'Earth Hour' to plunge millions into darkness

Twenty-six major cities around the world are expected to turn off the lights on major landmarks, plunging millions of people into darkness to raise awareness about global warming, organisers said.
'Earth Hour' founder Andy Ridley said 371 cities, towns or local governments from Australia to Canada and even Fiji had signed up for the 60-minute shutdown at 0900 GMT on March 29.
"There are definitely 26 (cities) that we think, if it all goes to plan, we are going to see a major event of lights going off," he told AFP.
Cities officially signed on include Chicago and San Francisco, Dublin, Manila, Bangkok, Copenhagen and Toronto, all of which will switch off lights on major landmarks and encourage businesses and homeowners to follow suit.
Ridley said it was also likely that other major European cities such as Rome and London, and the South Korean capital Seoul, although not officially taking part, would turn off lights on some attractions or landmarks.
The initiative began in Sydney last year and has become a global event, sweeping across 35 countries this year.
From 8:00 pm local time in Sydney, the energy-saving campaign will see harbourside icons such as the Sydney Harbour Bridge and the Opera House bathed only in moonlight, restaurant diners eat by candlelight and city skyscrapers turn off their neon signs.
Organisers hope the initiative will encourage people to be more aware of their energy usage, knowing that producing electricity pollutes the atmosphere through the burning of fossil fuels which are contributing to global warming.
But they are also aware that it will be just a small step in solving the problem of rising temperatures around the globe.
"Switching the lights off for an hour is not going to make a dent in global emissions," organiser Charles Stevens, of the environmental group WWF, told AFP.
"But what it does do is it is a great catalyst for much bigger changes. It engages people in the processes of becoming more energy efficient."
Stevens said the initiative encouraged businesses to be more careful with their electricity use while at the same time sending "a fairly powerful message to governments that people are demanding action."
Some 2.2 million people participated in last year's 'Earth Hour' in Sydney, cutting the central business district's energy usage by more than 10 percent.
While no cities from China or India are involved this year, Stevens said it was hoped that the movement would expand in 2009, which he said would be a particularly significant year given that it is the deadline for United Nations talks to determine future action on climate change after the Kyoto Protocol.
Ridley, who began 'Earth Hour' last year while working with WWF Australia, said the initiative was about individuals and global companies joining together to own a shared problem -- climate change.
"Governments and businesses are joining individuals, religious groups, schools and communities in this terrific movement that's all about making a change for the better," he said.
"It's staggering to see so much support from across the globe in just our second year and we're hoping that this will continue to grow year after year."
Cities officially involved in 'Earth Hour' include Aalborg, Aarhus, Adelaide, Atlanta, Bangkok, Brisbane, Canberra, Chicago, Christchurch, Copenhagen, Darwin, Dublin, Hobart, Manila, Melbourne, Montreal, Odense, Ottawa, Perth, Phoenix, San Francisco, Suva, Sydney, Tel Aviv, Toronto and Vancouver.

Western Antarctic ice chunk collapses

A chunk of Antarctic ice about seven times the size of Manhattan suddenly collapsed, putting an even greater portion of glacial ice at risk, scientists said Tuesday.

Satellite images show the runaway disintegration of a 160-square-mile chunk in western Antarctica, which started Feb. 28. It was the edge of the Wilkins ice shelf and has been there for hundreds, maybe 1,500 years.

This is the result of global warming, said British Antarctic Survey scientist David Vaughan.

Because scientists noticed satellite images within hours, they diverted satellite cameras and even flew an airplane over the ongoing collapse for rare pictures and video.

"It's an event we don't get to see very often," said Ted Scambos, lead scientist at the National Snow and Ice Data Center in Boulder, Colo. "The cracks fill with water and slice off and topple... That gets to be a runaway situation."

While icebergs naturally break away from the mainland, collapses like this are unusual but are happening more frequently in recent decades, Vaughan said. The collapse is similar to what happens to hardened glass when it is smashed with a hammer, he said.

The rest of the Wilkins ice shelf, which is about the size of Connecticut, is holding on by a narrow beam of thin ice. Scientists worry that it too may collapse. Larger, more dramatic ice collapses occurred in 2002 and 1995.

Vaughan had predicted the Wilkins shelf would collapse about 15 years from now. The part that recently gave way makes up about 4 percent of the overall shelf, but it's an important part that can trigger further collapse.

There's still a chance the rest of the ice shelf will survive until next year because this is the end of the Antarctic summer and colder weather is setting in, Vaughan said.

Scientists said they are not concerned about a rise in sea level from the latest event, but say it's a sign of worsening global warming.

Such occurrences are "more indicative of a tipping point or trigger in the climate system," said Sarah Das, a scientist at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute.

"These are things that are not re-forming," Das said. "So once they're gone, they're gone."

Climate in Antarctica is complicated and more isolated from the rest of the world.

Much of the continent is not warming and some parts are even cooling, Vaughan said. However, the western peninsula, which includes the Wilkins ice shelf, juts out into the ocean and is warming. This is the part of the continent where scientists are most concern about ice-melt triggering sea level rise.

