making an improvised fishing pole of setting up a trout line
• Cement Nails: Assorted sizes, used to making fishing and hunting spears, arrow heads
• Band Aids: Guess what for?
• Pencil Sharpener: Use it to make "paper thin" tinder sheets for starting fires
• Trick Birthday Candle: Once lit, won't blow out so it's great for starting fires when it's windy
• Wet Ones: For cleaning cut, injuries and can be used for igniting fires as well

You can check out the Cpt. Hawke's (sounds made up) survival website HERE. Pretty intense and paranoid stuff.

ZOMBIE INVASION

I'm actually to the point where I can't tell if people genuinely believe that there will be a zombie apocalypse or just some macabre fantasy taken too far. It started off simple enough, zombies appeared in George Romero's 'Dead' trilogy, the Evil Dead trilogy follow. No one really seemed to care much about at all until the remakes of Romero films came out. Then the zombie walk… followed by Pride & Prejudice & Zombies/World War Z and graphic novels. Zombies are everywhere, and despite the fact that I'm pretty sick of them, in case it does happen here are some key items. There's tons of websites out there devoted to inciting the zombie apocalypse, and even more survival kits to survive it. And, don't really buy a shotgun. I'm 99% sure there will be no zombies but if you are worried about that sort of thing here you go; from the folks over at the instructables.com:

• Shotgun; 300-600 rounds of ammo. Because you never know
• Good comfy backpack: You'll need a lot of storage for your gear
• Sleeping Bag: You will have to sleep sooner or later
• Ear Plugs: To drown out the moaning of the undead
• Red Glow Sticks: Good light source
• Hatchet or Machete: Both make great close quarters weapons & both are excellent survival tools
• Folding Shovel: Another good close quarters weapon & for digging latrines
• Local Map: Preferably a state or provincial map with roads/backroads and bodies of water
• Compass: To work with your map and help you navigate
• Self Powered Flashlight & Radio: You need to see & keep up with current events
• Rope: You'll need a lot, say a few hundred feet and make sure it's of good quality
• 8'x10' Tarp: Makes a good, quick tent
• First Aid Kit: Make sure its not a cheap one & put it in a waterproof bag that gauze won't do any good wet
• 12 Big Thick Garbage Bags: Good for everything from waterproofing your pack to making a poncho, to making a shower
• 2 Rolls of Paper Towels: Good for toilet paper & snot rags
• 2 or 3 Set of Space Clothing: Obvious reasons
• Deck of Cards & a Novel: You will get bored
• 2 Pocket Knives: The uses are endless
• Multitool: Again, they can do anything from opening cans to cutting wire
• Credit Card: Who know when you'll need plastic. And it can jimmy locks
• 4 Burlap Sacks: If you'd like to make a quick foxhole/barricade
• Waterproof Matches/Flint/Steel: You'll need fire

And I don't think any survival kit list would be complete without something from the Survivorman himself Les Stround. This actually isn't a kit of his, but a compiled list of all that handy little gadgets that were featured throughout his shows run. Take a look of Les' best gadgets HERE.

That's pretty much all I have on the survival front. Semi-informative. Semi-stupid. It happens. Anyways, again, hope everyone is coping ok down in the US and the Caribbean, and don't worry, NYC will have 'I Survived Frankenstorm 2012' shirts on the streets in no time... Be safe!

london 2012

We are almost two weeks into the Olympics and I was pretty on board when they started, having checked out many events from rowing to swimming to gymnastics. Where I started to get irked was around the badminton match between China's Wang Xiaoli & Yu Yang and South Korea's Jung Kyung-eun & Kim Ha-na. I've seen someone throw a game before, but I have never seen both sides trying to lose. The match didn't feature a rally of over four returns (you can do better than that in your backyard with ten beers in your system), with serves being hit into the net and routine shots hit way long. The same thing happened with the Ha Jung-eun & Kim Min-jung (South Korea) versus Meiliana Jauhari (Indonesia). Both teams were looking for an easier draw next round, but throwing games doesn't really go along with the ethics of sportsmanship in the Olympics. All eight competitors were disqualified. 

The social media doesn't bother me as much, since you can say what you want (within reason) in this day and age, not to mention that something that may appear to be accepted in some cultures may not in others. So, I take that with a grain of salt, and actually am kind of surprised by how many athletes have been expelled because of Twitter and Facebooking comments (like the pictured Greek triple jumper who was expelled just before the games).  

What did it for me, and many Canadians was the Canada-US female soccer game. The Canadians are leading the Americans 3-2 with time almost expired. Canadian goalie Erin McLeod held the ball for more than 6 seconds and apparently that is a violation, but one that it seldom called especially at such a crucial time of the game. The US is awarded a free kick and on the ensuing play the ball, at least semi-indirectly, hits a Canadian defender and we get called on a handball, then American Abby Wambach scores on the penalty kick awarded to them for the aforementioned handball. The US won it 4-3 in extra time. Forward Christine Sinclair, the best female player on the Canada team and arguably the world, said after the game "the ref decided the result before the game started." FIFA (who apparently is governing body at the Olympics?) is looking into the incidents/comments to see if supplementary action against the Canadians is required. Yes, the Canadians comments are being looked into. Not to the absolutely TERRIBLE refereeing. 

Maybe I'm just sick of London 2012, and wish it would stop pre-empting all the baseball games, but I just can't wait for them to be over. You get pretty excited at the start, then it wanes, slowly, as you watch the games unfold, then you become sick of them because of the politics and apparent match fixing. It's on every channel, every morning, then recaps all afternoon. And we're not doing too great on the Canadian front. I think we are better suited for the winter Olympics since everyone thinks we live in igloos anyways. But we can ski, skate, play hockey and curl... so spread that on your discus and smoke it!