Summit Energy and other solicitors who come to the door.

I had someone from Summit Energy come to my house the other day saying they were checking the hot water tanks in the neighbourhood and replacing old inefficient ones with new Energy Star ones for free. I'm a skeptical guy but this seemed like a legitimate reason to let him in. He checked the tank and saw that it was 10 years old and said that they would replace it. That seemed like a good thing so I made the appointment to have someone come and do that. A new, energy efficient tank installed for free, you can't go wrong I thought. He said it would cost $16.45 (including tax) a month, which was just under a dollar cheaper then what I currently pay.

To do this he said he needed to see an Enbridge bill, which I provided. He saw that I was paying $0.499000 per m3 for my gas and said he could get it lowered to $0.299000 which also seemed like a good deal. We called Enbridge and locked that price in for 5 years. I didn't sign anything though, I was just given a confirmation number, the agent's name and the agent's ID number.

I realized after he left that I'd signed a "Summit Energy Evergreen Program" registration form, which is to pay $14.99 a month. With that $14.99 Summit purchases carbon credits to offset my household's electricity emissions.

I also realized while doing the math that the new tank would indeed be slightly more expensive, not less. Also, while reading the fine print of the contract I noticed it says "This tank is not currently available in ENERGY STAR qualified version". Figures.

These guys use tactics and know what to say so that you don't think to ask too many questions, read the fine print and question everything. I asked tons of questions and still missed all of this stuff.

I went online and read tons of bad stuff about Summit Energy so I decided, as per the Government's Ontario Energy Board's "10 day cooling-off period", I would contact the company and cancel everything I signed with them.

After doing that I also called Direct Energy (we were in a locked-price contract with them for 5 years, and from there they tell Enbridge what to charge us) and found out that our contract with them ended in February 2009. We were at $0.37 when the contract expired, they then put us at $0.49 for a year because we didn't contact them to renew. That ended in February 2010. I canceled outright with them. Endbridge will price us directly for the gas now and they are currently at $0.12. What a difference from $0.49 to $0.12 m3!

So, to sum up, we would've paid $16.45 a month for the hot water tank, plus $14.99 a month for the "Summit Energy Evergreen Program" and our gas would've been at $0.49. After the calls I made and the cancellations, we are now paying $13.45 a month for the hot water tank and only $0.12 for our gas. A huge monthly savings.

So, all of this to say, do not sign anything from people who come to the door, no matter who they are or for what. At least, I never will again.

TIFF09 – Day 9 -- Last Day!

Out way too late last night to even try and attempt to make my 1st film today so I skipped it. It was Ong Bak 2. I'll see it on DVD.

Valhalla Rising

Actual 1st film of the day is now Valhalla Rising, a Viking film! We need more Viking films!

Valhalla Rising was slow as fuck and the crowd sucked. Despite that i still enjoyed it.

The star of Valhalla Rising, Mads Mikkelsen did a Q&A.

The Imaginarium of Dr. Parnassus

Second film was The Imaginarium of Dr. Parnassus, the new Terry Gilliam film & Heath Ledger's last. Gilliam introduced the film.

It was very good, extremely imaginative & entertaining. Cast was great, especially Christopher Plummer. Fun for whole family.

Terry Gilliam did a great Q&A, as usual.

Mother

Last film of #TIFF09 is Mother from Korea: A mother desperately searches for the killer that framed her son for their horrific murder.

Mother was very good, a well paced slow burn of a movie. Lead actress was fantastic.

And with that, #TIFF09 ends for me for another year.

TIFF09 – Day 8

Day 8 (for me) of #TIFF09, it’s all turning into a blur.

Happened to glance at my schedule & realized, just in nick of time, that I was heading to wrong theatre. Close call!

My Year Without Sex

1st film today was My Year Without Sex, a nice lil’ Australian flick. Saw the director’s first film at at TIFF and loved it so I saw her new one.

The Invention of Lying

Next up: The Invention of Lying, Ricky Gervais’ movie directing debut. Hope he’s there for Q&A!

Not a fan of the Winter Garden theatre. It’s nice but not right for movies. Seats uncomfortable & the no food or drink is bullshit.

