All posts by The Silo

Gaming

Duke Nukem Forever Reviewed After 13 Years Of Game Development

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Duke Nukem Forever – released June 14, 2011. Yeah we know this is an ‘old game’ by most standards but it deserves a special Silo re-visit.

The Duke is back.. and with harsh criticism.

If you’ve ever played any of the previous Duke Nukem games from the 1990’s then you’ll know what to expect from the latest Duke, Duke Nukem Forever. The majority of reviews about the June released  Duke Nukem Forever game are filled with gamers’ expectations and high hopes but immediately reveal their dream crushed realizations. C’mon folks, it’s Duke Nukem! A game that was popular in the 90’s and for good reason – it’s meant to be silly, fun and contain some cheese factor. Known for its incredibly macho yet vulgar main character who strives off his ego and his chicks, Duke Nukem is a game forever built on stereotypes, cheesy one liners, and ridiculous scenarios! My question is simply, is this a bad thing? In a way, I found Duke Nukem Forever a breath of somewhat fresh air. Instead of planning attacks and trying to survive deadly missions and zombies, I was cruising around in a buggy and fighting miniature aliens!

Duke Nukem Forever has nothing on games such as Call of Duty or Gears of War but I think it’s safe to say that this was not the intention here. For example, the plot itself is simple and to the point: aliens land, aliens start stealing women in order to breed while turning men into cops to assist in taking out Duke Nukem.  (of course, its such a simple premise, we could come up with that just walking down the street CP )Duke’s objective: kill aliens, rescue women. This game is not intended to spark the creative and mystical part of your brain rather, allow you to sit back and enjoy the entertainment! Sure it’s not as intense or as gritty as the rest of the games of today, but you also don’t spend the whole game clunking around like a trashcan full of potatoes peeking over chest high walls to shoot at things. After all, it’s a throwback to your youth; you run, you jump, you shoot things.

In terms of the graphics, only mediocre but despite the opinion that the gameplay is slow and non-interactive, I beg to differ. There is lots of chance for adventure depending on how you’re playing the game. If you’re willing to loosen your mental grip on missions and tactics and just have fun with the game, then you’re more likely to see the exciting potential the Duke has to offer.

Some of the points people and critics alike are missing with this game is the sheer compatibility factor to the age group playing this game. Why did everyone love it so much in the 90’s? Duke himself – a stereotypical “manly man” with a foul mouth and the need for ass slapping women from time to time. Nothing has changed in Duke Nukem Forever nor should we expect it to. The game is fun, entertaining and doesn’t rely on continuous strategy. Nor does the game try to get deeper than it needs to be which proves that less rigid gameplay can be a bonus from time to time.

When did video games become so serious? Lighten up a little people and enjoy the silly potty humour once in a while. Duke Nukem Forever is nothing to rave about but it deserves its praise nonetheless. As mentioned, if you pick up this game expecting to have your mind blown then you would be in for disappointment but if you are picking it up and thinking to yourself “what the hell, why not” then you’ve got the right idea. On a scale of 1 to 10 I would rate it a 7.5 for delivering what I had expected and hoped it would, pure entertainment. Also, it’s been in development for 13 years so if you’ve waited that long you should at least play it.

Holly LaRue is a new videogaming writer and reviewer for The Silo and hails from Hamilton, ON She can probably kick your butt at your favourite first person shooter. BANG!

Politics

Ont. Liberals Pledge To End Great Lakes Runoff – Improve Beaches

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For immediate release

STRENGTHENING PROTECTION FOR OUR ENVIRONMENT
Ontario Liberal Plan Introduces Next Chapter To Keep Our Water Clean

TORONTO – Only Ontario Liberals will protect our air, land and water, Children and Youth Services Minister and Minister Responsible for Women’s Issues Laurel Broten announced today.

“Ontario families care deeply about the safety of the air we breathe, the water we drink and the food we grow,” Broten said. “Today we’re taking the next step in our Ontario Liberal Plan to safeguard our environment for our children and our grandchildren.”

Ontario Liberals will defend Ontario’s precious water resources for future generations with a Great Lakes Protection Act that will be the next chapter in clean water for Ontario. It will also ensure that Ontario keeps its edge as a world leader in clean-water protection.

It’s a $52 million program that will help:
*Clean up the pollution hot spots identified by scientists, targeting Nipigon Bay, and Peninsula Harbour on Lake Superior, Detroit River, Niagara River, and the Bay of Quinte on Lake Ontario as the next priorities.
*Better prevent pollution and runoff such as phosphorous from getting into the Great Lakes by working more closely with our regional partners.
*Reconnect Ontarians with the Great Lakes in their communities, by promoting recreational opportunities, improving beaches and supporting community programs.

“Ontario Liberals have been one of the most environmentally progressive and successful governments in North America,” Broten said. “We’re proud today to continue building on our strong record of environmental protection.”

Since 2003, Ontario Liberals have reduced coal-fired electricity by more than 90 per cent – the equivalent of taking 7 million cars off the road. We have reduced pesticides in our waterways by 80 per cent and permanently protected a combined area of greenspace the size of Great Britain. We are also North American leaders for drinking water standards, endangered species legislation and pollution laws.

Under the last PC government, water inspectors were fired and Ontario earned a reputation as one of the worst places in North America for environmental protection. The Hudak PCs would take us backwards – their $14 billion hole would mean deep cuts to environmental protection. The Horwath NDP has turned its back on the environment.
– their priority would be to subsidize gas-guzzlers and they have consistently failed to support our progressive environmental initiatives like the Endangered Species Act, the Far North Act and the cosmetic pesticides ban.

“Protecting our environment is a responsibility we bear towards the next generation,” Broten said. “We – and our children and grandchildren – need the strong, steady environmental stewardship that only Dalton McGuinty can provide as we protect our environment by moving forward, together.”

For further information –
Ontario Liberal Party Media Office:
416 961-3800 ext. 328

Politics

Ont. Green Party Says “Will Use SmartMeters To Put $ In Your Pocket”

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Green Party Will Use Smart Meters to Put Money in Your Pocket

Toronto, Ontario – Green Party of Ontario Leader, Mike Schreiner announced his party’s commitment to Smart Meter changes that encourage innovative ways for Ontarians to save money by saving energy. Schreiner along with Philip Playfair, the owner of Toronto conservation company Lowfoot, spoke at the home of Barry Martin, a Lowfoot customer.

“The Green Party would use smart meters to save us money, by using them to create a market for conservation,” said Schreiner. “Local entrepreneurs such as Lowfoot have already started businesses that pay people to conserve energy. Energy bureaucrats need to move out of the way to foster innovative ideas like this that reward people for efficiency and conservation.”

The Green Party would develop a Conservation Energy Pool (CEP) to serve as a market for kilowatts saved. The CEP would enable entrepreneurs to develop viable businesses that pay people to save energy verified by available smart meter data.

“Our mission is to generate power plant level generation via energy conservation,” said Playfair. “By engaging Ontarians and providing them with their usage information they can take an active role in conservation.”

The Green Party would end the centralized, command and control conservation programs developed by Ontario Power Authority bureaucrats. The Party’s plan would use existing technology to help individuals and businesses to measure their energy use in order to identify and verify savings.

“Getting involved with Lowfoot was a way to help us learn about conserving. Most of our changes were rudimentary-things,” said Martin. “That said, the social nature, gaming aspect and transparency involved helped us become conscious of our habits in a hurry. We now feel great about lowering our consumption and our costs.”

Your Green MPPs will:

– Develop a market for entrepreneurs to deliver conservation and energy efficient products and programs

– Support innovation and investment to make Ontario a leader in the new Energy Economy

End the command-and-control conservation programs developed by Ontario Power Authority bureaucrats, and empower Local Distribution Companies to develop local programs to meet conservation targets.

About Lowfoot Inc. :
Toronto based, Lowfoot Inc. securely connects to smart meter data and automatically displays the client’s electricity usage. They help manage their client’s electricity, reduce bills and help clients earn rewards for their conservation. They also offer a web based social network of people who are conserving energy, wanting to learn how to conserve energy or are interested in their energy use patterns.

For more information on the Green Party of Ontario’s Energy Plan visit: Silo Direct Link To Green Party Ontario PressSite

Media Contact:
Rebecca Harrison
Director of Communications
Green Party of Ontario
(c) 905-999-5479
(e) rebeccaharrison@gpo.ca
Sent from Green Party of Ontario

PO Box 1132
Toronto, ON M4Y 2T8
Canada

Links:
——
Silo Direct Link To Alternative Green Party Ontario PressSite

Politics

Ont. Greens Plan – Expanding Combined Heat And Power Projects

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

London, Ontario–Green Party of Ontario Leader Mike Schreiner announced the party’s plan to expand combined heat and power (CHP) targets to conserve energy and establish a more efficient power system in Ontario.

“Eliminating waste is essential to increasing efficiency and reducing utility bills,” said Schreiner. “Most large buildings and factories in Ontario use natural gas to provide heat. Instead of allowing waste heat to escape unused, why not use these same molecules to provide two services: heat and electricity?”