By SETH BORENSTEIN, AP Science Writer

World's tallest man struggles to fit in

Leonid Stadnik's phenomenal height has forced him to quit a job he loved, to stoop as he moves around his house and to spend most of his time in his tiny home village because he cannot fit in a car or bus.

But Stadnik, who according to the Guinness World Records is the world's tallest human, says his condition has also taught him that the world is filled with kindhearted strangers.

Since his recognition by Ukrainian record keepers four years ago, and by Guinness last year, people from all over Ukraine and the world have shipped him outsized clothing, provided his home with running water and recently presented him with a giant bicycle.

"Thanks to good people I have shoes and clothes," said the 37-year-old former veterinarian, who still lives with his 66-year-old mother.

In 2006, Stadnik was officially measured at 2.57 meters tall (8 feet 5 inches), surpassing a Chinese man to claim the title of the world's tallest person.

His growth spurt began at age 14 after a brain operation that apparently stimulated the overproduction of growth hormone. Doctors say he has been growing ever since.

While he may appear intimidating due to his size, Stadnik charms visitors with a broad grin and childlike laugh. He seems at times like a lonely boy trapped in a giant's body, even keeping stuffed toys on his pillow.

Stadnik's stature has earned him worldwide attention, but it has mostly a burden to him. He has to battle to lead anything close to a normal life.

All the doorways in his one-story brick house are too short for him to pass through without stooping. His 200 kilograms (440 pounds) cause constant knee pain and often force him to move on crutches.

Stadnik loves animals, but he had to quit as a veterinarian at a cattle farm in a nearby village, after suffering frostbite when he walked work in his socks in winter. He could not afford specially made shoes for his 43-centimeter (17-inch) feet.

But his recent fame has brought him friends from all over the world and taught him not to despair.

A German man who said he was his distant relative invited Stadnik for a visit several years ago. On the trip, Stadnik got to sample frog legs in an elegant restaurant and saw a roller coaster in an amusement park — both for the first time.

Shortly after that, Stadnik came home one day and saw a brand-new computer connected to the Web sitting on his desk — a gift from a local Internet provider. Company workers "sneaked into the house like little spies" to install the equipment, Stadnik joked.

Since then he has made numerous online friends, including several in the United States, Australia and Russia. Stadnik hopes to learn English so he can communicate better with his Anglophone contacts; currently, he relies on computer translations, which he says are often inadequate.

Ukraine's President Viktor Yushchenko's personal tailor has made Stadnik two track suits and the president plans to present Stadnik with a giant car. Local authorities have also promised to supply gas to Stadnik's village, 200 kilometers (125 miles) kilometers west of the capital, Kiev.

On Sunday, a local organization for the disabled gave Stadnik a giant bike so he can pedal to the grocery store, which is in a nearby village. The group also presented Stadnik with a fitness machine.

"I have always dreamt that my life and the life of my loved ones ... would become more comfortable," Stadnik said. "My dream is coming true."

His neighbors joke that they may also benefit from Stadnik's success. "Of course we are proud of him — we may have gas here soon thanks to him," said Nila Kravchuk, 75.

Since he quit his job, Stadnik has concentrated on managing the family garden and taking care of his three cows, one horse and assorted pigs and chickens. He lives with his mother Halyna, 66, and his sister Larysa, 42.

Stadnik says his dream now is finding a soul mate, just like the former titleholder, China's Bao Xishun, who was married last year.

"I think the future holds that for me," he said.

By OLGA BONDARUK, Associated Press Writer

The Catholic and Orthodox Church Easter Dates

EASTER DATES TILL 2049

Happy Easter !

In medieval times a festival of egg throwing was held in church, during which the priest would throw a hard-boiled egg to one of the choirboys. It was then tossed from one choirboy to the next and whoever held the egg when the clock struck 12 was the winner and retained the egg.

The first Easter baskets were made to look like bird's nests

Easter Bonnets are a throw back to the days when the people denied themselves the pleasure of wearing finery for the duration of Lent.

The traditional act of painting eggs is called Pysanka.

To Egyptians, the egg was a sacred token of the renovation of mankind after the Flood.

The egg has always been a symbol of the Resurrection to Christians.

The date of Passover is variable as it is dependent on the phases of the moon, and thus Easter is also a movable feast.

The custom of giving eggs at Easter time has been traced back to Egyptians, Persians, Gauls, Greeks and Romans, to whom the egg was a symbol of life.

Every year at Easter Pope John Paul sends his " Urbi et Orbi " to the world.

Easter is now celebrated (in the words of the Book of Common Prayer) on the first Sunday after the full moon which happens on or after March 21, the Spring Equinox.

Some Churches still keep up the old tradition of using evergreens - symbolic of eternal life - embroidered in red on white, or woven in straw, but most now prefer displays of flowers in the spring colours of green, yellow and white.

In the United States Easter is celebrated with a large Easter Egg Hunt by children on the White House Lawn.

To the Jews, the egg marked the time of their departure from the land of Egypt.

By tradition, it was obligatory (or at least lucky) for churchgoers to wear some bright new piece of clothing - at least an Easter bonnet, if not a complete new outfit.

