Nov 11.

On a similar, but more serious note. It's Remembrance Day today.

I'm sitting in my cubicle and looked at the clock... 10:59... I listen to what's going on around me... plenty of chatting, typing, gossip... I'm no saint. Believe Me... but I do think that Rememberance Day should serve as two things:

1. A minute to stop and think about people that gave their lives for any thought of freedom.... Both my Grandfathers were in World War 2... from Very Very Very different perspectives. One spent his time in the Canadian Army, stationed on a war ship as a medic, and the other spent the war hiding, running and surviving the Nazis in Poland. His story can be found in the Archives of this important building.

2. A couple minutes to think about the fact that we continue to force young people into the warmachine with thoughts that it is necessary and filled with honour.

Anyways, hope you took a minute.

W stands for ... wow.

So... saw Oliver Stone's W last nite at the Princess Twin.
Not too busy, but i guess it was a Monday, and the film has been out for a while.

First off, I will say that you basically just walk out of the movie saying "wow"

then a long pause as you reflect on the fact that this idiot of a man ran one of the, arguably THE most powerful country in the world for 2 terms.

and then all you can say is "wow" again.

Interesting that the movie does not de-humanize Geo (as delusional Laura calls him), or make him look like the revengeful monster that I've previously thought him.... it makes him out to be a spoiled little brat that grew up wealthy and protected. He doesn't know about consequences - or the fact that he may not be "qualified" for a position. He only knows that his ego will not allow him to be told No to anything.

And for his sake, I hope that's how people remember him in history - because being the President who started more than 1 thoughtless war, crippled the economy and did nothing to correct the crash course our planet is on - is a nasty obit.

There's a lot more to say about this film - like the way George Senior and Barbara are portrayed... the part that alcoholism and religion play... and the fact that Texas is just played messed....

But you should see the movie yourself.

It's playing at 6:40pm tues, wed and thurs of this week at the Princess Twin - king street Waterloo.

H.

Nov 5 - busy busy busy

Image: Will Gorlitz, Grassfire (detail), 1994, oil on canvas. 97 x 53 cm. Private collection. Image courtesy of the artist.

So if The World According to Monsanto isn't floating your boat for the evening of Wednesday November 5th, you could hit up KW|AG for an Artist Talk with Will Gorlitz of Guelph.

7-9 p.m, Kitchener-Waterloo Art Gallery (located in the Centre In The Square)
Admission is Free.

Film Festival at The Gig Theatre

Did everyone have a lovely weekend?

Mine was.... kind of extreme... but fun.

Recovering from being sick + Drinking + NOT Sleeping + Sillinesss
= needing another week to recover.

Anyways, not to get all preachy on ya first thing on a Monday, but wanted to let everyone know that "The Forerunner Inspire Festival" is this week at The Gig Theatre in Downtown Kitchener. They are showing 3 films that you may be interested in checking out:

The World According to Monsanto, Wed Nov 5th @ 7:15pm
If you don't know who Monsanto is, you should see this film, if you do know who they are... you should still see it.

Toxic Trespass, Thursday Nov 6th @ 7:15pm A film about the connection between our environment and health issues. Apparently has a focus on Windsor, Sarnia area - but is relevant across the world.

Taking Root, Friday Nov 7th @ 7:15pm How planting trees can change a nation - this is a film about the Nobel Peace Prize Winner Wangari Maathai.

Each film asks for a $5/per person donation to attend.

Alternatively, you could try to get to another showing of the flick we saw Saturday nite at the princess original: Sukiyaki Western Django Directed by Takashi Miike, and an appearance by Quentin Tarantino.
Here's the description:

Maverick Japanese director Takashi Miike re-teams with longtime writing partner Masa Nakamura (Andromedia, The Bird People of China) for this Western inspired by Sergio Corbucci's violent 1966 classic Django. It's been hundreds of years since the Battle of Dannoura, yet the Genji and Heiki clans are still feuding. In this poor mountain town, there is rumored to be a great hidden treasure. Genji gang leader Yoshitsune is sure that his white-clad warriors will find the treasure first, but Kiyomori and his red-clothed Heike gang aren't about to walk away empty-handed. When a mysterious lone gunman with an incredibly fast trigger finger rolls into town, everyone wonders which gang he will join. As betrayal, deception, and cold-blooded murder become commonplace, the silence of this once-quiet mountain town will be broken by the piercing echo of gunfire and the air will become dense with the smell of death.