Booo, no Gervais or Q&A at all, that’s disappointing. Film was great though! Mainstream but very funny & Gervais is great in it!

Perrier’s Bounty

Up next is Irish film called ‘Perrier’s Bounty’ with Cillian Murphy, Jim Broadbent & Brendan Gleeson. High hopes for this one.

Plot: A gangster named Perrier looks to exact revenge on a trio of fugitives responsible for the accidental death of one of his cronies.

Unfortunately, no one was there for Perriers Bounty. This late in the fest, it’s rare that films get Q&As. Pretty good film though.

Enjoyed Cillian Murphy as usual, good little caper film. Tonight at 9:00: The White Stripes: Under Great White Northern Lights.

The White Stripes: Under Great White Northern Lights

Documentary looks back on the White Stripes’ ambitious 2007 tour of Canada, during which they played in every province and territory.

The back of Jack White!

The film was great, with great performances and interesting stuff off the stage as well.

The band was there to introduce the film and the crowd was one of the rowdiest and most fun I’ve ever been part of. Had a great time!

TIFF09 – Day 7

The Damned United

Starting today off with Damned United: A look at Brian Clough’s 44-day reign as the coach of Leeds United.

It was good, a nice enjoyable English flick. ***

What a cast! Michael Sheen, Jim Broadbent, Timothy Spall, Colm Meaney and more.

Micmacs

Up next, the new Jean-Pierre Jeunet film. Pretty excited as I love all his films. Delicatessen, City of Lost Children, Amelie and more.

A much deserved standing ovation for Jean Pierre Jeunet.

Q&A with Jean Pierre Jeunet.

Jeunet’s ‘Micmacs et Tire a Largot’ was fantastic, as expected. Whimsical, funny, inventive and great looking, simply awesome.

Also, I’m calling it as the winner of People’s Choice. Crowd LOVED it! I called Slumdog Millionaire last year and it won.

Vengeance

Next up is Johnnie To’s ‘Vengeance’. One of my fave directors…

‘Vengeance’ was a tad disappointing. Good action, stylish, good cast but story lacking. Many, many better Johnnie To films. ***

TIFF09 – Day 6

Youth in Revolt

Day 6 of #TIFF09. First film is Youth in Revolt starring Michael Cera & directed by Miguel Artata, director of The Good Girl & Chuck & Buck.

Youth in Revolt was really good, a very funny movie. Great cast too. ***1/2

Trailer: http://bit.ly/rAvqr

Bitch Slap

Up next is Bitch Slap, a Midnight Madness film. You have to check out the trailer http://bit.ly/NQsSP

Bitch Slap was fun. It’s not a great film by any means but it intends to be a B-Movie and succeeds at that. It’s very much a Russ Meyer tribute, big breasted dames kicking the shit out of each other.

TIFF09 – Day 5

The Joneses

Good morning! First film today is The Joneses, a dark comedy about rival neighbors whose quest for the best turns deadly.

A clever premise, that I did not know about, I liked it! Duchovny and Demi Moore were good in it. ***1/2

The Last Days of Emma Blanks

A woman living in a large country home drives her servants to mutiny with her outrageous demands as she waits for death to come for her.

Last Days of Emma Blank was pretty good. Some funny black humour. A Film I’d otherwise not had an opportunity to see. ***

The Informant!

Next up was the new Soderbergh film ‘The Informant!’ starring Matt Damon. Very good and really funny! Damon was hilarious in it.****

Unfortunately since it was the 3rd screening of it at #TIFF09 there was no one there for a Q&A, they’ve since gone home.

TIFF09 – Day 4

Solitary Man

First film today is Solitary Man. A car magnate watches his personal & professional life hit the skids because of business & romantic indiscretions.

Solitary Man was pretty good. Nice little movie. Great performance by Michael Douglas. Lots of great supporting cast. ***1/2

Get Low

Get Low was next, about a mysterious 1930s Tennessee hermit who threw his own rollicking funeral party while he was still alive.

Starring Robert Duvall along with Bill Murray and Sissy Spacek, it was spectacular! Best of the fest so far…

Duvall gives one of the best performances of his whole career and the rest of the cast is fantastic as well.

if there’s any justice this will get an American distributor and a best actor nomination for Duvall.