Easter Sunday: The Christ is Risen!

Pope delivers Easter Sunday message

VATICAN CITY (AP) — Pope Benedict XVI rejoiced over conversions to Christianity a day after he baptized a prominent Muslim, marking Easter Sunday in a rain-drenched appearance he used to renew calls for peace in Iraq, the Holy Land and Tibet.
A white canopy on the steps of St. Peter's Basilica protected the 80-year-old pontiff from a downpour while thousands of pilgrims, tourists and Romans under a sea of umbrellas braved thunder and wind-whipped rain to attend Easter Mass in the square.
On Easter, Christians celebrate their belief in the resurrection of Jesus two days after he was crucified. Thanks to the apostles' preaching about the resurrection, "thousands and thousands of persons converted to Christianity," Benedict said.

"And this is a miracle which renews itself even today," the pope said, hours after a Saturday night Easter vigil service in which he baptized seven adults. The converts included Magdi Allam, a prominent journalist and commentator in Italy who has received death threats for his denunciations of Islamic fanaticism.
Allam, 55, deputy editor of Corriere della Sera newspaper, was born a Muslim in Egypt, but was educated by Catholics and says he has never been a practicing Muslim.
He wrote in a front-page letter published Sunday in Corriere that he was now taking on the middle name Cristiano — Christian in Italian.
He expressed his gratitude to Benedict, calling Saturday "the most beautiful day of my life."
"The miracle of the resurrection of Christ reverberated in my soul, freeing it from the shadows of a preaching where hate and intolerance toward he who is different, toward he who is condemned as an 'enemy,' prevailed over love and respect for your neighbor," Allam wrote.
His criticism of Palestinian suicide bombings prompted the Italian government to provide him with a sizable security detail in 2003 after Hamas singled him out for death, Allam has said in an interview.
The pope himself has come under verbal attack from Islamic militants.
al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden, in a new audio message posted last week, accused Benedict of playing a role in what he called a "new Crusade" against Islam. The Vatican has described the accusation as baseless.
Security during papal public appearances was stepped up in 2001 after the Sept. 11 attacks, and there has been no noticeable increase in protective measures since the new message surfaced.
In a speech at the end of the Mass, Benedict said that on the joyous day of Easter, "in particular, how can we fail to remember certain African regions, such as Darfur and Somalia, the "tormented Middle East, especially the Holy Land, Iraq, Lebanon and finally Tibet, all of which I encourage to seek solutions that will safeguard peace and the common good."
Benedict denounced "selfishness, injustice, hatred and violence" between individuals and peoples.
"These are the scourges of humanity, open and festering in every corner of the planet, although they are often ignored and sometimes deliberately concealed, wounds that torture the souls and bodies of countless of our brothers and sisters," the pontiff said, speaking over the sound of heavy rain in the square.
The notes of Italian paramilitary band playing in the square and the voices of a choir singing "Alleluja" at times competed with loud thunderclaps.

Copyright 2008 The Associated Press.

10 MOST HISTORICALLY INACCURATE MOVIES

We all accept that movies stretch the truth in the interest of building drama.

The following ten flicks, however, treat the truth like it was Silly Putty -- pulling and twisting it until it's unrecognizable.

10,000 B.C.

Director Roland Emmerich is usually a stickler for realism (see: sending a computer virus via Macintosh to aliens in Independence Day). So we hate to inform him that woolly mammoths were not, in fact, used to build pyramids. Heck, woolly mammoths weren't even found in the desert. They wouldn't need to be woolly if that were the case. And there weren't any pyramids in Egypt until 2,500 B.C or so.

Movie Info   Trailers & Clips   Production Photos

Gladiator

Emperor Commodus was not the sniveling sister-obsessed creep portrayed in the movie. A violent alcoholic, sure, but not so whiny. He ruled ably for over a decade rather than ineptly for a couple months. He also didn't kill his father, Marcus Aurelius, who actually died of chickenpox. And instead of being killed in the gladatorial arena, he was murdered in his bathtub.

Movie Info   Trailers & Clips   Production Photos

300

Though this paean to ancient moral codes and modern physical training is based on the real Battle of Thermopylae, the film takes many stylistic liberties. The most obvious one being Persian king Xerxes was not an 8-foot-tall Cirque du Soleil reject. The Spartan council was made up of men over the age of 60, with no one as young as Theron (played by 37-year-old Dominic West). And the warriors of Sparta went into battle wearing bronze armor, not just leather Speedos.

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The Last Samurai

The Japanese in the late 19th century did hire foreign advisers to modernize their army, but they were mostly French, not American. Ken Watanabe's character was based on the real Saigo Takamori who committed ritual suicide, or "seppuku," in defeat rather than in a volley of Gatling gun fire. Also, it's doubtful that a 40-something alcoholic Civil War vet, even one with great hair, would master the chopsticks much less the samurai sword.

Movie Info   Trailers & Clips   Production Photos

Apocalypto

This one movie has given entire Anthropology departments migranes. Sure the Maya did have the odd human sacrifice but not to Kulkulkan, the Sun God, and only high-ranking captives taken in battle were killed. The conquistadors arriving at the end of the film made for unlikely saviors: an estimated 90% of indigenous American population was killed by smallpox from the infected Spanish pigs.