CHP plants have an overall energy efficiency of 80-90%, an improvement on the 33% efficiency of a standard nuclear reactor. Because of their very high efficiency, CHP plants provide an affordable and flexible source of base load power. “CHP can be implemented at factories, schools, hospitals, malls and large commercial buildings,” added Schreiner. “Plus CHP has the added bonus of providing secure backup power in case of power outages. Given the efficiency gains and affordability of electricity generated by CHP, we believe the current generation target of an additional 500 MW from CHP is far too low.”

CHP can be and is often implemented as part of a district heating system that provides efficient low-cost heat to multiple buildings. Schreiner made the announcement in London, which is home to one of the longest-running district power systems in the province.

The Green Party energy plan includes:

* Increasing electrical generation targets and capacity factors for Combined Heat and Power.
* Prioritizing grid access for affordable Combined Heat and Power projects.
* Supporting the development of efficient district heating and clean energy recovery projects, which includes amending the Ontario Energy Board Act to allow Ontario’s electric and gas utilities to invest in district energy projects.

Media Contact: Rebecca Harrison Director of Communications Green Party of Ontario (c) 905-999-5479
rebeccaharrison@gpo.ca

Sent from Green Party of Ontario

PO Box 1132
Toronto, ON M4Y 2T8
Canada

Art

The Bishop’s Man By Canadian Author Linden MacIntyre

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The Bishop’s Man by Canadian author Linden MacIntyre offers a deep and compelling story of one man’s struggle for atonement. The book revolves around a very controversial and current topic, the sexual abuse of children by Catholic Priests. However, this fictional work is much more than a critique on a current situation; it is a journey and dialogue on themes of loneliness, isolation, redemption and spirituality. This novel follows the characters from MacIntyre’s earlier work, The Long Stretch.

MacIntyre begins his story in the present day, sometime in the 1990s, in southern Cape Breton Island. From the beginning, the reader is taken on a journey through the eyes of Father Duncan MacAskill, a priest known as the Exorcist. Father MacAskill, who grew up in this area, is sent for a break from his regular duties, troubleshooting and cleaning up messes made by priests that threaten to embarrass the Catholic Church. Father MacAskill sees this trip home as less of a homecoming and more of a time of spiritual discovery through current events and reflection. MacIntyre weaves present day with the past as he unwinds Father MacAskil’s complicated and somewhat remorseful past.

Father MacAskill is very good at what he does—making troublesome priests disappear by sending them to far off parishes or rehabilitation in Ontario. Upon his return to Creiginish on southern Cape Breton Island, he befriends a young, 19-year-old Danny MacKay from whose father he purchases a boat. Danny’s character is troubled and before Father MacAskill can really reach him and understand the root of his trouble, he commits suicide. This is especially difficult to take in for Father MacAskill when rumours start to swirl that a relationship with a troublesome priest, Brendan Bell, who was sent away from Newfoundland to Craiginish by MacAskill, may have lead to the ruin of Danny MacKay. Upon this revelation, MacIntyre’s story starts to divulge into the past as Father MacAskill tries to sort through his current situation and his spirituality.


The absorbing narrative takes the reader through his missionary work in Honduras in the 1970s, where he has sent to forget what he saw as a young priest between a well respected priest and a young person. The Honduras narrative is threaded between the present day and other reflections. MacIntyre does this seamlessly throughout the novel. Father MacAskill’s stint as dean at St. Francis Xavier is also explored. It is while he is dean at the university he becomes the Bishop’s right hand man and is set out to extinguish potential fires in various churches across Canada. Through all the weaving and reflection, Father MacAskill sorts through his own demons, his past and his family’s problematic and mysterious history.
Although this fictional work discusses a very current and disturbing subject, the sexual abuse of children is never directly addressed or explained in the eyes of Father MacAskill. It serves as a constant undertone to the actions and thoughts of the main character. Linden MacIntyre’s narrative, through the eyes of a troubled priest, provides the reader with a rare insight into the inner workings of the priest hood and the powerful Catholic Church and its place in Canadian culture. For the Silo, Sarah Purdy. 

Politics

Green Party Leader Schreiner:Our Plan To Create 20,000 Jobs

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Schreiner announces Green Building Program to create 20,000 good local jobs and reduce energy bills

Guelph, Ontario – Green Party Leader Mike Schreiner announced the Green Party’s plan for a Green Building Program today. A Green Building program will reduce energy bills and create thousands of jobs in the construction and trades sector in communities across the province.

“Only the Green Party will deliver sensible, long-term solutions that create jobs and save us money by saving energy,” said Schreiner. “We will not borrow money, like the old parties, to offer short term subsidies that mostly benefit the biggest energy users.”

The Green Building plan would provide $1.6 B in refundable tax credits for homeowners, tenants and businesses over 4 years to invest in energy efficiency and building retrofits.

“When we decrease our consumption we provide real relief to rising energy costs for all Ontarians,” added energy entrepreneur and Guelph Green Party candidate Steve Dyck who’s own retrofits have helped him invest in his local economy and save money. “Eliminating waste and increasing efficiency will make our province more competitive.”

The Green Building Program would create an estimated 20,000 jobs across the province, according to estimates by Robert Pollin Professor of Economics and Co-Director, Political Economy Research Institute (PERI) University of Massachusetts-Amherst and Heidi Garrett-Peltier PERI Research Fellow entitled Building the Green Economy: Employment Effects of Green Energy Investments for Ontario.

“These investments will create green jobs in communities across Ontario,” added Schreiner, “This is something that cannot be achieved with the short term energy subsidies offered by the other parties.”

Ontario is home to numerous businesses that focus on energy efficiency and conservation products and retrofits.

“The kind of Green Building Program that the Ontario Green Party is proposing will create more jobs, have a positive impact on the environment and take Ontario’s economy into the 21st century,” says Stephen Carpenter President of Enermodal Engineering of Kitchener.

The Green Building Program will:

* Provide $800 million in refundable tax credits for home owners and tenants over four years for investments in energy efficiency and building retrofits. This will include an Electric Hot Water Conservation Program for conversion of electric hot water heaters to solar thermal.

* Provide $800 million in refundable business tax credits over four years for businesses to invest in energy efficiency and building retrofits, making our businesses more efficient and competitive.

* Strengthen energy efficiency standards to ensure new buildings use less energy for heating and cooling by revising the Ontario Building Code.

* Set a minimum EnerGuide Rating of 86 for all new buildings by 2013 and ensure all new homes and buildings are solar-ready so owners have the option of easy and affordable installation of future solar investments.

* Develop a long-term strategic plan to move our homes and buildings towards Zero Net Energy, with a time table to raise Ontario’s minimum legally-binding energy efficiency standards for new homes, buildings, appliances and equipment to help reduce our energy bills.

* Make it easier for Ontarians to obtain information and advice on energy efficiency, conservation and building retrofits.

* Require home energy efficiency audits and make the results available to potential home buyers and renters so people can make informed choices regarding the operating costs of their homes and apartments.

* Work with the banking sector to design a provincial program that facilitates “energy saver” mortgages and loans at preferential rates for homeowners investing in energy efficient retrofits.

* Develop an Ontario wide framework for a Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) financing program, as an innovative local government solution to help property owners finance energy efficiency and renewable energy improvements – such as energy efficient boilers, upgraded insulation, new windows, solar installations, etc. – to their homes and businesses.

Press Conference Information:

9:30am Press Conference – Guelph

Mike Schreiner will join Guelph candidate Steve Dyck in making an important announcement about energy savings.
Location: 39 Hearn Ave. Guelph, ON

12:00pm Press Conference – Kitchener

Mike Schreiner announces Green Building Program in Kitchener. Steve Carpenter from Enermodal will attend.
Location: Enermodal, 582 Lancaster St. West, Kitchener, ON

 

Media Contact:
Rebecca Harrison
Director of Communications
Green Party of Ontario
(c) 905-999-5479
(e) rebeccaharrison@gpo.ca Sent from Green Party of Ontario

PO Box 1132
Toronto, ON M4Y 2T8
Canada

Politics

Ontario Liberals: Too Many Architects Mopping Floors, Driving Taxis

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TORONTO – The Ontario Liberal Plan will help highly educated new Canadian citizens get on-the-job training needed to be certified in their chosen profession, Linda Jeffrey, Minister of Natural Resources in the Ontario Liberal government said today.

“We have too many engineers and architects driving taxis and mopping floors,” Jeffrey said. “We need everyone at their full potential and contributing to our economy, so we can create even more jobs.”
Too often, highly educated new Canadian professionals face barriers gaining the on-the-job training and Canadian work experience they need to become certified in their profession. The new No Skills Left Behind Training Credit would provide a tax credit worth up to $10,000 for business expenses related to on-the-job training for up to one year. It is anticipated the tax credit would help about 1,200 Ontarians annually gain training they need to be recognized in their profession.

This builds on other training programs and tax credits that help Ontarians train for new jobs. For example, workers laid-off during the global recession can be retrained for a second career. The Second Career program has supported over 47,000 Ontarians so far in long-term retraining programs, providing up to $28,000 in direct support for tuition and living expenses. To date, 75 per cent of graduates have found work.