P.S. Q&A for Get Low earlier with director Aaron Schneider (with some great Bill Murray stories):

Harry Brown

Next was Harry Brown: An elderly ex-serviceman & widower looks to avenge his best friend’s murder by doling out his own form of justice.

Harry Brown stars Michael Caine & he’s (as usual) great in it. It’s gritty & quite intense at times. Caine dishing out justice! ****

And so ends another #TIFF09 day. All good movies today which is awesome. A few beers and taking it easy tonight.

TIFF09 – Day 3

Day 3 of #TIFF09 ! 1st film this morning is an Australian film starring Hugo Weaving called Last Ride.

Last Ride

Plot: A young boy travels across Australia with his father, who’s wanted by the law.

Trailer: http://bit.ly/3Dxe13

Last Ride was really good. Nice, intimate small film. Hugo Weaving and the kid in the film were great. ****

A Conversation with Michael Caine

Next film is not a film, it’s ‘A Conversation with Michael Caine’. Really excited for this. Sitting in row 2!

That was amazing . Better then any movie could've been. Caine is funny, charming. & entertaining. I loved it!

Sam Neil is in the crowd and asks Michael Caine a question.

Suck

Next movie is ‘Suck’, a Rock N Roll Vampire comedy.

A little too cheesy for me but not bad. Music was good, cast as well, lots of cool cameos but it lacked something.

Not as funny as expected. ***

Q&A with director, D.P., some cast and more. And that’s it for another day of #TIFF09

TIFF09 – Day 2

Day 2 of #TIFF09. Weekends are the hardest, got to bed at 1:30 and up at 6:30 this morning.

Off to a good start, I just missed the bus…

Antichrist

What a way to start the day, with Lars Von Triers controversial ‘Antichrist’! Go watch the trailer: http://bit.ly/2njEI

Apparently someone threw up at Thursday’s screening of Antichrist — awesome!

Antichrist: That will take some thought. Disturbing but not as much as it was made out to be. I liked it, just not sure how much. *** out of 5

Jennifer’s Body

Next movie is Jennifer’s Body. Horror flick written by Diablo Cody & starring Megan Fox. Looks fun.

Jennifer’s Body trailer: http://bit.ly/YWYRx

Q&A with director of Jennifer’s Body, Karyn Kusama.

Jennifer’s Body was pretty good. A mainstream horror film — think Fright Night and the like. Enjoyable & fun. ***1/2

The Dirty Saints

Next film is The Dirty Saints. An apocalyptic feature. I know nothing about it. Hope it’s good.

The Dirty Saints: I fell asleep and I left during the movie. A bunch of fuckin’ nothing. *1/2

Backyard

Next film is Backyard. Mexican film about women disappearing along border. Jimmy Smits is in it. I like Jimmy Smits.

Trailer for Backyard: http://bit.ly/wXmHi

Backyard was very good. Well written, well acted, informative, etc. Recommend! ****

Four movies today: Done. Now, beer with friends!

TIFF09 – Day 1

Here's a recap of my TIFF experience for those not on Twitter:

A few hours of work and then #TIFF09 officially starts for me. Good night’s sleep and work out this a.m. and I’m ready to go!

Cleanflix

First #TIFF09 movie: Cleanflix: Follows the sanitized movie industry from inception to collapse. Starting with Kate Winslet’s bare breasts in Titanic and the Mormon culture that didn’t want to see them, the film launches into the numerous legal and theoretical debates that led to a DGA lawsuit involving industry titans like Martin Scorsese, Steven Soderbergh, Steven Spielberg, and Robert Redford. And that’s only the beginning. ” Looks like an interesting one for sure.

TIFF page: http://twurl.nl/8nyvyg

Well that’s a first: At AMC, movie’s in cinema 2 and we are waiting in cinema 1. Odd.

Bring on the Mormons!

A lot of people involved with the film Cleanflix for the Q&A!



Cleanflix: **1/2 out of 5. Interesting subject but the film's a little long and dull at times. Worth seeing though.

