Daily Image

We are all equal, and no one has the right to dictate to another who they can and cannot love.

Happy Pride Week to EVERYONE!

Daily Image

This is a photograph I took at Parliament Hill in February. It is pretty self-explanatory. Canada is great. Period.

Happy Birthday, Canada!

The Social Network

What does it take to get your life made into a Hollywood biopic? Oh, not much. Just create a website that addicts everyone and becomes essential to the lives of over 500 million people. Then add becoming a self-made multi-billionaire by age 26 and you're a shoe-in for a biopic.

Well, that probably does not describe your life. But it does describe Mark Zuckerberg, the founder of Facebook.

The Social Network stars Jesse Eisenberg as Zuckerberg (who clearly only got the role because of his last name) and tells the story of the creation of Facebook, from its origins at Harvard to its growth into the crown jewel of the social networking movement. The screenplay was written by none other than Aaron Sorkin (The West Wing, Charlie Wilson's War) and the film is directed by David Fincher (Curious Case of Bejamin Button, Fight Club). It also features Andrew Garfield (The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus), Rashida Jones (The Office, Parks and Recreation), and everybody's favorite triple threat, Justin Timberlake.

Sounds great on paper. But is the creation of Facebook really compelling enough for a movie? Watch the teaser trailer below and decide for yourself.

The Social Network is in theatres October 1st.

C&C Presents: The Best of June (Part I)

It has been a big month for Create & Commerce. Not only was June the innaugural month of publication, there were also many high profile events to cover. The announcement by Quebecor that they are launching a new conservative cable news network, Sun TV News, was a perfect platform for C&C's media coverage. The ongoing World Cup is a big one too, as is the BP oil spill. And of course, the G8/G20 Summits and the ensuing aftermath still fill C&C's front page. There was also a slew of new pop hits to review, creative ad campaigns to cover, and even some linguistic commentary.

Yes, June was a good month. So here is the first of what I hope will be many "Best of's" - a sampling of the best moments of Create & Commerce's month of June.

1. Let's all go to the lobby
Monday, June 7
This was C&C's first forray into the editorial pool. I went to see Toy Story 3 last night at the Cineplex Galaxy here in Guelph and it completely reinforced everything I had written in this column. Big cinema chains are sucking the magic out of the movie-going experience and replacing it with fake butter.


2. Daily Quote
Monday, June 7
The unveiling of Sun TV News made this quote by Ted Koppel all the more relevant. When business imposes expectations of profitability, ratings hits, and advertising revenue on the news media, we all suffer.


3. C&C Review: Alejandro
Tuesday, June 8
This was the first review published on Create & Commerce. It is funny how much more attention you pay to a song when you've reviewed it. Since I wrote this piece, "Alejandro" has grown considerably on me. It has found it's way into my iTunes Top 25 and I just can't help but to sing along in the car whenever it comes on, which is a lot, by the way. I you still haven't watched the accompanying music video, you are missing out.

4. Nike Football
Wednesday, June 9
The "Write the Future" campaign has actually come back to haunt both Nike and all the stars who appeared in this commercial. Apparently, karma balances out getting paid millions to be in a Nike spot with utter failure at the World Cup. Who knew?

5. Daily Image
Wednesday, June 9
This photo of reporter Rich Matthews diving into the Gulf of Mexico oil spill still amazes me. And several weeks later, thanks to clumsy underwater robots, tropical storms, and political posturing, BP is no closer to cleaning up their mess.

6. Daily Image
Thursday, June 10
Readers and myself including were extremely touched by this photograph showing a married couple as children on separate trips to Disney World caught in the same frame decades before they had even met. This photograph remains my favorite Daily Image to date.


7. Here's to you, sunglasses!
Thursday, June 10
The unseasonably-wet summer so far has depleted the value of my sunglasses collection considerably. Nevertheless, they remain an essential element of my wardrobe. This piece was especially fun to write.

8. "Fox News North" is actually Sun TV News
Tuesday, June 15
The Sun TV News story was the first big story actually covered daily on Create & Commerce. The implications of creating a conservative news network in Canada are far reaching. We risk creating the kind of polarized political climate here that exists in the US by politicizing the news media. True democracy can only flourish with non-partisan, objective, and unbiased journalism and Sun TV News is essentially spitting in the face of that idea. At least we have some time before it launches this January to enjoy the peace and quiet before loud, obnoxious conservative pundits take to the air.

9. Daily Quote
Wednesday, June 16
Ah yes, Miley Cyrus defending herself against those who would call her new revealing image "slutty". This was published before the Much Music Video Awards. Did anybody not see how she looked at the MMVA's? Here's a link. And another.