Movie Info   Trailers & Clips   Production Photos

Memoirs of a Geisha

The geisha coming-of-age, called "mizuage," was really more of a makeover, where she changed her hairstyle and clothes. It didn't involve her getting... intimate with a client. In the climatic scene where Sayuri wows Gion patrons with her dancing prowess, her routine - which involves some platforms shoes, fake snow, and a strobe light - seems more like a Studio 54 drag show that anything in pre-war Kyoto.

Movie Info   Trailers & Clips   Production Photos

Braveheart

Let's forget the fact that kilts weren't worn in Scotland until about 300 years after William Wallace's day and just do some simple math. According to the movie, Wallace's blue-eyed charm at the Battle of Falkirk was so overpowering, he seduced King Edward II's wife, Isabella of France, and the result of their affair was Edward III. But according to the history books, Isabella was three years old at the time of Falkirk, and Edward III was born seven years after Wallace died.

Movie Info   Production Photos

Elizabeth: The Golden Age

In 1585, when the movie takes place, Queen Elizabeth was 52 years old - Cate Blanchett was 36 when she shot the film - and was not being courted by suitors like Ivan the Terrible (who was dead by then). And though the movie has her rallying the troops at Tilbury astride a white steed in full armor with a sword, in fact she rode side saddle, carrying a baton. She was more of a regal majorette than Joan of Arc.

Movie Info   Trailers & Clips   Production Photos

The Patriot

Revolutionary War figure Francis "The Swamp Fox" Marion was the basis for Mel Gibson's character, but he wasn't the forward-thinking family man they show in the flick. He was a slave owner who didn't get married (to his cousin) until after the war was over. Historians also say that he actively persecuted and murdered native Cherokees. Plus, the climatic Battle of Guilford Court House where he vanquishes his British nemesis? In reality, the Americans lost that one.

Movie Info   Trailers & Clips   Production Photos

2001: A Space Odyssey

According to this film, in year 2001 we would have had manned voyages to Jupiter, a battle of wits with a sentient computer, and a quantum leap in human evolution. Instead we got the Mir Space Station falling from the sky, Windows XP, and Freddy Got Fingered. Apparently the lesson here is that sometimes it's better when the movies get the facts all wrong.

Movie Info   Trailers & Clips   Production Photos

THE SPRING SHOW TORONTO

One of a Kind Spring Show and Sale
100 Princes' Blvd., Direct Energy Centre, Exhibition Place, Toronto, ON, M6K 3C3

Local crafters, artisans and designers will be showing off unique pieces during Easter Weekend at the One of A Kind Spring Show and Sale.
Visitors can find anything from clothes for themselves or for children, decor items, candles, handbags, furniture, glassware, candles, sweet treats and more - for a gift, or for themselves. For those who intend to shop 'til they drop, they can take a quick break in the One Of A Kind Piazza, which is back by popular demand. Located in the centre aisle, it is a meeting and resting place for shoppers.
Kids over 8 years can take part in the One of A Kind Art School and make their own artistic creations. It will be available on a first come - first serve basis.
Tickets are currently available online: adults $10, seniors/students $6.50 and children 12 and under are free. At the door, adult tickets are $12. Gift certificates for the show are also available at the official site.

Hours Of Operation

Thursday March 20: 11 am - 10pm
Good Friday March 21: 10 am - 10pm
Saturday March 22: 10 am - 9pm
Easter Sunday March 23: 10 am - 6pm
Easter Monday March 24: 11 am - 6pm

OFFICIAL WEBSITE

Easter Events in Toronto

In spite of the weather, Easter is one sure sign that spring is in the air so put on your Sunday best and get ready to see the Easter Bunny and hunt down some of his eggs get spiritual on this holiday.

Easter Parade

Head down to the Beaches for this annual tradition featuring fun floats and of course the Easter Bunny.

Easter Passion Play

Experience the spirituality of Easter with this play that re-enacts the life, death and resurrection of Jesus. This free performance is put on every Easter by the Queensway Cathedral.

Puck’s Farm Easter Egg Hunt

Scour Puck’s far and see how many Easter eggs you can find. Go out on a pony ride and check out the baby animals -- you might even bump into the Easter Bunny.

Dog Easter Egg Hunt

Take your closest canine friends to this egg hunt. Money raised at this event will supports children with autism.

Easter Brunch at Casa Loma

Enjoy your Easter brunch against the backdrop of this beautiful castle.

Annual Easter "Egg" Stravaganza

Bunnies and chickens aren't the only ones laying eggs this easter season as children under 12 can check out amphibian eggs as part of the year of the frog.

All Easter events

Easter Brunch

Brunch options (and eggs) will be plentiful this long weekend, whether you’re planning grand-scale family festivities, small gatherings or a low-key brunch for two.

Good Friday Fish

March 21st marks the holy day for Catholics this year, and those who prefer to go meatless can get their chicken of the sea prepared many different ways at these restaurants around Toronto.