JAPANESE WESTERN. INSANE.

At the Red Brick Cafe in Guelph

An Exhibition of Photographs by Dean Palmer

October 27.08 - November 23.08

Closing party Nov 22 7 - 8:30

Qatalyst's Birthday Weekend Pt.1

Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.

Our Thank You party for clients and contributors was last nite and was fucking awesome.

Pictures will be up as soon as we get them back from all the amazing photogs that were there shooting away.

Let's just say.... these things mix well:
Lots of Alcohol
+ Tons of Strangers
+ Some people you recognize
+ Amazing Art
+ Fire Dancers
+ 1 Spectacular Drag Queen
= one pretty insane nite.

Thanks again to everyone that made it out - and we'll see EVERYONE else tonite!!!!
6:30 - Midnite, The Children's Museum, Stop in Anytime - but bring your dancing shoes, as they say.
H. (

QATALYST TURNS 1!

WOW.
We're 1 this month!

Come celebrate with us at Fudge:The Gathering.
Saturday at the Children's Museum in Downtown Kitchener!

H.

Sarah Slean @ The GIG Theatre

So last week, Sarah Slean performed at The Gig Theatre in Kitchener.

For those of you that don't know the place... it's an old movie theatre in the Setman Building (Duke and Ontario) that is a super cool, chic little place to host a show. It's got about a 500 person capacity and sometimes that's bad (if your band draws about 25 people), but in this case, a packed house, it was Amazing. Super good energy and acoustics.

Royal Wood - a Canadian Singer/Songwriter opened up for her, he was pretty hilarious, even did a cover of the oompa loompa song from Willy Wonka and The Chocolate Factory. You can check him out HERE.

Sarah Slean, what can I say? She's fucking gorgeous, her voice is fucking unbelievable and she has a personality most girls would kill for. (jealous, much?)

Scott McQuarrie took some pretty fantastic shots, and was kind enough to send a couple over. I love how she does that head down, possessed by the piano thing. Here they are: copyright of re:action photography, copyright of re:action photography, copyright of re:action photography

If you have a chance to check this woman out. DO. IT.

Her voice and piano playing is beyond beautiful, and her professionalism and charisma is sooo unique.

Here's where I was going to put up the foto of her and I, but I'll spare you ;)
H.

Pottery Sale

(reduction fired pitcher by Lori Cole) H.E.L.L.O.

Pottery sale at Waterloo Rec Centre this friday, saturday and sunday.
Flyer is Here

I'm on the lookout for short round ceramic mugs for tea and coffee... You know, I figure I will cut down on the coffee if the cups are smaller?

Favourite Day of the Month

So it's Thursday, the files have been sent, we've revised the proof, it's going to press. I had an editorial meeting with the two ladies above - they weren't quite so intoxicated, as it was 10am. We're getting things in order for next month... and now I get to spend this lovely day by myself in the office.... totally quiet, other than the sweet tunes I have going on... Door open, Sun outside comin in. So good.

I'm returning emails and getting through all the stuff I've been putting off for the past 2 weeks... So if you're expecting me to get back to you... I'm on it.
Here's some fun images that I dug up on Cassie's Facebook. I was feeling nostalgic.

The first one is a little party we had the day before the first-ever qatalyst was released. Little BBQ, Little Beverages...