Other programs and training tax credits already available to Ontarians and businesses include:

* Apprenticeship Training Tax Credit – up to $10,000 per year for 4 years to
help with cost of in-school training

* Nursing Graduate Job Guarantee – placed over 10,000 new nurses in jobs so far

* Summer Jobs Strategy – helps 100,000 students gain on-the-job experience

* Targeted Initiative for Older Workers – helps older workers increase their
ability to find and keep a job while the local economy changes

* Small Business Enterprise Centres – helped over 11,500 businesses last
year create over 13,000 jobs
“Ontario’s economy is on track, but we all need to be at our best in order to compete and win,” Greg Sorbara, MPP for Vaughan said. “This is all about making sure no skills are left behind, strengthening our economy and creating even more jobs.”

For further information –

Ontario Liberal Party Media Office:

416 961-3800 ext. 328

Politics

Provincial Green Party Pledge To Stop Mega-Quarry Developments

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

MEGA-QUARRY MUST BE STOPPED, SAYS GREEN PARTY

HORNINGS MILLS, ONTARIO – Today, the provincial and federal Green Party joined community members in Melancthon Township in calling for a stop to the proposed mega-quarry. The two Leaders joined candidate Rob Strang for two stops in Hornings Mills and Alliston.

“It’s time to put our water supply, our farmland and our communities first,” said Mike Schreiner, Green Party of Ontario Leader. “The Environmental Assessment for this project is a good first step, but we need to stop this thing altogether and plug the loopholes in the law that allow projects like this to happen.”

Elizabeth May, Leader Green Party of Canada, agrees. “The magnitude of this quarry is unprecedented, and will have significant impact on the surrounding land and water. At the very least, this quarry needs to be subject to a joint federal-provincial review panel,” says May.

In Ontario, a mega quarry as deep as Niagara falls and 1/3 the size of Toronto does not require an environmental assessment. Yet building a barn does. Clearly, there are critical flaws in the rules that are in place to protect our farmland and water supply.

Dufferin-Caledon Green Party Candidate and party critic for the Environment and Natural Resources Rob Strang, added his concerns regarding the length of time before a final decision will be made.

“I urge the government to remember that this is a very stressful time for local residents. They should be protected by laws and regulations that protect Ontario’s farmland, farming communities and our water supply. If elected, I will be tireless in my efforts to ensure that this project does not go ahead, and that we fix the legislation so that communities and farmland aren’t put in jeopardy in the future.”

The Green Party of Ontario is committed to:

· Revising the _Aggregate Resources Act_ to create incentives for more efficient use of aggregates, aggregate recycling and stronger site rehabilitation efforts. Requiring a full Environmental Assessment for aggregate applications that meet the Ministry of Natural Resource’s definition of a mega quarry (currently 150,000,000 tonnes)

· Changing the Ontario Policy Statement to protect Class 1, 2, 3 and 4 farmland. Preservation and protection of our farmland, water resources and natural heritage needs to be a high priority in Ontario.

For more on the Green Party plan please visit: Silo Direct Link To Green Party Website

Rebecca Harrison
Cell: 905-999-5479
Office: 416-977-7476
Toll Free: 888-647-3366
Email: rebeccaharrison@gpo.ca

Sent from Green Party of Ontario

PO Box 1132
Toronto, ON M4Y 2T8
Canada

Politics

Discussing The Inclusion Of The Green Party of Ontario In Ontario Leader’s Debate

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Green Party of Ontario (GPO) Leader Mike Schreiner will be joined by Green Party of Canada Leader Elizabeth May to discuss the inclusion of the Green Party of Ontario in the upcoming Leaders’ Debate and the difference one Green MPP can make at Queen’s Park. Both Green Leaders will be available for comment.

WHO: Mike Schreiner, Elizabeth May

WHEN: Friday September 9, 2011

TIME: 9:00 a.m.

WHERE: Queen’s Park Media Studio

CONTACT:
Rebecca Harrison
Director of Communications
Green Party of Ontario
(c) 905-999-5479 [1]
(e) rebeccaharrison@gpo.ca

Sent from Green Party of Ontario
PO Box 1132
Toronto, ON M4Y 2T8
Canada

Politics

Minister of Agriculture: Ontario Liberal’s Rural Platform Will Mean Progress

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“FORWARD. TOGETHER.” ONTARIO LIBERALS LAUNCH RURAL PLATFORM
A Plan To Build A Strong Rural Ontario

ATWOOD — Ontario Liberals’ new rural platform will mean real, measurable progress for rural Ontario families, Carol Mitchell, Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs in the Ontario Liberal Government said today.

“What we’ve achieved together with rural Ontarians in the past eight years is nothing short of amazing,” Mitchell said. “Today, we’re supporting rural Ontario and our family farms through Ontario’s first permanent Risk Management Program — the biggest commitment to our farmers in over 25 years. We’re on track. But there is more to do.”

The Ontario Liberal platform for rural Ontario, entitled, “Forward. Together” is a plan to help rural families meet the challenges we face as we emerge from the global recession.
Some of the key elements of the plan for rural Ontario include:

• Improving municipal infrastructure and public services, especially in areas such as municipal drainage infrastructure, continuing to reverse the reckless PC downloads that put our rural communities at risk;
• Continuing to bring more healthy, locally grown food to families through our commitment to promote local foods through key initiatives, such as The Foodland Ontario program, The Ontario Farmers’ Markets Strategy, and ongoing collaboration with Ontario’s retail and food service sectors;
• Increasing support, through our Rural Economic Development Program, for agri-food businesses that have created and kept more than 15,000 jobs and generated nearly $500 million in economic activity across the province;
• Making the Eastern Ontario Development Fund permanent, and creating a new Southwestern Ontario Economic Development Fund to help communities attract the jobs of tomorrow;
• Creating a new Specialist High Skills Major in food processing in all Ontario schools, helping build skills in food and agriculture;
• Supporting supply management in international trade talks and fighting for its place in the Canadian farming community;
• Keeping our commitment to clean energy, that’s creating 50,000 jobs and has already provided opportunities for 20,000 farmers who have applied for MicroFIT contracts — with almost 11,000 already turning on cleaner sources of power like wind and solar.

“These are uncertain times for the global economy. These are challenging times for our rural families. This is our plan to help. This is our way forward, together,” Mitchell said.
The Hudak PCs have a $14 billion hole in their platform — that means downloads and deep cuts that will put our economy, education and health care at risk. The Horwath NDP would introduce a crushing $9 billion in taxes on our job creating businesses. The opposition would create chaos and conflict at a time when Ontario needs certainty.

The full rural platform is available at theontarioway.ca

For further information
Ontario Liberal Party Media Office:
416 961-3800 ext. 328

Culture

Jukasa: World Class Music Studio Open For Local Artists

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From our Sept/Oct 2011 PRINT Edition (Jukasa has a whole new team of amazing people on board! Please check their website for a list of their amazing staff CP)

If I were to tell you that musicians like Willie Nelson, Steven Tyler, Snoop Dogg, Derek Miller and The Tea Party have spent time in Ohsweken Village, what would you say?
I know what I said: “Wow, why haven’t I heard about this place?” The place I am talking about is Jukasa Media Group. Jukasa Media Group is a $3 million dollar studio complex that is currently expanding – and rapidly I might add. Upon its construction in 2009 Owner Kenny Hill wanted a place for his son and friends to record their music. In 2010 Mix Magazine named Jukasa as 2010’s “top three new studios on the planet.” What brings such talented musicians to Jukasa? The Gear? The Studio? The Staff? The Price? All of the Above?


The answer is all of the above. Jukasa currently features 2300sq ft of beautifully architectured live recording space, their famous sound board the SSL 8072 Console that spent a decade Abbey Road Studio 3, living accommodations on site, a space for editing daily recordings, and they are currently building a second recording studio, and will be opening a private Recording Arts School as of October where students will be in classes of no more than 9, learning the theory of sound, while recording real artists with the mastering engineer Nick Blagona and other staff.


Mixer and Mastering Engineer Nick Blagona has been in the music industry for decades and brings his experience around the world to Jukasa. Blagona has worked with Chicago, The Beegees, Cat Stevens, Nazareth, Alexisonfire (R.I.P.), Kim Mitchell, Protest the Hero, The Police, and Deep Purple to name the tip of the iceberg. Also under the Jukasa roof is Stevie Salas, Director of Aboriginal Development and U.S. Operations who has received the Life Time Achievement Award from the Native American Music Awards, and has the largest deal Island Records has ever signed. Salas has also brought his long time friend Rob Lamothe into the mix. Rob Lamothe is the General Manager of Jukasa, he has received an Edison Award from Holland, and has toured over 30 European tours.


Aside from the Gear, the staff and the facility itself, what makes Jukasa so unique is the price for the quality. Prices for recording at Jukasa are comparable to prices to record in basement studios in the area however the final product is the highest of quality production, thanks to the experienced staff and incredible equipment available.  For the Silo, Lacie Williamson

 

Okay you didn’t think we were going to NOT show you the famous SSL 8072 did you? Here it is-

Click to view on I-tunes
Click to view on I-tunes
Politics

Ontario’s Hunting, Fishing and Outdoors Heritage

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Toby Barrett, MPP Column Available Ahead of Print Publication
Support our hunting, fishing, outdoors heritage

Gun owners and those concerned with the waste of money should be glad to see the end of the long gun registry –  an issue that has long frustrated farmers, hunters and recreational shooters.

