I get to write a final instead of go to that show. GREAT. Well, at least there's the Saturday show.

Alison, EMI is "electro-magnetic-interference". EMF is "electro-magnetic-field". EMP is "electro-magnetic-pulse" (like they used in the Matrix). Remember when you posted that picture of flourescent bulbs being lit up by the overhead electric cables? It was the EMF of the cables that produced EMI in the bulbs which resulted in chemical fluorescence.

And Paras, those "shakti stones" as they are called actually work. Hardcore audiophiles use them a lot... I think Hugo's dad might've even had some on his old set up. And though the science behind them SOUNDS dubious, it's actually legitimate. To put it more clearly than that ad did, these stones are basically just "shields" against EMI. Like how guitarists need "shielded" cables to get a clean sound (ie: so that you don't pick up FM radio frequencies like Jere currently does), these stones sheild the electronic components of your stereo from one another. When an electric signal passes through a wire it produces a surrounding EMF. This is simple physics 30 material. This EMF interferes with the current of other electronic components and results in an audible increase of distortion in the audio signal. This is why professional recording studios tape down all of the wires to the floor so that the wires ONLY intersect at right angles. If 2 wires ran parallel to each other, they'd be subjecting each other to EMI all through the length of the cord... which is not good when you're looking for hi fidelity audio.

Which brings me to my
stereo/home-theatre set-up tip of the day: use the shortest necessary length of cabling to wire your system together, and never allow 2 cables to run parallel to each other. If you have the money, buy sheilded cables. Your speakers will thank you. (as a side note: I don't follow my own advice... I've been meaning to, but I'm lazy and I don't want to have to rewire 4 speakers and subwoofer, though I swear this winter I'll get around to it.)

emmy's show! i can't even go everyone is going to kill me!18 sleeps till xmas

SORRY ABOUT THE SIZE OF THE POSTER/IMAGE

TOMMOROW NIGHT YO, EVERYONE COME ON OUT, IT SHOULD BE A GOODER!!

alison brings up an excellent point and it reminded me about a research paper i did for one of my english classes, which i will here post in its entirety for ur reading pleasure..... bear in mind i wrote this the night before as is my usual practice so i dont know how many errors are in it, but i got an a- on it..... there are some formatting issues but dont let them distract u....plus all my sources are straight off the net, fairly impressive for such an intricate topic.... u would all do well to read it and feel free to post any feedback u may have, not that i honestly give a shit about any of ur opinions

(Par: I moved it to text and am hosting it, Tom) Linky

I thought EMI was a record company. could I be enlightened on the other meaning? or is the intent merely to block out all EMI artists' music while listening to your iPod? That could prove interesting...

If a Canadian says he had to "deke out of a meeting," it means he avoided the meeting.

Can I "deke" out of having to read hackneyed Canadian-isms? Fuck. If I ever use that phrase, please, pause for a moment, get a heavy object and beat me with it.

Hey, Tay, maybe all you need to appreciate the iPod is some Shakti Stones. The review says "The effect of the first few Shakti products was not as apparent as when the effect became compounded. Each built on the others' ability to eliminate EMI in the component on or under which it was placed. Music became more relaxed, with greater clarity. Space and ambience increased."

How do they work, you ask? "By addressing the problems of electromagnetic interference (EMI), the Shakti Stone uses ferrous and non-ferrous materials and quartz crystal oscillators in combination with a low-level magnetic field to absorb EMI energy and dissipate that energy as heat." (Never mind that the sentence makes no scientific sense, it's a non sequitur to boot!) And only $199.99 USD.

The unofficial and unconfirmed 2005 Coachella lineup is as follows:

April 30
David Bowie
Nine Inch Nails
Coldplay
PJ Harvey
Interpol
The Faint
Franz Ferdinand
Polyphonic Spree
Boards of Canada
TV On the Radio
Yeah Yeah Yeahs
Squarepusher
Clinic
French Kicks
Secret Machines
Phoenix
Beep Beep
Dogs Die In Hot Cars
Death From Above 1979
The Helio Sequence

May 1
R.E.M.
Tears For Fears
Wilco
Bright Eyes
Jimmy Eat World
Mos Def
Badly Drawn Boy
The Streets
Cake
The Shins
Sleater-Kinney
Rilo Kiley
Radio 4
Doves
Iron and Wine
The Arcade Fire
Moving Units


Bear in mind this has not been confirmed by any official sources... though it's looking likely that this is the leaked tentative list.

in case my next to most recent post didn't make it clear, I don't condone (or do) ecoterrorism.
I just wanted to make that undoubtedly clear. 'cause man, the things you can get going in peoples' heads...

sorry, it seems to be alison rant day.

but check this site out,Americans are co-opting Canadians' image over seas. straight from CNN to you.

Part of the "Go Canadian" package

I agree with you Paras, I just thought I'd get some opinions on it...

I don't think ecoterrorism is something that should be condoned... but I also think that sometimes it's a last resort when every other avenue of discourse is locked down on you when you try... but only if you try... like the fights for democracy and access to resources in other countries (not that I know particulary much, which could put some holes in my argument) - when they have no other means to get their point across, they resort to protests and violence, it's not a first-resort, it's only something to think about when all other alternatives have been exhausted.

As a local example of something that could lead to ecoterrorism, but definitely isn't there right now: the Cheviot Mine - now going through yet again (to become a mine) - and the appeal process that's been repeatedly delayed against the appellants, starting in the summer (like June, I think), and for every month since... maybe we'll see some transparent (ha!) judical processes in January, but maybe it'll be delayed again... meanwhile the road that is being contested just continues to be built, habitat lost, and who knows, maybe even some of the mines are being dug. What other recourse do we have? public protests have done nothing... letter writing campaigns ditto. I'm not going to go out and sugar gas tanks or something else of that ilk, but I'd expect that someone will be sooner or later. What other avenue of discourse is there? Scientists have spoken about the damages... but the coal company just bought out the local reservations' interests, and the province isn't exactly anti-industry... I mean, hell, DFO should be in there, but they aren't answering the calls. And Anne McLellan isn't listening either.

It just pisses me off. What else is there to do sometimes? Did you know that Edmonton's north east sits on some of the most prime farmland in the world? and it's all been sold to developers to be turned into subdivisons eventually. It's got a unique micro climate and hugely fertile soils. It's also one of the only places in North America where potatoes can be grown entirely disease free and isolated from possible disease contamination... awesomely important in the commercial sale of potatoes and seed stock to growers, greenhouses and backyard gardeners (which is a very lucrative market). but it's all destined to become pavement, stucco and vinyl siding. Sure, twenty years ago, we could've done something, but now? What is there? no development company's going to listen when the price of realestate is so high... though they are trying to change things... it just moves so slow, and often not in the favour of conservation.

I guess there's just not enough proactive work being done, and to much reaction. Still, proactivity only happens when your interests are taken into consideration from the outset, and they're really not. hmm... bitter? yes.