Another Post Bites The Dust

(sung to Queen's Another One Bites the Dust)

Another post bites the dust,
another post bites the dust yeah,
Another post bites the dust
another post bites the dust yeah, hey...

Crystal Stilts - Alight of Night

A new band today and one I haven't even heard yet, but based on the buzz and what I've read, I'm pretty confident I will dig them: Crystal Stilts' debut album Alight of Night.

On Crystal Stilts' first full-length album, Alight of Night, the bandmembers aren't afraid to rely heavily on their obvious influences. On display for all to hear are the reverbed darkness of the early Jesus and Mary Chain, the twee punk energy of the Shop Assistants, the classic autumnal songcraft of Black Tambourine, and the raw and ragged production values of a hundred bands from the Seeds to Green on Red to Boyracer. Throw in some Velvet Underground (you have to when you have a female drummer who plays standing, right?), some C86, and some Love, and stir vigorously. What you end up with could be tired and derivative-sounding or it could be a thrilling mess of distorted energy. Alight of Night falls squarely in the latter half of that equation, and this is how they pull it off. For starters, there are the vocals of Brad Hargett. He mumbles and croons in a deadpan voice so mopey it feels like his face would crack if he ever fully formed syllables, much less words. Hargett hovers over the songs like a disaffected ghost, never cracking a smile or betraying any hint of lightness. It may take a spin or two to get past the remote iciness of his singing, but once you do it sounds perfectly appropriate in the context of the music, and his broken soul begins to seep into your brain. Next, they never make a false move musically. There are no lame solos, no lapses in taste, no moments they will wish they had back to do over. The band (wire-tough guitars by JB Townsend, powerful and simple drums from Frankie Rose) rocks hard when the song calls for it and provides the energy and drive that Hargett's vocals lack. It's a perfect blend of psychedelic gloom and garage rock punch, of indie pop hooks and girl group drama, of noise and candy. It's obvious from the first few seconds of Alight of Night that Crystal Stilts aren't doing anything new or innovative, and that's all right. They give the old noise pop formula enough of a kick to make this a very worthwhile addition to any noise pop fan's collection. - allmusic

Click here.

No embeddable videos available but you can listen to a track here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T6rKyzjd2LA

The Fashion - The Fashion

2 posts in 2 days, look at me go! Here's another album for your perusal, The Fashion's self titled album from 2007. Some history:

Danceable post-punk band The Fashion made a big splash in their native Denmark with their 2003 debut album, but the core members of the group had been playing together since 1995. All three hail from the town of Svendborg, and their joint musical ventures had ranged from industrial metal group Faceplant to the punky Joyphilter. Despite developing a strong fan base in that latter incarnation, they decided to start again from scratch after the departure of Joyphilter's drummer, drafting in Jakob Ankaer Johansen on drums and Christoffer Griebel on keyboards. A three-song 3" CD on the indie label North Post led to the newly formed group signing with BMG, who released their debut full-length as the Fashion, 2003's Rock Rock Kiss Kiss Combo. The upbeat singles "Let's Go Dancing" and "Roller Disco Inferno" blended the spiky guitar rock of the internationally burgeoning dance-punk trend with a particular sprightly sense of fun comparable to fellow Danes Junior Senior. Despite some success across Europe and attention from MTV and Rolling Stone, they took an extended break from touring and recording, during which members of the group went back to school, started families, and honed their songwriting. Now a four-piece (keyboardist Griebel had departed shortly after the release of their debut), the band returned in 2007 with a slightly harder-edged self-titled sophomore album, including the poppy singles "Like Knives," "Solo Impala," and "Letters from the Ambulance." The Fashion was slated for a 2008 release in many countries, including the U.S., and the group planned an extensive international tour to correspond.

The Fashion have brought their self-titled album all the way from Denmark to re-energize the rock scene. The Fashion is packed with catchy beats, catchy hooks and contagious energy. The vigor of the album can be attributed to the surprisingly fun pop beats that seem to defy a pop sound as The Fashion stay grounded in a blended rock/punk/pop genre. The vivacious vocals from lead singer Jakob Printzlau don’t hurt either.