Ending the registry was part of the federal Conservative platform. It’s expected legislation to that end will be introduced this fall and will be similar to the Private Member’s Bill voted down jointly by the Liberals, NDP and Bloc Quebecois last year.

I have been a critic of the long gun registry and Bill C-68 since the Chretien Liberals proposed it in the 1990s. I rode the bus to Ottawa with constituents to march on Parliament Hill to protest the then-pending legislation.

Estimates put the amount of money wasted on tracking farmers and duck hunters at more than $2 billion while doing nothing to address criminals. By definition criminals don’t obey the law, so why would they register their guns?

And while the federal gun registry may soon be history, I remain concerned about the potential for a provincial registry.

In Quebec, there is speculation about the provincial government implementing its own registry. And there has been media speculation that Premier McGuinty might take similar measures.

As Official Opposition we are opposed to any long-gun registry, federal or provincial. Can we trust that Mr. McGuinty will not implement a provincial long gun registry?

By way of contrast, Mr. McGuinty asked the federal government for a handgun ban in 2007. The federal Conservatives denied his request, saying it might do more harm than good. The NDP also support a comprehensive handgun ban.

The other piece of legislation affecting gun owners is Ontario’s Ammunition Regulation Act, of 1994. In 1996, I appeared before the Red Tape Commission arguing to scrap the Ammunition Act – it duplicates federal legislation and is redundant. In addition to support in our riding, I was backed by the Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters, the Ontario Handgun Association, the National Firearms Association and the Canadian Sporting Arms and Ammunition Association. Even the province’s Chief Firearms Officer recommended scrapping the bill, with concerns about privacy. Despite the opposition and a petition I helped organize against the legislation, the Ammunition Act remains to this day.

Several years ago, after purchasing a rifle at a Ducks Unlimited fundraiser, I went to a local gun store to pick up shells. The paperwork and list-making required under provincial legislation kept people waiting. The store owner told me his list hadn’t been checked in two years.

Firearms regulations are just one issue facing those who are concerned about our hunting, fishing and outdoors heritage. Last week, I met with the president of the Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters and heard further concerns – including cormorants, about access in the north, the potential spread of Chronic Wasting Disease and the Endangered Species Act. Sadly, many of these issues haven’t been resolved since I was Parliamentary Assistant to MNR 10 years ago.

A new issue the OFAH is concerned about is the red tape facing volunteer-run fish hatcheries. These operations provide nearly half the fish stocked in the province, but in some cases, they have to go through the same environmental approvals as industrial polluters.

It’s time Government supports, not interferes, with our hunting, fishing and outdoors heritage.

Jeff Helsdon
Office of Toby Barrett
519-428-0446
1-800-903-8629
39 Norfolk St. N.
Simcoe, ON
N3Y 3N6
www.tobybarrett.com
Follow Toby on Twitter @ TobyBarrettMPP

Politics

Strenghtening Human Rights In Ontario

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McGuinty Government Announces Appointment

Ontario is taking the next step to strengthen the Human Rights System to provide faster, more accessible justice for those who have faced discrimination, and to ensure better protection of the human rights Ontarians cherish.

Andrew Pinto has been appointed to conduct a review of the implementation and effectiveness of changes resulting from amendments to the Human Rights Code that came into effect on June 30, 2008.

Mr. Pinto of Pinto Wray James LLP is a prominent human rights and employment lawyer. He is an adjunct professor at the University of Toronto where he teaches administrative law with a focus on tribunals, agencies, boards and commissions. He is also past chair of the administrative law section of the Ontario Bar Association, and past chair of the equity advisory group of the Law Society of Upper Canada.

Public consultations will be held. This review is expected to be complete by spring 2012. For updates on the status, please visit: Human Rights Review

QUICK FACTS

In June 2008, the Ontario Human Rights system was reformed to include:

  • The Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario to offer direct, early access to additional adjudicators with the expertise to fairly resolve discrimination claims.
  • The new Human Rights Legal Support      Centre’s team of lawyers and paralegals provides free assistance throughout Ontario to people who believe they may have faced discrimination.
  • The Ontario Human Rights Commission to address the underlying causes of discrimination with a strengthened capacity for public education, policy development, research and monitoring.
  • A commitment to conduct a review of the new system’s progress after an initial three-year period.
  • Under the new system, parties have direct access to expert adjudicators and more claims are settled before an application needs to be filed at the Tribunal.

LEARN MORE

Terms of Reference

Find out more about human rights in Ontario.

 

Li Koo, Minister’s Office, 416-326-3266

Brendan Crawley, Communications Branch,

416-326-2210

ontario.ca/attorneygeneral-news

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Politics

Goal: Ontario’s Clean Energy Plan To Create 50,000 jobs By 2012

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More Jobs For Families In Ontario’s Clean Energy
Economy

McGuinty Government Making Ontario The Place To Be
For Clean Energy

Premier Dalton McGuinty visited the workers who are developing Siemens Canada’s new plant in Tillsonburg today, thanking them for their hard work in helping Ontario become a global leader in clean energy.

Siemens Canada Limited is creating 900 jobs — 300 direct and 600 indirect — in clean technology at this plant, which will build wind turbine blades. The Tillsonburg plant is one of four under Ontario’s revised, enhanced agreement with Samsung that will provide 16,000 clean energy jobs across Ontario.

Ontario is back on track and moving forward in the clean energy economy. Because of the changes we’ve made, together, Ontario has added 20,000 new, high-skills clean energy jobs since 2009.

Building a clean, modern and reliable electricity system is part of the government’s plan to attract clean energy investments and create good jobs in communities across Ontario.

QUOTES

“We’re moving forward together to become number one in North America when it comes to clean energy. Thanks to the hard work of Ontarians, that’s already happening. Ontario’s economy has turned the corner and we’re back on track. We can’t go backwards, now.”

—   Premier Dalton McGuinty

“Siemens is building on its strong position in the Ontario wind power market. Our investment in the Tillsonburg blade facility will further enhance our ability to competitively serve our customers, locally, and potentially acrossNorth America.”

— Bill Smith, Senior Vice President, Siemens Canada Limited.

QUICK FACTS

  • Ontario’s clean energy economy has attracted more than $20 billion in new private-sector investment.
  • Since 2009, more than 30 businesses have announced they are setting up or expanding plants in Ontario to manufacture parts for the solar and wind industries.
  • Ontario’s clean energy plan is on track to create 50,000 jobs by the end of 2012.

LEARN MORE

Read more about Ontario’s Long-Term Energy Plan.

See how Ontario’s Clean Energy Benefit is saving you 10 per cent off your bill.

Premier’s Media Office: 416-314-8975
ontario.ca/premier-news

Politics

Ontario Pledges $1Million To Horn Of Africa

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Ontario Pledges $1 Million To Fight Famine

McGuinty
Government Helps Horn Of Africa Humanitarian
Relief Effort

The Ontario government is providing $1 million to help people facing starvation in the hardest hit countries of the Horn of Africa.

 

Millions of lives are at stake in the region due to a cycle of severe droughts. The UN declared a famine in Somalia on July 20th — the first time famine has been declared there by the UN in nearly 20 years.

 

The money from Ontario will support the efforts of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies in the region.

 

QUOTE

 

“To have nothing to eat is a frightening and unimaginable idea for many of us and a sad reality for millions of people in the Horn of Africa. Ontarians come from all over the world and many people have friends and family in the midst of the crisis. Now is the time for us to work together to offer our support and I encourage all Ontarians to help in the relief effort.”

— Dalton McGuinty, Premier of Ontario

 

QUICK FACTS

 

  • The Horn Region of Africa includes the countries of Kenya, Ethiopia, Somalia, Djibouti,Uganda and Sudan.

 

  • UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has called for urgent international efforts to assist in the region. He said the situation is rapidly deteriorating with an estimated 11.6 million people in need of humanitarian assistance.

 

LEARN MORE

 

Donate to the Canadian Red Cross.

 

Premier’s Media
Office: 416-314-8975

 

ontario.ca/premier-news

Disponible
en français

 

 

 

Politics

Creating Stability For Clean Energy Projects

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CREATING STABILITY FOR CLEAN ENERGY PROJECTS

To maintain momentum and ensure Ontario remains competitive in North America’s emerging clean energy economy, the province is taking a number of actions to make it easier for energy developers and manufacturers to do business in the province.

 

These changes are part of ongoing efforts to provide stability and create jobs in Ontario’s clean energy sector and protect the health and safety of Ontarians and the environment.

 

To date more than 20,000 clean energy jobs have been created in Ontario, and the province is on track to create 50,000 by 2012.

 

Changes to Feed in Tariff (FIT) Contract Terms

 

A new process is being introduced to help provide stability for developers to move clean energy projects forward. FIT contract holders with projects seeking project financing and a manufacturing partner now have the opportunity to request the Ontario Power Authority (OPA) to waive its termination rights if they meet certain conditions. This means:

  • Large developers must submit a Domestic Content Plan and have it approved by the OPA by December 31, 2011. As well they must submit evidence of an agreement to purchase equipment by December 31, 2011.

 

  • For medium sized projects, a Domestic Content Plan must be submitted by December 31, 2011.

