That's just great Tay and Eric! When you hit it big just don't forget about the little people that helped you out along the way.

CHAMPION CITY ON THE MOVE
There’s a new and unique force rising on the local music scene and its name is Champion City Records. Consisting of Eric Ng (DJ Generic of "hipster-twister" fame/infamy), Eric Cheng (who has recorded bands like Souljah Fyah), business-mastermind Tala Berkes, and musician/designer Taylor Schaerer, the new label’s main goal is to organize and focus the immense wealth of talent available in Edmonton into a productive means.

"We have two studio recording facilities as well as our own in-house design, packaging, and promotion teams," explains Schaerer. "All of these services (from concept to product) we provide free of charge to the artist with the hopes that through promotion, the sales of their resulting record will re-coupe the cost of our expended time and effort. We are trying to give the musicians and artists we love the opportunity to further their own projects with as little to no monetary risk for them as possible. As well, I think we are somewhat unique in that we don’t intend to limit our roster by either medium or genre. Really, we’re just interested in putting out quality products by quality people."

This means Champion City Records could eventually evolve into a full-blown DIY collective of artists of all stripes–including visual artists, filmmakers, as well as musicians involved in a variety of musical styles. Case in point: the label has finished producing Hills Like White Elephants first super-limited cassette single which will be launched at the Fields to Flood CD release at the Power Plant this Saturday (Sept 30). A full EP should follow.

"We also have an album by the Portraits which is already completed and will be released in the very near future; it may be too early to make predictions, but I think the Portraits album is really going to impress people," enthuses Schaerer. "We are also looking at posthumously releasing LIME’s last album (the members of which went on to form Red Hot Daggers), and we hope to shortly put out releases by the Nouns, as well as a solo project by Eamon McGrath (ex-Morellos frontman/member of Red Medicine). Red Hot Daggers will likely begin recording their first EP very soon as well. You can find most of these bands (and many of our friends) on Champion City Records’ MySpace page at www.myspace.com/championcity."

The FM Dial heard an advance spin of the Portraits record, and it is absolutely mind-blowing. Stay tuned, as Champion City is likely to explode in the upcoming months.

Par,

I used to have a huge telemarketer problem - they called every day. There are a few things that help. If you have call display, try calling the number back. Sometimes it will have an automated system that will allow you to remove you from their list. Also, google "do not call lists, Canada". A bunch of sites will come up that will allow you to register with them, to put you on a national do not call list. There are also "do not mail" lists, if you get as many credit card offers as I get. I still get called sometimes, but it definitely helped.

you're right, Paras, the big picture is exactly the kind of television i enjoy watching, and should watch...

actually EVERYONE should watch it, and not just because Avi Lewis is amazing, but because it's current events done in a different, but wholly relevant way. and it's far more entertaining and squirm-in-chair inducing than the evening news.

Further to my Hindi-speaking telemarketer, they called again, and it turns out it's an automatic voice. Which, to me, raises a question. How do you (tersely or otherwise) ask them to remove you from their list??

What are you talking about, Percy?

With respect to the squawking over Conservative budget cuts. First off, the sentiment of the opposition, expressed by John McCallum:

To do these announcements of huge cuts to the least privileged Canadians at the same day you announce a $13-billion surplus, it tells you a lot about the Conservative frame of mind.

We have been able to reduce the debt, cut taxes and invest more resources in programs that are important to ordinary Canadians such as child care and safer streets.

what the freaken hell. this job appears to be a freaken joke. the guys that were supposed to do the work while we were gone, so that we could work again on monday when we returned did a couple of hours worth of work and then left. apparently there was almost a rod buster war. so instead of one crew of them leaving so the other could work, they both left. and my (probably former) boss decided not to call any of us and have us come in for monday anyways. yet he knew that nothing was done the day after we left. so, instead of being here for a few weeks, I may be back in time for wings tomorrrow, or I may be heading somewhere else completely.anyways, I am going to go find some sort of party tonight. maybe see you tomorrow!

AAAARRRGGGGGHH, must goatse forever haunt me!?

Religious fears force off opera

see that guy on the left? *drool* i stood in front of him for the entire show... well, actually not stood, danced, sang along, had a blast with my friends... but it was no coincidence. he's rather, ahem, tasty-looking if you ask me... and cuff the duke was super excellent... Dale Murray makes the pedal steel sexy... haha! sorry, now i am done objectifying this fine specimen of plaid-wearing musical talent