10. Review: California Gurls
Wednesday, June 16
It's a good thing I reviewed this song because it is looking to be the anthem of Summer 2010. Not that I am complaining - I do love it, but on my way back to Guelph from Sudbury this past weekend, I heard it played on Virgin Radio five times. FIVE TIMES. I still can't make sense of the video, however. But I don't think I'm meant to. After all, Katy Perry is naked. What more do you want?

BOTTOM 10 TO FOLLOW

The Bilz & Kashif

It has been a long week thanks to the G20 Summit violence, and with Canada Day less than three hours away, we all could use a little pick-me-up.

South-Asian-inspired dance music to the rescue!

The Bilz & Kashif is a pop/hip-hop/electronic music group based in Montreal. Its three members are all of South Asian decent: DJ Vicious is South Indian, Master-D is Bengali Indian, and Kashif Khan is Pakistani and their hard-hitting dance sound reflects their ethnic roots.

Originally formed as simply The Bilz (Brothers in Lawz), DJ Vicious and Master-D began collaborating with Kashif Khan in 2006. Since 2007, Kashif has become part of the group. While based in Canada, their greatest success has been in Europe thanks to successful tours in 2009 and 2010. Their new album is called Breaking Barriers.

The Bilz & Kashif have found a perfect balance - hard/fast/melodic dance productions fused with a South Asian flavor that makes for a unique sound that easily cuts through the cluttered and repetitive dance music scene. Edgy electronic riffs blend with Indian and English vocals in perfect harmony. It's Slumdog Millionaire in the Entertainment District.

Listen to the three songs bellow and check out the groups website: Bilzmusic.com

"On the Dancefloor"


"2 Step Bhangra"


"Turn the Music Up"

50 Worst Athlete Style Fails

Professional athletes have a lot of money, and as such, can have some of the most eclectic personal styles. No matter what the sport, on or off the field, sports stars, like their Hollywood celebrity counterparts, spend a lot of time and money on how they look...for better or for worse.

Complex has put together a collection of the 50 worst athlete style fails in pro sports. From Andre Agassi's famous 80's rocker wig, to everything Dennis Rodman ever wore, whether you are a sports fan or a fashionista, you will love this feature.

Read the full feature here.

"Why are you closed?" G20 video is a hit

The video of the irate shopper outside a closed Toronto Eaton Centre after it was locked down on Saturday due to G20 protests has gone viral. Now, as is customary in YouTube success, scores of remixes, re-dubs, and re-edits are popping up all over the internet.

Al Qaeda to launch English-language magazine

No, this is not a joke. Al Qaeda, the multinational organization most famous for its jihadist mission against the West, plans to diversify its operations into new ventures, starting with the new magazine Inspire. The organization has announced the magazine in an online ad. It will be based upon the already popular online magazine Sada al-Malahim (translation: Echo of the Battle).

Inspire will feature guest writer Anwar al Awlaki, the American Muslim cleric blamed for stirring up violence among Western Muslim youth - including the so-called Toronto 18. Articles will include profiles of terrorist leaders and suicide bombers and helpful tips on how to not divulge information if caught or interrogated.

No official launch date has been set for the magazine nor is there any word on whether the publication will be available in North America.

PHOTOS: Top - online ad announcing Inspire. Left - Cleric Anwar al Awlaki.

5-metre G20 fence rule was bullshit

Toronto's Chief of Police Bill Blair admitted today that the so-called "5-metre rule" never actually existed. The much-publicized law was supposedly passed by the provincial government prior to the G20 Summit in secret and allowed police to arrest and detain any individual who came within 5-metres of the security perimeter and either refused to provide identification or would not state their business for being at the fence.

Blair's admission that the law never actually existed comes on the heals of allegations of improper police conduct during the summit that led to hundreds of people being detained for little more than being present at peaceful protests.

I myself even had a first-hand experience of the 5-metre rule. While waiting for a Greyhound bus in Toronto on Thursday afternoon, I decided to take my camera down to the fence and take some shots. After about half an hour or so, I was approached at Front & Bay by an RCMP officer who demanded to know why I was there and why I was taking photographs of the security fence. I was fully compliant, showing him my passport, talking about my blog, showing him the photographs. After about ten minutes, he let me go about my business. The revelation that the officer may not have actually had the authority to cause me that minor inconvenience (and I might also add, a rapid heartbeat) has me angered. I can only imagine the anger now welling in those that were detained in the east detention facility for over a day.

Read the reports on Blair's admission by the CBC and the Toronto Star.

The G20: When fear turns to defiance and anger

Guelph Mercury reporter Rob O'Flanagan immersed himself in the chaos of the downtown Toronto "Red Zone" on Saturday afternoon. I urge you to read his riveting account of the scene and the thought-provoking question he poses: which comes first, the riot or the riot police?


Read Mr. O'Flanagan's column here.