 

  • Developers of clean energy programs that do not require Domestic Content plans — hydro, biogas, landfill gas and biomass — may also request that the OPA waive its termination rights.

 

This will give clean energy developers more stability in planning and more flexibility to obtain financing and place orders for equipment.

 

Developers still need to obtain regulatory approvals, provide a completed Financing Plan, and documentation related to completed grid impact assessments, as well as pay the required security, before they are able to move to the construction phase.

 

Improving the Renewable Energy Approval Process

 

The Renewable Energy Approval (REA) is a single approval that integrates environmental and health and safety matters.
The purpose of the REA is to avoid duplication, set clear, upfront provincial rules and encourage the development of more clean energy projects. The rules ensure all clean energy projects built in Ontario are subject to the same requirements to protect human health and the environment. The province has made a number of improvements to streamline the process even further.

 

The Ministry of the Environment has reduced the amount of time it takes for the initial screening review of application from 90 days to 40 days by:

  • Establishing a dedicated REA team focused only on the management and review of REA applications.

 

  • Holding over 250 pre-consultation meetings with proponents to ensure awareness of REA requirements. Key documents and resources related to the process are available on a dedicated      business website for easy access.

 

These process improvements will be further enhanced by:

 

  • The release of a new Technical Guide to Renewable Energy Approvals to help renewable energy developers meet the requirements of the Renewable Energy Approvals regulation (O. Reg. 359/09).

 

    • This will provide clear guidance on how to prepare the required technical and scientific reports as well as conduct more effective consultations with municipalities, the public and Aboriginal communities.

 

  • Releasing an aboriginal consultation guide for proponents that has been developed by consulting with technical experts within key First Nations organizations and other ministries. The draft is now posted for broader consultation.

 

The Ministry of Natural Resources has also introduced a number of steps and new tools to save developers time:

 

  • Developing technical guidelines on protection of natural heritage and significant wildlife habitat that provide clear rules for the renewable energy industry.

 

  • Delivering intensive training sessions to more than 100 industry environmental consultants on implementing technical guidelines.

 

  • Releasing new tools, templates and resources to streamline processes for completing REA approval requirements, including rapid assessment tools for significant wildlife habitat and wetlands.

 

  • Focusing staff resources on reviewing and approving Feed-in Tariff projects, resulting approval of over 75 per cent of natural heritage assessments submitted to the ministry.

 

  • Establishing a regional team of specialists to focus on the new Bruce to Milton Feed-in-Tariff projects – developers will be contacted by the ministry within three weeks of receiving their FIT contracts to begin the regulatory review process.

 

In addition, the Ministry of Tourism and Culture considers the review of all REA heritage and archaeological assessment reports as a priority, with the highest focus on those projects with FIT contracts. That’s why the ministry will implement a 60-day service guarantee for written comments on final assessment reports. As well, this June the ministry posted an Information Bulletin on its website; it helps applicants navigate through meeting the cultural heritage requirements of the REA process by clarifying all requirements for proponents and provides a step-by-step outline of the process. This will help ensure applications are completed and improve the quality of self-assessments.

 

The ministry also:

  • Released Standards and Guidelines for Consultant Archaeologists (2011) and associated training for consultant archaeologists.
  • Is in the process of developing technical guidance for heritage consultants on conducting and preparing heritage assessments

 

Together these guidance materials will help lead to a more rapid review process.

 

Changes to Property Tax Treatment of Renewable Energy Facilities

 

Regulatory amendments are being proposed to Ontario Regulation 282/98 regarding the property tax treatment of renewable energy facilities.

 

The Assessment Act and Ontario Regulation 282/98 currently provide rules governing the property tax treatment of energy generation facilities; however, in some situations, these rules may not be sufficiently detailed to address issues relating to emerging types of energy installations.

 

The objective of the proposed regulatory amendments is to provide clarity and certainty to property owners, municipalities and the Municipal Property Assessment Corporation, and to ensure that property tax does not act as a disincentive to energy generation, particularly small-scale generation by persons who are not ordinarily in the business of generation.

 

More information

Read more about Ontario’s Green Energy Act.

 

Read more about the Renewable Energy Approvals Process

 

Read the Minister of Energy’s Directive to the Ontario Power Authority

 

Read the Regulatory Registry posting of proposed changes to Property Tax Treatment of Renewable Energy Facilities.

 

To Learn more about renewable energy in Ontario visit  http://www.ontario.ca/renewableenergy

 

 

Andrew Block, Minister’s Office, 416-327-6747Paul Gerard, Communications Branch, 416-326-7226

ontario.ca/energy-news

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Politics

Ontario Gov’t Calls For New Health Care Deal

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Ontario Calls For New Long-Term Deal On Health Care

McGuinty
Government Committed to Helping Families

Ontario is calling on the federal government to work with the provinces to deliver a new long-term deal on health care.

 

That’s the message Premier Dalton McGuinty delivered today during a speech to the Ottawa Chamber of Commerce.

 

Ontario welcomes Ottawa’s recent commitment to 6 per cent increases in health transfers, but Ontario is also seeking a long-term commitment from the federal government — who pay only 23 per cent of Ontario’s health costs.

 

Further health care reforms are needed to meet the needs of Ontario’s rapidly aging population. A new long-term deal should focus on giving seniors more options in their homes and communities.

 

Ontario has made significant progress in health care. This is in part because the current health accord invested in strategic reforms such as wait times and access to care. In fact, Ontario is now a national leader in reducing wait times and 94 per cent of Ontarians have a family doctor.

 

QUOTES

 

“Ontario is moving forward with improvements to our health care system. We can do even more with a strong federal partner. The renewal of long-term funding for health care will be the most important issue facing our governments in the coming years.”

— DaltonMcGuinty, Premier of Ontario

 

QUICK FACTS

 

  • The current 10-year federal health agreement expires in 2014.
  • In the next 10 years, 1.6 million Ontarians will turn 65, the traditional retirement age — that’s twice as many people as between 1981 and 1991.
  • According to the Canadian Institute for Health Information, seniors account for 14 per cent of the population but 44 per cent of health care spending.
  • The Fraser Institute’s 20th annual waiting list survey found Ontario had the shortest wait times for surgical and other therapeutic treatments.
  • The 2011 Wait Times Alliance report showed that Ontario had the shortest total wait times in Canada.

 

 

 

 

 

LEARN MORE

 

Here’s a check-up on our health care system.

 

Ontario seniors are successfully receiving care at home now.

 

 

 

Premier’s Media
Office: 416-314-8975

 

ontario.ca/premier-news

Disponible
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Culture

Douglas Coupland Player One

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As the world teeters on the brink of disaster, four people converge in a Toronto Airport cocktail lounge. As oil prices suddenly approach $300 a barrel, power cuts out, planes stop taking off and cell phone signals die—a self imposed apocalypse sets into motion. As you read, four people come to terms with the situation, and more importantly, each other. Karen, the 40 year old receptionist at a psychiatric clinic who has flown to Toronto to meet a man she met on the Internet; Rick, the recovering alcoholic bartender who eagerly awaits the arrival of an obviously transparent self-help guru; Luke, a pastor, recently turned felon, who has run off with $20 000 from his church renovation fund; and Rachel, a beautiful, young autistic woman with the intention to find a man to be the father of her child.

“Cocktails and laughter—and what will come after?” asks the haunting voice of Player One after the self-narrated character introductions and before the announcement of the skyrocketing gas prices that quickly envelop the world in complete chaos. The novel follows a simple format: each character narrates their version of the same events, over a five hour period, followed by Player One’s omniscient and sometimes mocking narration. The identity of Player One remains a mystery up until the end of the novel where resolution is provided and final comments are made.

Player One is the first fiction selection for the CBC Massey Lecture series. Presented in a series of five, one hour, real-time lectures, Coupland explores what people do, talk about and think about as the world sits on the brink of total disaster. For anyone who has read Coupland, this novel addresses many familiar themes and ideas. Mild drama and in-depth dialogue where topics from humanity to sexuality fill the text of this lecture turned novel.

 

This book, simple in structure, but at times complicated in meaning, provides the reader with a scary dystopian view of what will become of us when a daily staple in most of our lives becomes virtually unavailable. The dialogue can drag on at times and the characters can be a little predictable and melodramatic, but this novel is more about what it leaves you with when you put it down. What would happen if gas became unaffordable? How small would our world actually get? Douglas Coupland will infect your mind with these questions long after you put down the book and forget about the meddling and self-loathing characters.

As Player One haunts the pages of this book, the ideas and inferences you read will haunt your mind every time you indulge in a modern day convenience, such as filling a vehicle up with gas, making this book a worthy read.  For the Silo, Sarah Purdy.

Supplemental:

iTunes link: Massey Lecture with Douglas Coupland

 

Politics

Ontario Deploys Mobile Medical Unit To Aid Fire Evac

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Ontario Deploys Mobile Medical Unit To Aid Forest Fire Evacuation
2,730 People Evacuated From Northwestern Ontario

The province is sending the Emergency Medical Assistance Team (EMAT) to support forest fire evacuees in Northwestern Ontario.

EMAT will be on hand to provide medical assessment to evacuees arriving in Thunder Bay, to address a range of immediate health needs, and to help relieve pressures for local health providers.  The team will be operational by tomorrow, Friday, July 22.