The GOOD FRIDAY in CATHOLIC CHURCH

Good Friday Ideas for Families

Catholic schools will be closed on Good Friday.so the children will be able to participate in family observances of this solemn day. If possible, the entire family should attend Good-Friday services together, or at least make a trip to Church to make the Stations of the Cross (see section on Stations). Following are a few other suggestions.

Hot Cross Buns

The familiar hot cross buns are sweet rolls with the sign of the cross cut into it, and they are one of several traditional European breads marked with a cross for Good Friday. According to tradition, these buns originated at St Alban's Abbey in 1361, where the monks gave them to the poor people who came there. (You may have your own recipe for sweet-rolls to which you can add currants or raisins before shaping and cut a cross in the top before baking; or you can buy them.) These Good Friday buns were very popular, and were sold by vendors who cried,
Hot cross buns, Hot cross buns! One a-penny two a-penny, Hot cross buns! If you have no daughters, give 'em to your sons! One a-penny two a-penny, Hot cross buns!

The Three Hours.

Some churches hold prayer services during the three hours of Christ's suffering on the Cross. It would be appropriate to observe a period of silence at home, for devotional reading and private prayer (e.g., no radio, television, etc.), especially between the hours of noon and 3 o'clock in the afternoon.


Each member of the family might choose a particularly unpleasant job which has been put off for a long time - like cleaning the garage or a closet, or scrubbing the bathrooms (we're sure you can think of something!)- to emphasize the dreariness apropriate to the day.


Good Friday was thought to be a good day for planting seeds (a reference to the Gospel about the seeds which must be planted in the ground to bear fruit as a metaphor for Christ's necessary death and His burial on this day) so if the weather permits, this could be a worthwhile activity with children. (Don't forget to explain the symbolism.)

The GOOD FRIDAY MARCH 21 2008

On Friday more than a billion Christians around the world will mark the gravest observance on their Calendar, Good Friday, the day Jesus died on the cross. (To be followed in two days by Easter Sunday, to mark his Resurrection).
But unlike some holy days - say, Christmas, which some non-Christians in the U.S. observe informally by going to a movie and ordering Chinese food - on this particular Friday, March 21, it seems almost no believer of any sort will be left without his or her own holiday. In what is statistically, at least, a once-in-a-millennium combination, the following will all occur on the 21st:
Good FridayPurim, a Jewish festival celebrating the biblical book of EstherNarouz, the Persian New Year, which is observed with Islamic elaboration in Iran and all the "stan" countries, as well as by Zoroastrians and Baha'is.Eid Milad an Nabi, the Birth of the Prophet, which is celebrated by some but not all Sunni Muslims and, though officially beginning on Thursday, is often marked on Friday.Small Holi, Hindu, an Indian festival of bonfires, to be followed on Saturday by Holi, a kind of Mardi Gras.Magha Puja, a celebration of the Buddha's first group of followers, marked primarily in Thailand.
"Half the world's population is going to be celebrating something," says Raymond Clothey, Professor Emeritus of Religious studies at the University of Pittsburgh. "My goodness," says Delton Krueger, owner of www.interfaithcalendar.org, who follows "14 major religions and six others." He counts 20 holidays altogether (including some religious double-dips, like Maundy Thursday and Good Friday) between the 20th (which is also quite crowded) and the 21st. He marvels: "There is no other time in 2008 when there is this kind of concentration."
And in fact for quite a bit longer than that. Ed Reingold and Nachum Dershowitz, co-authors of the books Calendrical Calculations and Calendrical Tabulations, determined how often in the period between 1600 and 2400 A.D. Good Friday, Purim, Narouz and the Eid would occur in the same week. The answer is nine times in 800 years. Then they tackled the odds that they would converge on a two-day period. And the total is ... only once: tomorrow. And that's not even counting Magha Puja and Small Holi.
Unless you are mathematically inclined, however, you may not see the logic in all this. If it's the 21st of March, you may ask, shouldn't all the religions of the world celebrate the same holiday on that date each year?
No. There are a sprinkling of major holidays (Western Christmas is one) that fall each year on the same day of the Gregorian calendar, a fairly standard non-religious system and the one Americans are most familiar with.
But almost none of tomorrow's holidays actually follows that calendar. All Muslim holy days, for instance, are calculated on a lunar system. Keyed to the phases of the moon, Islam's 12 months are each 29 and a half days long, for a total of 354 days a year, or 11 days fewer than on ours. That means the holidays rotate backward around the Gregorian calendar, occurring 11 days earlier each year. That is why you can have an "easy Ramadan" in the spring, when going without water all day is relatively easy, or a hard one in the summer. And why the Prophet's birthday will be on March 9 next year.
Then there is the Jewish calendar, which determines the placement of Purim. It is "lunisolar," which means that holidays wander with the moon until they reach the end of what might be thought of as a month-long tether, which has the effect of maintaining them in the same season every year.
Good Friday, meanwhile, like many of the other most important Christian holidays, is a set number of days before Easter. The only problem is that the date of Easter is probably the most complicated celebratory calculation this side of Hinduism, which has a number of competing religious calendars. The standard rule is "the Sunday after the first full moon on or after the day of the vernal equinox." But in fact, the actual divination of the date is so involved that it has its own offical name: "computus." And so challenging that Carl Friedrich Gauss, one of history's greatest mathematicians, devoted the time to create an algorithm for it. It goes on for many lines. You can look it up. And, of course, it doesn't work for Eastern Orthodox Easter (about one month later than the Western Christian one this year, on April 27).
So, should we celebrate all these celebrations? Yes, says William Paden, the author of Religious Worlds: The Comparative Study of Religion and a professor at the University of Vermont - at least to the extent that we revere the drive to carve out sacred time in the middle of the day-by-day profane. "Each of these religions is creating its own world, with its own time and space and memory system," he says. They recognize what's of real value, and they encode it, and it forms an architecture of memory." Yes, says Bruce Lawrence, the head of Islamic Studies at Duke University, who was invited to speak at a nearby synagogue when the beginnings of Rosh Hashanah and Ramadan happened to coincide last year.
But be cautious, since human nature is as fickle as coincidence. "When one group is grieving and one is jubilant there are some unfortunate tensions," says Anand Kumar, with the Centre for the Study of Social Systems at Jawaharlal Nehru University in New Delhi, a city with considerable experience with multiple faiths. Such conjunctions have led to conflicts and even riots, not just when moods clash, but because "the public sphere is being contested." Kumar is convinced, however, that "a new generation is emerging that is more pluralistic and they don't feel threatened just because someone is from another religion."
And that will be what this writer meditates on this Friday.
View this article on Time.com