The first track, ‘Dead Boys’ starts with an electric guitar, which is soon joined by the signature catchy beat of the drum that continues throughout the album to pump up listeners and prove that these boys are anything but dead. ‘Solo Impala (Take the Money and Run)’ contains another infectious beat with an equally infectious chorus that will have listeners singing along.

‘Letters from the Ambulance’ is definitely party-worthy and danceable even, with a pop feel accented by a dark bass. Though Printzlau’s vocals hint at a punk persuasion, his appeal is more universal. ‘Letters,’ as well as other tracks, is similar to something you might hear from Modest Mouse with the vocal and production styles.

‘Like Knives’ features a quick pace and Printzlau suggesting to “cut it like a DJ,” as the percussion and electric guitars continue on the same vigorous runs as other tracks. The consistent high energy is one of the highlights of the album, along with consistently good choruses on each track that are just too catchy not to join in. The Fashion tone it down and let go of the crazy percussion on ‘Apt.,’ but not without a little sadness, as Printzlau sings, “It’s much too quiet in this apartment.”

Though The Fashion hail from Denmark, their album is filled with surprisingly witty lyrical content considering English isn’t the band’s native language. The last track, ‘Vampires with Gold Teeth,’ offers echoing guitars and vocals with almost Beach Boys-esque harmonies that lead into a driving low guitar line and another solid track to end The Fashion in style. Overall, the band makes full use of its percussion with a beat-driven album that is quick paced, catchy and tirelessly energetic. -- realbuzz.com

Click here.

Here's a video for Like Knives, one of my favourite songs from the album:

THE FASHION - Like Knives

Updates to this blog have been severely lacking but it's all the fault of the following:



More updates soon!

Oh yeah!!!

LOST Season Five Official Trailer #1 - video powered by Metacafe

Kings of Leon - Only By The Night

The first few albums by these guys didn't do much for me but starting with their last album, Because of the Times, they have moved in a direction that I really dig. This new album is their best yet in my opinion and the first single, "Sex on Fire", I've no doubt will be in my top 5 singles of the year. What's funny is that most of the reviews I've read have been bashing it as their worst album, so what the fuck do I know I guess. I know I love it at the very least. Do yourself a favour and watch "Sex on Fire" at the end of this post, it's such a fucking amazing song.

America, it seems, doesn't really want the Kings of Leon. Inexplicibly, the countrified rockers are more popular overseas - something their stunning new album might still struggle to change.

On-the-button music magazine Blender could only muster three-and-a-half stars for Only By The Night, despite overwhelmingly lavish praise from British rags Q (four stars) and NME (nine out of 10).

The Brits have got it right. The Kings' fourth album is a pared-back record that replaces those ear-shredding riffs and vocal shrieks that hindered last year's Because of the Times with something more understated, anthemic and unique.

The results are spine-tinglingly thrilling, thanks to one major change: front man Caleb Followill is singing. Like, proper singing.

His indescipherable southern drawl has been replaced by a slower, more pronounced lilt that sounds like he cares - especially on summer smash Sex On Fire and hit-in-waiting Use Somebody.

They're also writing songs that are capable of rocking stadiums and the charts.

If you want anthems, Only By The Night has got them, whether it's the atmospheric opener Closer, the indie-rock of Manhattan, the power-stomp of Crawl and the piano-based sing-along Notion.

Keep saying no, America. The rest of the world will gladly have the Kings of Leon. -- from here.

Click here.

Sex On Fire

The Organ - Thieves

The Organ's debut album Grab That Gun (and only album as they unfortunately broke up) is one of my favourite albums of all time, I love it that much. They released a new 6 song EP of unreleased songs on Oct 14, 2008 called Thieves. I haven't listened to it yet but if it's anything like Grab That Gun then I will love it. I hope you'll check it out.