All people that are in immediate danger have been evacuated. To date 2,730 people have been moved to safety. Daily evacuations are ongoing, as smoke and flying conditions allow, until the situation improves.

Ontario thanks the federal government and the armed forces for responding to our requests for assistance in evacuation efforts and for working with us. Provinces and territories have also sent help and resources to Ontario to protect people, homes and to support the evacuation and help contain and extinguish the fires.

Hot, dry weather has created the conditions for forest fires in Northern Ontario, with more than 100 currently burning. Emergency Management Ontario (EMO) is working with the Canadian Forces, First Nations communities, municipalities and relief organizations to coordinate efforts to fight the fires and help people who have been forced out of their homes.

QUOTES

“A great many provincial and federal resources are being deployed to help fellow Ontarians in their time of need. I am impressed by the cooperative, dedicated efforts of all those involved in the evacuations and who are keeping First Nations residents safe.”
— Jim Bradley, Minister of Community Safety and Correctional Services

“Our first priority is protecting people. Suppression action is being taken to protect Ontarians and our communities on a priority basis. This is an extremely difficult situation and is affecting the lives of many Ontarians.  It is not an easy situation for anyone affected by the fires or for firefighters and other personnel working to coordinate the evacuations and extinguish fires.”
— Linda Jeffrey, Minister of Natural Resources

“Our thoughts are with the evacuees facing this challenging time. We are proud that the Emergency Medical Assistance Team will work with the community and local health care providers to support health care services to evacuees.”
— Deb Matthews, Minister of Health and Long-Term Care

QUICK FACTS

  • There are 2,000 firefighters and support staff currently involved in fire fighting efforts, including about 500 from out of province.
  • There are 16 water bombers and 85 other aircraft involved in the fire fighting operations.
  • The EMAT deployment is being supported by the City of Toronto’s Heavy Urban Search and Rescue (HUSAR) unit which will support set up and maintenance.

LEARN MORE

Get updates on the affected First Nation and host communities and on Twitter and Facebook

Learn more about the Emergency Medical Assistance Team.

Read more about the current forest fire situation in Ontario.

The Canadian Red Cross (Ontario) has set up a registration and inquiry bureau for evacuees who wish to inquire about family and relatives. This number is 1 866 356-3645 ext 236.

Ministry of Natural Resources
Media calls only, Greg MacNeil, Minister’s
Office, 416-314-2208
Media Desk, Communications Services Branch, 416-314-2106
Ministry of Community Safety and Correctional Services
Joe Kim, Minister’s Office, 416-325-8282
Greg Flood, Communications Branch, 416-325-0432
ontario.ca/safety

Art

Politics in The Arts- Are Canadians Concerned With Art Funding?

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During the Federal elections [circa 2011 Ed], it became clear that the Canadian public interest in an arts and cultural policy had declined since 2008, in fact the majority responded that this policy was unimportant to them in comparison to other policies. This leads me to question the degree of concerns Canadians do have with other policies. Perhaps the overall concerns are too great to allow a focus on more fun or abstract facets of their Canadian lifestyle such as arts and culture, or it may simply be that Canadians overall would rather engage with more mainstream topics.

It is interesting yet disconcerting to see that it is mainly the younger population, ages 18-30, that are the least interested in the arts and culture policy. If the younger generation doesn’t fuel the arts and keep them flourishing who will? In their (or our) defense though, little awareness about the policy and its impact is made known. Personally, I had never heard of an arts and cultural policy before reading the article critiquing the different Government parties’ role in the policy as discussed in The Arts Advocate publication.

The policy involves the government allotted a specific percentage of taxes that go towards varying sectors within the arts, for example advantages for artists or funding for different organizations. Each federal party has their different views on appropriate expenditure in the arts and culture sector, and specifically our Conservatives’ main commitment is to the children’s artistic activity tax credit, support to the Royal Conservatory of Music for a national examination program, and support to the Canadian Periodical Fund (Used to subsidize newspapers not including The Silo. Check the info box found on the bottom of page 2 in most papers to see if you are subsidizing their bottom line- CP).

With the Conservative party now being back in power, it is hard to say if the policy will see any positive growth. Although I understand and admire Harper’s plan to stabilize and improve the markets in the depths of a global recession, I feel it necessary to include arts and culture as a part of this. Canada has such a unique combination of cultures throughout its provinces and these are the people who create and work at the jobs Harper is trying to develop or advance.

So, should not this rich arts and culture naturally be showcased as it is echoed throughout the Canadian business world Harper is focused on? I believe Canadians on the whole would appreciate more recognition for their creative efforts that make our country special. Yes we need economic growth, but there needs to be a balance in the funding between businesses and the arts in order to make for a balanced country and to account for or showcase the people who inhabit it.

It is positive to note that the 2011 Ontario budget indicated spending at Tourism and Culture would grow $76 million.

The estimates confirm that $47 million of this is to continue support of the Community Cultural Fund (used to support local ‘big crowd’ draws such as last year’s Port Dover Marine Festival- http://www.ocaf.on.ca/en/project.aspx?ProjectUID=985 or 2005’s Norfolk County Fall Festival- http://www.ocaf.on.ca/en/project.aspx?ProjectUID=884 -CP), the small-scale (!) capital program administered by the Ontario Trillium Foundation to support diverse cultural organizations. As well, the Ontario Media Development Corporation will be permanently funded, showcasing the province’s commitment to the film sector of the policy and estimates show an increase of $8 million to $25.8 million. Although the Conservative platform for the policy is the most bleak of the Bloc Quebecois, Liberal, and NDP, perhaps a strengthened economy will help to account for areas our country’s arts and culture are struggling in.

In their platform it is stated that our “Government believes that a vibrant cultural, media, and sporting sector is crucial for our well-being and quality of life,” however many artists and cultural advocates still feel that the re-elected Conservatives will fall short in fulfilling the essential aspects of the policy and hearing the voices of those affected.  For the Silo, Jennifer Waslowski.

 

 

Gaming

All The World Is Indeed A Videogame

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It was 2011 when I wrote this piece and everywhere I turned I saw the influence of one videogame or another. Now they’re no longer just a niche sideline favored by the odd and socially awkward; they’re as ubiquitous as music and movies and, as an industry, bring in just as much or more money too. Is it really all that surprising, then, to see the unique influence of the medium turning up in some rather unexpected places?

Consider the Rocket Racing League. Heard of it? Founded in 2005, the RRL is a private air-racing league that, if it ever manages to get off the ground, will use custom-designed canard “rocket racers” in aerial races with a twist: instead of flying through physical obstacles as conventional air racers do, RRL pilots will navigate a virtual race course created by a computer.

“The Rocket Racer pilots see the Raceway-In-The-Sky with a custom Cockpit Based Augmented Reality System projected onto a 3D helmet display,” the Rocket Racing League website The Rocket Racing League explains. “For the thousands of fans in attendance, they will witness the racing action live and in real-time on large projection screens fed by the Ground Based Augmented Reality System. For the millions of fans watching on televisions and PCs at home, they will experience the thrill of the Rocket Racing via unique remote and rocket-mounted cameras that give at-home fans the sensation of riding right alongside famed Rocket Racing League pilots.”

The system will not only challenge the fliers but also provide a unique opportunity to engage with the live audience through jumbo video screens projecting the virtual course and even viewers at home by way of a planned video game that will let armchair pilots actually take part in the races, competing online in simultaneous real-time. But what if you’re after a more visceral, in-your-face experience? That’s doable too, and it doesn’t take a million-dollar rocket plane to make it happen.

Behold “Wipeout,” the ABC game show that puts contestants through the wringer of various bizarre and rather rough obstacle courses that more often than not result in a spectacular wipeout – hence the name – and a quick trip into a mud pit. Its roots can be traced back to the 1980s Japanese show “Takeshi’s Castle,” Vintage Video of Takeshi\’s Castle better known to American audiences (in edited form) as the Spike television extravaganza “Most Extreme Elimination Challenge.” But more to the point, these shows share a more basic commonality: a powerful video game sensibility in their design.

Check out a video clip or two at the “Wipeout” website – http://www.abc.go.com/shows/wipeout and tell me that those courses don’t look like some twisted Nintendo Super Mario Bros. creation sprung to life. All that’s missing is a oversized, angry gorilla who throws barrels. And while some people just love to compete, and the big cash prize for the winner is a mighty powerful incentive, the real attraction is far simpler: it’s an opportunity to put yourself into the middle of a full-size, real-life Super Mario level. Who could say no to that?

As gamers get older and technology gets better, we’re certain to see this kind of game-inspired entertainment become increasingly commonplace. In another facet Video Games Live has become the new musical craze. The performance is a musical compilation of some of the classic 8 bit game tunes from games such as Pong. Performed by the Video Games Live orchestra. In a way, we’ve come full circle; art imitates life and, as always, life imitates art.. It gives a whole new meaning to the term “virtual reality,” wouldn’t you say? For the Silo, Andy Chalk.

Culture

A Dollar For Compressed Air – Are You Getting Gouged?