Indie labels take e-commerce into their own hands (Reuters)

NEW YORK (Billboard) -
With their digital download sites, a growing number of indie rock labels have begun to answer the prayers of fans who would love to hear long-out-of-print singles on their iPods or other mobile devices.

Merge Records became the latest to join the field with the recent launch of its online emporium, which, according to label president Mac McCaughan, features "high-quality MP3s and full FLAC (free lossless audio codec) files of recent, older and out-of-print titles, including all the early Merge singles, as well as the Superchunk 'Clambakes' series." The store will also eventually host exclusive tracks, remixes and video content, in addition to the label's catalog.
Given the wealth of options available to indies that want to peddle their merchandise online, why would a label want to sink the time and money into developing its own store? Merge wouldn't divulge how much it cost to build its online store, but it did say that most of the expenses were upfront. And whatever profits it makes will go directly to the label and bands, Merge publicist Christina Rentz said. "There is no middleman taking fees, so we are the only ones who benefit."
The ability to promote artists on label download sites is also key. Rentz said that through a "recommended artists" feature on the Merge site -- similar to Amazon's -- the label will promote lesser-known or older artists.

Such sites can also help foster a new ethic of digital-song ownership. After a song is purchased at Seattle label Sub Pop's download store, launched in fall 2007, "you can log on to your account page and download it as many times as you want," director of technology and digital development Dean Hudson said. "We are also able to do things like automatically upgrade songs without any cost to the buyer once the song becomes available at a higher bit rate. And of course, all the songs are (digital-rights-management)-free."

CHANGING BUYERS' HABITS

Perks like those aside, driving buyers to a single-label online store can be a challenge, especially if they are used to purchasing all their music from one, multilabel outlet, such as eMusic or iTunes. Def Jux, one of the first indie labels to start a download site, circumvents the problem by making its Web site and Web store one and the same.
Many other labels' digital stores are directly connected to their online physical stores as well, so that users can purchase T-shirts, CDs and MP3s all at once. "We are counting on our mail-order customers being our early adopters," Rentz said. "Our goal is to make it a real one-stop shop."
Most of those one-stop-shop customers aren't trying to replace long-lost discs from their high school years, however. In fact, label representatives say that new releases account for the bulk of their online sales.
"Our highest growth months have always been those with new releases," Def Jux general manager Jesse Ferguson said. "They tend to bring the most new people to the site."
Hudson noted a similar phenomenon: "People do dip into the catalog from time to time," he said. "But in general, the newer stuff sells."
And when the newer stuff does sell, it sells for pretty much the same price it would on iTunes. Merge will sell its tracks for 99 cents each; Def Jux's albums are $9.95 each, and Sub Pop's are $9.90. McCaughan said he chose the price structure for philosophical reasons: "Driving down the price of downloads will devalue the music."

Reuters/Billboard

100 ways your iPod can up your IQ

Creatures of habit that we are, we sometimes get into a gadget rut, forgetting that our iPods are probably capable of a lot more than what we do with them. So far, I've used mine for listening to music and podcasts, watching movies (which isn't my idea of film appreciation), and receiving RSS feeds. But I didn't know what I was missing until I stumbled across "100 Ways to Use Your iPod to Learn and Study Better" from the Online Education Database (OEDb).
Many of the suggestions are free, while some have a low-cost fee. There's not a loser in the bunch, and they come from some far-flung places on the Web.

Some are tutorials:

Learning Podcasting:
If you want to create your own podcast to share your skills or expertise on a particular subject, read this in-depth introduction to podcasting from Wise-Women.org.

Podtender 3.0:
This software program will teach you how to make all kinds of tasty cocktails for your next party.