Attempting to separate themselves from the new millennium surge of post-punk bands, the ladies of the Organ came together in 2001 to design their own original modern sound. Katie Sketch (vocals), Deb Cohen (guitar), Jenny Smyth (organ), Shelby Stocks (drums), and Ashley Webber (bass) hail from Vancouver, and each has an appreciation for bands such as the Cure and the Smiths. In summer 2002, the Organ introduced their dark style with the release of the Sinking Hearts EP. The Canadian press and indie publications across America praised the Organ's dream pop-inflected presentation. By January, the Organ signed to Chad Kroeger's 604 imprint and Mint Records. Plans for a full-length album got on their way almost immediately, with the Organ asking producer/New Pornographers drummer Kurt Dahle to produce the CD. Unfortunately, those sessions proved difficult, forcing the Organ to scrap the material and start over. Producer Paul Forgues soon jumped on board to complete Grab That Gun, which arrived in spring 2004.

Dates for an international tour quickly took shape, but shifts in personnel once again prevented the Organ from getting Grab That Gun off the ground. Bassist Ashley Webber left in December due to creative differences, only to be asked back shortly thereafter so that the band could fulfill previously scheduled European dates. Singles such as "Brother" and "Memorize the City" seemed to get things back on track; both were well-received in the press in mid-2005, while "Brother" appeared in an episode of The L Word during its second season. Webber eventually left the band for a second and final time while performing in Europe, and was later replaced by Sketch's young sister, Shmoo. With a revived lineup and a brand new distribution deal with Too Pure, the Organ continued their trek through the U.K., performing new songs on BBC 6 Music in November 2005.

By the following summer, rumors of a split started to circulate after the Organ canceled the final dates of their U.K. tour, including appearances at the Reading and Leeds festivals, due to an illness within the band. But such rumors proved true come December 2006 when the Organ announced their breakup via their MySpace page and their official website. After the split, Sketch focused on her modeling career, appearing in the U.K. edition of Vogue, among other publications, while Cohen began work on another project, Lovers Love Haters. The Organ reunited briefly to put the finishing touches on the songs they'd written and recorded for what would have been the follow-up to Grab That Gun; the results were featured on the posthumous EP Thieves, which Mint Records released in 2008.

Click here.

"Brother" from their debut album:

What Th'!?

And now the IAMX post is gone...

Placebo - Meds

Today's album is one of my favourite albums of 2006, Meds. If you're not familiar with Placebo, they are considered: Punk Revival/Neo-Glam/Alternative Rock and the like.

With 2004's release of Placebo's singles collection, the band reaffirmed that it has never quite fit into any particular fad. Their success has been gradual in the sense that their style and sound have progressed naturally with each album. Meds builds upon that notion while also embarking on a new phase for Placebo. Meds is their second coming. Frontman Brian Molko is no longer the glam-chic, gender-bending firestarter he once was. His songs are still angry and twisted in self-reflection and social rejection. Meds doesn't contain the rush to experiment like their previous records do. It's as bare and honest as Placebo have ever been, thanks to French producer Dimitri Tikovoi's straightforward approach in getting the band to make a bona fide rock record.

There's a fresh vulnerability here and a sense of danger, too; the album's title track quickly enters this sphere. It's an obsessive moment confronting the social hypnosis and dependence of medication. The Kills' Alison Mosshart lends an anxious vocal backdrop as Placebo deliver an aggressive guitar-driven assault. Meds doesn't stop for breath until its end. Fans should be pleased with the menacing "Infra-Red" and the sexy ensnaring of "One of a Kind," two tracks that showcase Placebo's signature fiery performance style. When they're not deconstructing social expectations, Placebo's storytelling is equally powerful on the more lilting tracks. The shifty slow burn of "Space Monkey" is an epic ballad for the band. Placebo step out of their skin here. A squall of fuzzed guitars, strings, and Molko's brooding vocals strike to knock down the celebrity pedestal that creates a false human image. "Broken Promise," a duet with Michael Stipe, takes similar shape as a dramatic tale of adultery unfolds into a dark, emotional storm. Letting go of toxic relationships on "Song to Say Goodbye," a melancholic closing to Meds, brings the album full circle.

To some, Meds might come off as less interesting compared to the slickness of older tracks such as "Taste in Men" and "Every You Every Me." Some may be over Molko's constant analysis of sex, drugs, and desire. What you see is what you get with Placebo and, for the first time in a long time, that vision is clear.

Click here.

Meanwhile, this is the greatest thing ever!

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