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The Silo does a lot of travelling and we take notice of the highs and the lows that go along with working in parts of four counties.  Some standouts are the comparative condition of the roads, the comparative prices of gasoline and diesel and one thing that surprised us: the rising cost of compressed air and the variations in the amount of time you get for the compressed air.

But why do we notice these things?

You see, we live in a wonderfully exotic environment. In just a few months time, air temperatures can vary between -20 degrees C to + 25 degrees C and this temperature jump combined with a (seemingly) growing number of potholes means checking your vehicles tire condition and pressure is a must. If you want to drive safely and economically and comfortably.

And that’s the rub

The vast majority of service stations are no longer Ma and Pa operations that cater to the automobile enthusiast. Sure they have candy and coffee and DVD’s and scratch lottery tickets. But what about putting the word ‘service’ back into service station? None of us on staff are old enough to remember a time when pulling your car into a gas station meant at a minimum a check under the hood. None of us are old enough to contemplate a time when your car was jacked up and inspected like a ship in dry dock. But all of us are aware of the rising cost of not only fuel but compressed air.

As we make our way around the different county lines and roads, our vehicles are taking a toll. On average, the roads are spotty and checking tire pressure has become a bit of an obsession. [If any of you are driving a vehicle with Nitrogen or another gas in your tires, please let us know if you’ve noticed a difference]

We are shocked by the rising costs of air pumps. The average cost of filling your tires is now 1$. The fill rates vary between pump manufacturers and it’s plausible that station owners may adjusting the length of time that 1$ will buy. We will report back our findings.  In the meantime- visit Burcham’s Service on Main St. in Port Dover for FULL service gas [sorry no diesel] and FREE compressed air. Pay attention to the warning sign above the air pump- this is a high pressure nozzle but when used properly, does a great job of filling your tires at no cost.  CP

 

Gaming, Vintage

Mourning The Macho Man

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“Oh yeah”

Back in the mid 80’s, my high school buddies and I would travel every month or so from Simcoe to the Brantford Civic Center to get our fill of WWF wrestling.  It was great because in those days they used to do the TV taping right there in Brantford  for broadcast all over North America.  It was usually a long night of about 3 hours of wrestling for 3 different TV shows.  For $5 it was the best entertainment value around.  Sometimes the matches would drag on.

Harley Race and Nikolai Volkoff were not exactly the most captivating performers, but we would endure them waiting for something to peak our interest.  I’ll never forget the night a new wrestler was introduced to us.  The ring announcer welcomed him as Randy ‘Macho Man’ Savage.  Out he came in a garish, metallic robe which reflected the television lights in a million directions.  He had a maniacal look on his face and he revealed the craziest wild eyes when he finally removed his dark ski-goggle type sunglasses.  His matted hair was held back by a colourful headband and he sported an unruly beard.
Once in the ring, he took off the robe to reveal not the plodding weightlifter type body we were used to seeing, but the more sinewy muscularity of an athlete.  We, the veteran and savvy fans, took this new guy and his ring entrance with a grain of salt.  “Macho Man”?  Really?  “Who calls themselves the “Macho Man”?” we thought.  At that time our only reference to a Macho Man was voiced by a pop group named the Village People, and that was just plain challenging for a group of adolescent high school boys. So we watched on with wary eyes.  The bell rung, the match started, and then the Macho Man turned into a human whirlwind.

He raced around the ring delivering all his moves with expert efficiency, but at a hyper-speed we had never seen before.  He threw his man out of the ring, darted up to the top turnbuckle and came down hard onto the opponent’s backside with a double axe handle.   He then threw the poor sod back in,  picked him up and body-slammed him to the centre of the ring and jumped back up onto the top turnbuckle as quick as a cat.  What was he going to do now?  He raised his arms and pointed his fingers up high towards the arena roof and paused for a moment while the crowd held its collective breath.  Then….he leapt.  Sky-high into the air he launched, coming down with devastating force into the chest of his opponent with what would become his signature move, the Flying Elbow.  One, two, three, and it was all over in the blink of an eye.  We were awestruck.  A star was born.  After that display of wrestling awesomeness, it goes without saying that we were now all charter members of the Macho Madness fan club.

Savage’s “Oooooyyeeaaah” catch phrase and white-hot interviews would solidify his character, and his lovely manager Elizabeth would provide the eye candy which surely helped propel him to the highest heights of wrestling stardom.  Whenever his entrance music, “Pomp and Circumstance” hit, the excitement level dialled up to a fever pitch.  He would become a multi-time WWF champion and face off against Hulk Hogan in the top money-drawing program of the day.  His crowning achievement was likely his match against Ricky Steamboat at Wrestlemania 3 in what is widely regarded as one of the best wrestling matches of all time.

Randy Savage, real name Randy Poffo, died tragically in Florida last month after having a heart attack while driving his car and then colliding with a tree.  He leaves us at the too young age of 58. I know my buddies and I are not the only ones out there missing him.  I’m sure some of you have your own favourite Macho Man moments.

Maybe you should have a stroll down memory lane and check out some Macho Man on Youtube  In my mind, he was thegreatest of all time. John McIntosh is a favourite writer for The Silo.

Comics

25 Year Old Batman Original Comic Art Brings $448,125 At Auction

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From Heritage Auction House- www.comics.ha.com

Frank Miller and Klaus Janson Batman: The Dark Knight #3 Batman and Robin Iconic Splash Page 10 Original Art (DC, 1986). Frank Miller’s The Dark Knight Returns defined the best of 1980s comics, and has since been universally acknowledged as one of the most important and influential stories ever published. Miller is arguably the greatest superhero writer/artist to work during this period, and Dark Knight is his undisputed masterpiece: the four-issue series rejuvenated Batman as DC’s most popular character and in the process helped revitalize the comics industry.

This splash page is to our minds the single most memorable image from the entire book and the greatest image from the decade ever to come to market — as well as one of the handful of most desirable pieces of original comic art from any era to come to market. A perfect stand-alone image of Batman and Robin (Carrie Kelley, the first female, full-time Robin) soaring high above Gotham City, an icon symbolizing the entire storyline — this one has everything going for it.  As demonstrated by the fact that we’ve only offered two Dark Knight panel pages previously — and the fact that no splash page, much less a such an undeniably classic image, has never been offered at auction — artwork from the famed series is much scarcer than anything else from the period. This gem has been locked away in a single collection since being purchased upon the series’ original publication and is the definition of “fresh to market.” And unlike many pages from the series, where differences between the original art and the published version are evident (as a result of Miller making changes on pasteovers), no changes were made to this artwork for publication, and the original contains no paste-ups or stats — it’s pure art, just the way it appeared in print.

Definitive is the only adequate description of this masterpiece, and as such, it was chosen to represent the entire time period in DC’s recent 75 Years of DC Comics: The Art of Modern Mythmaking book, serving as the chapter heading for “The Dark Age: 1984-1998,” and reproduced as a glorious color full-page image, leading off the chapter on page 556.   In 2005, Time magazine ranked The Dark Knight Returns as one of the top ten graphic novels ever created. As Alan Moore wrote about the series: “Beyond the imagery, themes, and essential romance of Dark Knight, Miller has also managed to shape the Batman into a true legend by introducing that element without which all true legends are incomplete and yet which for some reason hardly seems to exist in the world depicted in the average comic book, and that element is time… time has come to the Batman and the capstone that makes legends what they are has finally been fitted. In his engrossing story of a great man’s final and greatest battle, Miller has managed to create something radiant which should hopefully illuminate things for the rest of the comic book field, casting a new light upon the problems which face all of us working within the industry and perhaps even guiding us towards some fresh solutions.”

In short, this is one of the most important pieces of original comic book art Heritage has ever had the pleasure to offer.  This iconic masterpiece from “Hunt the Dark Knight” has an image area of 11.5″ x 17.75″, and aside from some very light paper aging in the image area and some passages of white-out, the art is in Excellent condition.

“I’ve always loved that drawing. Danced around my studio like a fool when I drew it. I hope it finds a good home.” –Frank Miller–

Miller, Frank: Frank Miller (American, b. 1957): is a multi-talented cartoonist, writer, and film director, most celebrated for his work on the Marvel characters Daredevil, Elektra, and Wolverine, as well as on his own characters for the Dark Horse titles Hard Boiled, 300, and Sin City. In the late eighties, Miler became the first and foremost of a new breed of “noir” comic book storytellers, thanks to the tremendous popularity of his work on the industry-changing Batman: The Dark Knight Returns series. He also directed the film version of Will Eisner’s The Spirit, and shared directing duties with Robert Rodriguez on Sin City, and produced the film 300..

Culture

Terroir

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Wine and cheese pairing is not just for the snobby connoisseur or the elite diner. Anyone can be a part of this wonderful dining experience and spend an evening savoring it yourself. Since all of us are different and more importantly, all of our taste buds are different, what master vintners and world class fromagiers may say is a correct pairing, may not work for the rest of us. By all means listen to what they might suggest, because they have a lot of experience with taste –but, remember they are just suggestions.  It’s the differences that make life interesting.

Cheese and wine by their very nature are even different from vat to vat. You may be making the same product, but in the food world, there are many variables to production. Terroir plays a significant role in both wine and cheese.  Grapes taken from sunny slopes of Italy have a different terroir than grapes taken from valleys in France. It’s the same with cheese. Milk coming from animals in Swiss Alpine regions possesses distinct flavors that differ from milk from animals on Canadian Prairies.