Some are applications that make learning easier:

iGadget:
Make your class notes, presentations, study guides and other materials iPod-friendly by using iGadget. You'll be able to move documents and files back and forth between your iPod and your computer easily and securely.

YouTube to iPod Converter 2.6:
This free converter lets you watch educational videos, TV clips and more on your iPod so that you can review for tests, contribute to class discussions or add them to a presentation.

Some are for lifelong learners:

iJourneys:
Take walking tours in cities like Salzburg, Vienna, Amsterdam, Paris and ancient Rome by downloading iPod-compatible guides from this site.

Free Classic Audiobooks:
Find books like Herman Melville's Typee, Huckleberry Finn and Swiss Family Robinson in iPod-friendly formats here.

And some are meant to augment other studies:

Stedman's Medical Terminology Flash Cards:
This set of iPod-friendly flash cards will help any healthcare, nursing, pre-med or medical student prepare for an exam.

Teach Kids Valuable Lessons With Free Sesame Street iPod Videos:
Lifehacker writes about the six free Sesame Street videos offered on iTunes, perfect for introducing your child to technology and other educational basics.

Get through those 100 and you'll find another 50 at kottke.org

Five scams you may not know about

Identity theft has become a huge problem in the United States. The FTC recently reported that identity theft was the number one complaint again last year for the eighth consecutive year! There are literally thousands of scams out there, and you're probably familiar with most of them, but new scams are getting more sophisticated as people get savvier.

Here are the top five scams you may not know about:

Tax and Rebate Scams

The Scam: Consumers get a call or e-mail claiming to be from a government agency, such as the IRS or Social Security Administration, that asks for personal information to process a rebate check. These crooks ask consumers to provide personal information like their social security number, bank account number, or other details they can use to commit identity theft. If they resist giving out information, they're told they cannot receive the rebate unless the information is provided. The Don'ts: Never give sensitive information to anyone over the phone or email. If you get a suspicious email, delete it immediately. Don't click on any links either, for they might take you to a phishing site or install spyware on your computer. Keep in mind that most government agencies don't collect information by phone or email. The FTC recommends you contact the IRS or SSA directly if you have any questions or concerns. To learn more about other tax scams check out the IRS Top 2008 "Dirty Dozen" Tax Scams.

Cheap Electronics Scam

The Scam: Shopping website that appears legit sells electronic products at extremely low prices. The site is so sophisticated, even the most savvy consumer will have a hard time telling it's a fake. One recent article on PCMag, mentions these scamming sites may be part of a bigger network, since they all have a $500 minimum purchase requirement, and may ask for payment in the form of a Western Union money order to be mailed to a foreign address.
The Signs: Things a like a foreign address, a $500 minimum purchase, or the lack of a secure payment transaction form should raise red flags. A site may appear legitimate, but if you have a hard time recognizing the validity of the website, watch out for things like a new domain registration, questionable contact information, grammatical and spelling errors, a no return policy, and untraceable payment methods. Do do some research online because chances are others may already be expressing their concerns on forums or blogs.

Chatroom Scams

The Scam: Russian cyber-crooks have developed a software robot that poses as a human in chatrooms. These bots can chat with up to 10 people simultaneously, and easily persuade them to hand over phone numbers, photographs, birthday, address, and other personal information. The site claims "Not a single girl has yet realized that she was communicating with a program!" Information harvested by these bots can be used by fraudsters to carry out various forms of fraud. Unsuspecting victims may also be tricked into visiting a 'personal site' that could load malware onto their computers. Sergei Shevchenko, Senior Malware Analyst at PC Tools said CyberLover, "employs highly intelligent and customized dialogue to target users of social networking systems. It can monitor Internet browser activity, automatically recognize and fill in the fields in the web pages, generate keystrokes and mouse clicks, and post messages, URLs, files and photos."
The Dont's: Common sense says never, ever give out personal information to anyone you just met online.

Local Charity Scams

The Scam: Fraudsters claiming to be from the local police department or DARE program are calling or approaching private citizens and businesses soliciting donations purporting to benefit police officers. What's convincing some people into handing over personal and financial information to these imposters is the spoofed number that pops up in the caller ID. Police say many victims have reported a phone number that appears to be from the local police department, so don't be fooled.
The Do's: If you want to support the local police or fire department, find out when they hold their annual fund drives. Most departments don't solicit donations via telephone, so it's best to check out their site to find out when and how they seek donations.

Cancer Cure Scam

The Scam: As more people turn to the web for medical advice, they're encountering websites that advertise natural products they claim will prevent or cure everything from cancer to diabetes. Scammers know people are searching for natural remedies online, so they exaggerate the language on their site, and even add a few medical terms to sound legitimate. Oftentimes, they'll claim their supplies are not sold anywhere else, and sell them at a high price. Unfortunately, there is no such thing as a miracle cure for cancer, but these scammers will have you believe there is, and will even discourage you from taking real medicine. The reality is many of these products are not proven, effective, or safe, and the sites are full of false testimonials.
The Do's: Canada has already started to crack down on such sites, demanding they remove any false claims quickly. Andrea Rosen, Acting Deputy Commissioner of Canada's Competition Bureau, says consumers should be skeptical of health-related products or services that look too good to be true. People should talk to their doctor before trying any new treatment. Check out the Anatomy of an Online Health Scam before you buy medicine online.