And the second, a photo of the BlackBoard at Gay Isber's Sugar Factory the night of our Launch Party. People left us great messages... I wish we could have moved that blackboard to our office. (sigh) But Ms.Killoran caught it on digi cam... or maybe even, what's that stuff called? Film.
H.

will currie wednesday

Last night hilary and i decided to go get some beer/food/happiness at the jane bond and then head over to starlight to see Will Currie and the Country French. I went to highschool with percussionist extraordinaire Steve Wood, and was glad to finally get out and see them. Hilary had seen them once before at the Uni, and she said the sound was so much better last night. And she was right, and it was really fun. They have quite the following around here...and its obvious why when you see them play- they really interact well with their audience and Will is pretty hilarious. here are a few pics. mmmmhummus my new phone. its gold and hideously awesome. think C-3P0. $1 hat HELLO We didnt get a chance to stay and chat with the band after because it was cold and our method of transportation really limited our time last night. But, we did pick up a cd for the office. I beleive they have a new EP coming out April....29th at HMV/Sunrise/ETC. So. that was a good wednesday night. Yesterday over all was pretty great actually. new cell phone and laptop...stumbled on a new thrift store (everything ONE dollar) saw kate cox. overall a great day/evening if i do say so myself. THEN today we were uptown for breakfast / editorial meeting at cafe 1842 which i normally like but had the hugest bitch trying to charge me 84 cents for creamcheese when i thought i had already paid for it with another waitress and it was just so retarded. i've never been made to feel so stupid over a dairy product before...after that we were like, lets get a coffee and go back to the office, and as we did we found this one lonely duck nessled into a planter. so i bought him a coffee.

Girls/Staff Nite Out.

Well.... Magda, Cassie and I decided to head out for a nite of celebrating on the town...
I thought it would be a good idea to drive. But we ended up calling E for a ride around 11. I should have known.
First off to Hannah's for some Tapas and Bevy's... there was a hilarious group of young french sitting next to us - a vast improvement to the family talking about prostate cancer at Coffee this aft.
Our lovely drinks:
Our food... well... the lonely fry that I caught before I devoured it. I totally forgot to photograph any dish before it was attacked. I couldn't help it ok? I hadn't eaten dinner!
Delicious Mystery Pint
Magda!
Then on to The Jane Bond for the opening of Kate Georgina Cox's Art Showing. Amazing. Cassie's fav piece is R2D2 with a Brain. Genius. Kate was actually at our launch party... we love her. Here she is, meaningful embrace:
Here we are:
Here is Owen... he lives in Trepid house and is a self-proclaimed photo geek with a physics degree = cool.
Here is Sarah and Kate - Queer Buzz Specialists. Do NOT take off Sarahs Hat and touch her hair... or so we hear.
And here is a tribute to you know who... enjoy, Tomorrow is delivery. goodnite.

Cassie... she's growing up (single tear)

So some of you may know that I am a big fan of lectures... I think it fills this psychological void in the place that my university education should have gone... but anyways, one of the great things about KW is that regular people get a lot of opportunity to hear great minds think out loud.
Today CIGI presents "Afghanistan: Is there an answer" Should be interesting... but I do wish that it was next week - because we could be handing out the April Issue of Qatalyst which would be a good fit. That's a hint. Can you hardly wait for Thursday? Anyways, the point is, Cassie (who just won a donut on Roll up the Rim - which has turned her terrible day into a fantastic one) is all over this lecture.
Heres a picture from a long time ago, when Cassie had blonde hair and I had long hair :( See people, Qatalyst goes to things... we just don't go to Phil's anymore... well, sometimes we do.

Busy Bees

It's been a crazy couple days.... Starlight on Wed was insane. Congrats Boys! There was a pretty ridiculous afterparty at Qatalyst after the show... It may not have helped that The Dunes announced it in the middle of their set. Oh well. lol. Then on Thursday we had an editorial meeting for May - it's shaping up alright... but i was totally k-o'd.... had pretty much the most useless day ever. Swore i would never drink again... vowed to not stay up past 4 on a weekenight. same old. same old. Then I proceeded to head out to CRASH PARALLEL at Wilf's ... not my kind of tunes, but they are a new Sony BMG band, so Bobby and Eric came down to see the show. ... and of course... i had a beer and broke the first of my many meaningless promises. What did I tell you Cass? Honesty is for suckers. Also met one of the coolest chicks ever... Brigitte. Love her. She's pretty much a highwaisted clone... so the more that I can get of her the better. Saying that... Skeesh and Jogee may be down tonite... YES FRIDAY! Have a good weekend :) H.