Understanding the basic concepts of flavors and how they pair, will give you a platform to make your own pairing decisions.  Cheese influences the taste of wine more than vice versa. Wines with lots of flavour work with cheese that also have lots of flavour.  Subtle wines work with delicate cheese; therefore hard cheese with red wines and soft cheese with white. Fruity wines pair nicely with tangy acidic cheese. A sour salty cheese makes a wine taste milder. Sometimes, pairing wines with cheese from the same area works well together. Spicy flavored cheese work well with sweet desert wines.

Sometimes a heavy sugar wine works with a blue cheese. But, in the long run, it’s all up to you to try it out, and find out what sits well with you.  Your goal is to create a balance of flavors of wine and cheese together.

Here are a few pairings of wine and cheese that you might care to try out.

Florence Estate Winery from Langton has a delightful chardonnay -with its light oak and hints of fruit pairs well with the Swiss Alpine Gruyere from the Canton of Fribourg. The subtle textures of the cheese draw out the fruity hints of the wine.

Villa Nova Estate Winery has a Riesling that is clear and floral, and the terroir of their region adds a slight twist of richness that differs slightly German Rieslings. This makes pairing with the English Double Gloucester a true experience. The saltiness of the cheddar takes the edge from the sweetness of the wine.

I am looking forward to sampling the other Norfolk County wines from Burning Kiln, Burning Mills Villa Nova Estate and Wooden Bear-L , when I get the chance. Maybe this weekend I can give it a shot with some close friends and a board of cheese. For the Silo, Scott Jensen. 

 

Gaming

Machinarium Videogame Combines Art And Visual Storytelling

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Machinarium is not a new videogame. But if, like many gamers, you overlooked it when it was released in late 2009, you owe it to yourself to go back and pay it some attention. Machinarium may look simple or perhaps even a touch primitive at first glance, but in reality the game is an inspirational fairy tale set in a wondrous, grimy world of living machines; a touching story of struggle, heroism and robot-love.

One of Machinarium’s most remarkable qualities is the way its tale is woven without a single word—there’s not one instance of speech or text in the entire game. Instead, everything is told visually. Dialog between characters unfolds as brief animations, while plot details are filled in through flashbacks.

Even the physical appearances of the game’s denizens, from the diminutive main character to his ruffian tormentors and the strutting, tin-pot police who, in theory at least, guard over the city, figure prominently in the storytelling process, as the pint-sized underdog struggles against bullies and thugs to be the hero his doe-eyed beloved has always believed him to be.

That may be a lot to read into a game that, bizarre setting aside, is a fairly straightforward point-and-click adventure. From a gameplay standpoint, Machinarium is solid if not particularly noteworthy. But the details of its world most definitely are. Each level and everything in it is entirely hand-drawn, providing a unique and whimsical visual style, while the soundtrack, both musical and ambient, is every bit as impressive—possibly more so. The combined effect is nothing short of extraordinary.

Gamers unfamiliar with the standards of “adventure logic,” in which odd, occasionally arbitrary sequences of actions are required to complete tasks and move things forward, may need a little time to get settled, but veterans of the genre will feel right at home. You will collect objects, you will combine objects, and you will use those objects on other objects to make things happen. But the game mechanics are actually quite simple, because everything is visual and its various regions are fairly tightly compartmentalized. Some of the problems you’ll face are real stumpers, however, and while one hint is available for each of the game’s screens, don’t expect it to do much more than give you a very gentle nudge in the right direction.

But that’s okay. Machinarium is a slow-burning experience that’s best savored rather than merely consumed. It crafts gripping beauty out of an ugly world in a way that elevates it from the merely good to the truly memorable. It’s not for everyone: twitchy Halo junkies probably won’t find too much to like in it. But for anyone in the mood for something a little more thoughtful, or who’d just like to see the videogame medium stretch its legs a little bit, Machinarium is a wonderful, magical game that simply should not be missed. For the Silo, Andy Chalk. 

 

Culture, Earth

Ancient Stones Being Discovered

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An artifact recovered near Port Dover, ON

Generations of Haldimand and Norfolk citizens have found and collected stone artifacts from their lands. Artifacts were kept out of intrigue and interest and often displayed prominently within homes. Some were valued as family heirlooms, others placed in boxes and kept packed away on a shelf. This is where I enter the story. My name is Lorenz Bruechert and I am an archaeologist.

Not long ago a land owner told me that artifacts had been collected from his family property over many, many years. I was invited to make an examination because the owner knew they might be important to my regional archaeological study (www.haldimandarchresearchproject.com). There still was a little hesitation, primarily out of concern that I might confiscate the artifacts. But that is not what I do. My interest in private collections from prehistoric times is based in public outreach and education.

I was able to provide the owner with a time period of the artifacts, the type of rock used in their manufacture, and their origins. You see, I believe it is important to foster trust and to empower landowners with information, thereby ensuring their collections are valued, respected and hopefully made available for scientific study.

Private collections reflect the richness of our homelands and confirm the reality of past human occupation. Trying to make sense of who primitive occupants were and how they lived is helped immensely by studying the ages and quantities of found artifacts. Artifacts date from within historic periods to as far back as when glaciers still existed in Southern Ontario. In fact, many land owners are surprised to learn that their collections are much older than a few hundred years.

At least 80% of human history is represented by stone artifacts. The rock used is generally a sedimentary variety containing silica. The more silica a rock has, the easier it is to break apart. The geological name for the type of stone used in most tool manufacture is chert or flint. Chert formations date as far back as the age of the dinosaurs. They were scoured and scraped by the movement of glaciers and carried along until the glacier melted. What this means is that an artifact found in Haldimand or Norfolk may have originated thousands of kilometers away!

In Southern Ontario, stone tool artifacts have been recovered and dated within several different main time periods. Each period shows variations thought to reflect climate changes that made an impact on animal and plant species. As species changed or disappeared, new types of stone tools were manufactured to keep up with these transitions. Dating artifacts, therefore, helps to identify migrations of different people groups across our counties’ deep past.

Most landowners truly enjoy having their artifacts interpreted. Their private collections remain intact and local people become, in a sense, guardians of local history. If a family is not interested in acting as stewards, I always encourage them to donate their pieces to a local museum, to ensure that the artifacts remain in the community.

Lorenz Bruechert will return soon for another installment of local archaeology. You can contact Lorenz at hnarproject@gmail.com.

Culture

Netflix Is The Good Life Without Cable

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I’d about had it with Bell Canada. My internet, home phone and basic satellite TV charges had incrementally and infuriatingly risen each month until I was red-faced steaming every time the outrageous bill appeared in my mailbox. I needed to reduce that burden, but….I needed some sort of plan.

The first step, I thought, would be to get rid of the TV portion of my package. I didn’t think I could go cold turkey though, so I had to come up with a solution for replacing what I was going to lose. I continued to stew and pay the bills, but in the meantime I started exploring what I could get for free online. I also experimented with some old-school rabbit ears, but those things didn’t really cut it.

Then, out of nowhere, like manna falling from heaven, the sweetness known as Netflix became available in Canada. I pounced. Now for only $7.99 a month I have an all-you-can-eat buffet of TV series and movies right at my fingertips. It’s all available through my wireless internet, works in combination with my Nintendo Wii (you can also use an xbox360 or Playstation3) and is viewable on my television. All for the price of two video rentals.

Once my mind was suitably blown by Netflix, let me tell you how satisfying and liberating it was to call Bell and cancel my TV service. It went something like this: “Hey, Bell , just wanted to tell you that you can go screw yourself. Instead of dealing with your over-priced and over-rated service, I’ve got something that meets my viewing needs at next to no cost at all”. Ahhh. Now that was nice.

Bell has since been mailing thank you notes for my long time patronage, encouraging me to “give them a call” to learn about all the “savings they have in store for me.” I mean really, give me a break. Couldn’t the money they’re spending on that embossed greeting card, and postage, be better used? And why don’t they offer these “great deals” when you’re already a subscriber? Oh man, I’m starting to burn again…

Okay, with Netflix there are some serious sacrifices that you might not be willing to make. First of all: no live sports. For some this may be impossible to accept. However I’ve been a staunch Toronto Raptors fan since their inception, and I thought I’d miss them big time. But I found that I just stopped caring. Of course the Raptors extreme ineptitude certainly made things easier.

Overall, I found that if it’s out of sight it really is out of mind. Trust me, your mind will get filled up with something else. No American Idol? Maybe it’s time to challenge yourself. There’s always YouTube if you absolutely have to see that results show. What about reading a book as an alternative?

The movies on Netflix are not “right out of the theatre” but that doesn’t seem to bother me. There are so many genres to choose from, and so many films I’ve missed or forgotten about, that it’s all new to me anyway. If you still can’t bear the thought of losing your cable, consider using Netflix as a supplement.

Next on the agenda is to get rid of my home phone, another huge part of my bill with *****. When I called to cancel my TV they delighted in telling me I was under contract for telephone service until June, and would have to pay a $200 termination fee to cancel it. Like, whatever. Why am I even surprised? For the Silo, John McIntosh.