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Rating: NNNNN
A blackout we can actually remember
Thanks to fuck-ups at an Ohio generating plant, the power goes out across Ontario and much of the northeastern U.S. Torontonians take it all in stride, spilling into the street and onto the nearest patio to down quickly warming beer and hang with neighbours.
Toronto to world: We are not a SARScophagus
Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome kills 44 Torontonians and local tourism as a travel advisory issued by the World Health Organization and media-fuelled paranoia empty hotels and turn Chinatown into a ghost town. On a positive note, the Rolling Stones headline a concert where fans throw water bottles at Justin Timberlake.
they said
All I know is that we’re gonna rock your asses off. Literally. Fasten your ass belts. – Enis Esmer of quasi-musical group Calcu-Lator & the Oral Presentation
Censorship isn’t all bad, though. Fortunately, they’re not playing Phil Collins’s In The Air Tonight any more. – the Delgados’ Alun Woodward on having their song All You Need Is Hate banned by the BBC after comments about the Iraq War
They invited a whole bunch of people who were in town on the Warped Tour. The only one that weirded me out at first was Paris. – NOW’s first Paris Hilton reference, courtesy of Chris Shiflett of Me First and the Gimme Gimmes
In New York they’re screaming about how it’s going to cost them $70 billion. Here, it’s like, ‘Fuck it, wanna get a beer? Sure hope it’s still cold.’ – comic Daryn Jones on the blackout
As Volcano becomes more successful, my income has dropped enormously. I haven’t been able to take any big acting gigs. My agent is exasperated. I’m working all the time but I’m having more trouble buying food. – Ross Manson, director of Volcano, NOW’s best indie theatre company
we said
“With its signature mix of solid food at wallet-friendly prices, Ginger 2 advances the palatable plot of the original. I’m already looking forward to Ginger 3: The Wrath Of Prawn.” – about a sequel-worthy restaurant
“Like that billowing dust cloud hot on grimy Pigpen’s ass in the old Peanuts comix, wherever the Lullabye Arkestra travel, they leave a devastating trail of pure rock destruction.” – about a band with a sweetly bucolic moniker
“Every so often I am so thoroughly disappointed that I can remember what it was like when as a child I got socks on my birthday. This show is black knee-high socks.” – about the Gaudí architecture exhibit
“It’s still hard to say if the whole thing was more pleasurable than torturous, yet it was definitely memorable. Just not something you’d ever want to experience again.” – about the SARSstock concert
“Obviously, I’m in there like a ferret on a popsicle.” – about the opening of Chippy’s
Top 10 albums
OutKast Speakerboxxx/The Love Below
Neil Young Greendale
Al Green I Can’t Stop
The White Stripes Elephant
Calexico Feast Of Wire
All Systems Go! Mon Chi Chi
Jay-Z The Black Album
The Cinematic Orchestra Man With A Movie Camera
Sam Roberts We Were Born In A Flame
Buck 65 Talkin’ Honky Blues
Top 10 movies
Capturing The Friedmans
.
Lost In Translation
Mystic River
Bus 174
Kill Bill: Vol. 1
Gambling, Gods
And LSD
The Good Thief
Finding Nemo
Spider
Morvern Callar
NOW makes a statement with this award-winning anti-war cover, featuring musician Devendra Banhart, March 27.
in this year
JANUARY
Mayor Mel Lastman announces he will not seek re-election, citing declining health. It isn’t long before he’s selling furniture again and yelling “Noooooobody!” in annoying TV ads.
Councillor David Miller declares his candidacy for mayor, upsetting ex-Mayor Barbara Hall’s run.
FEBRUARY
The Space Shuttle Columbia disintegrates upon re-entry, killing all 7 astronauts on board. It’s later determined that the accident was caused by a piece of foam that hit the wing upon liftoff.
CN Rail named in U.S. suit seeking slave reparations.
MARCH
After months of prayers, vigils and massive demonstrations in Toronto and other cities, PM Jean Chretien decides Canada won’t join the invasion of Iraq Operation Iraqi Freedom begins.
APRIL
The Human Genome Project is completed as 3 billion nucleotides are mapped and sequenced.
MAY
The Historic Distillery District opens. The artsy enclave would still be trying to find its footing three years later.
President Bush proclaims “Mission accomplished,” after landing on the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln. The Iraq body count is still climbing three years later.
JUNE
Martha Stewart is indicted for insider trading, followed by prison time and house arrest.
OCTOBER
Dalton McGuinty defeats Ernie Eves as the Liberals take the provincial election.
NOVEMBER
David Miller defeats John Tory 43 per cent to 38 per cent to win the mayoral race.
Wacko Jacko is arrested on child molestation charges. After all the courtroom drama, Jackson retires to Bahrain.
DECEMBER
Paul Martin becomes Canada’s 21st Prime Minister.
Premier gives thumbs up to a study for an enviro-unfriendly Manitoba hydro dam to supply power to southern Ontario.