There are plenty of other scams out there, so the Federal Trade Commission has put together a nice list of Dot Cons to help you spot a scam.

INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY 2008

March 8, 2008

Strong Women, Strong World

In 1977, the United Nations General Assembly adopted a resolution calling on member states to proclaim a day for women's rights and international peace. Following the United Nations' lead, Canada chose March 8 as International Women's Day.
Every year since 1977, Canadians have marked International Women's Day by celebrating progress toward women's full participation, reflecting on the challenges and barriers that remain, and considering future steps to achieving equality for all women, in all aspects of their lives. International Women's Day provides an opportunity to celebrate the collective power of women - past, present and future.
Over time, International Women's Day has grown into a week-long series of commemorative events and activities across the country.

This year, International Women's Week begins on Sunday, March 2, and culminates in International Women's Day celebrations on Saturday, March 8.

We encourage all Canadians - women and men, girls and boys - to promote International Women's Day / International Women's Week by sharing this promotional material with others. Better yet, why not organize your own International Women's Day / International Women's Week event in your community, organization, workplace or school?

THEME

Canada's theme for International Women's Day / International Women's Week 2008 is (IWD /IWW 2008) Strong Women, Strong World.
This theme draws in part from one of the fundamental beliefs underlying the modern women's movement, that "a woman's place in society marks the level of civilization of that society." This refers not only to the empowerment of women as a means to bring about positive and fundamental social change but to the critical roles that women play as leaders, policy-makers, caregivers, educators, and international peacemakers. The theme also draws from the fact that empowered women can, and do, play a fundamental role in current and future efforts to preserve and protect the world's natural environment.
As the IWD / IWW 2008 theme, Strong Women, Strong World, makes clear, when we empower women, we secure a brighter future for everyone.

PRODUCTS AVAILABLE

To assist you in organizing an IWW / IWW 2008 activity, or simply to raise awareness of this year’s theme, Status of Women Canada has prepared the following products:
Bilingual Poster, IWD / IWW 2008Strong Women: Strong World - Des femmes fortes font la force du mondeView Description of Poster in HTML (Web page)View the Poster in Acrobat® 5* (36 KB, 1 page)
Logo to create a Web linkIf you want to promote IWD / IWW 2008 on your Web site, you can create a link to this page by downloading the following logo. Simply right-mouse-click on the image and save your copy now!
.

STATUS OF WOMEN IN CANADA

Switch To Daylight Time : March 9 Recap

If you're one of those people who find making the semi-annual trek to change every clock in your house tedious, look at it this way - beginning on Sunday,March 9, 2008 we'll have one less hour of winter.

For the first time in memory, the annual change to Daylight Saving Time occurs a month early, taking place at 2am Sunday. You'll have to set your clocks ahead an hour, as we get an extra 60 minutes of daylight - and lose a precious hour of sleep.

This regular shift used to take place on the first Sunday in April, but times have literally changed. The U.S. made the move to an earlier switch in 2007, as a means to save energy. Ontario and most of the rest of the country followed suit, in order to be in step with our neighbour to the south and prevent massive confusion for businesses, travellers and even TV watchers.

As terrible as the weather continues to be, consider it the first real sign of spring.

So what gets changed? Your kitchen and bedroom clocks are obvious, and many of the more modern electronic devices - like your computer and digital satellite receivers - make the switch automatically. But there are a few other machines people always seem to forget about. Among them:
Microwave ovens,
VCR or DVD,
The clock in your car,
Any automatic timer lights.
And it's becoming something of a cliche, but after a month filled with needless fire deaths across the GTA, it's more imperative than ever - when you change the time, change the batteries in your smoke alarms. Even though they're rarely used, they don't last forever.
The time switch is still a matter of controversy. Standard Time was originally created by Canada's own Sir Sandford Fleming to allow for uniform train schedules.
Daylight Time originated in Germany and gradually spread to other non-tropical countries.
Only a few pockets of Canada don't bother with all this back-and-forth movement. Most of Saskatchewan is on Standard Time all year, and so are a few areas in B.C., Ontario and Quebec.
We'll return to Standard Time again at 2am on November 2nd.

Love your sense of humour!!!

IT'S Here....

Ryerson Student Waits For Word Following Expulsion Hearing Over Facebook Group

In a strange way, it was the biggest exam of Chris Avenir's life.
The Ryerson University student -- accused of hosting a Facebook page on which students exchanged study tips -- stood in front of a hearing panel Tuesday after being expelled for allegedly violating the school's Academic Code of Conduct.
Around 2:30pm Tuesday, the 18-year-old first-year computer engineering student walked silently but resolutely into the campus hearing room near Dundas and Yonge, prepared to face permanent expulsion, but remaining confident he'd done nothing wrong.
The alleged crime? Avenir and 146 of his classmates used the popular social networking site to exchange homework tips and help each other out with chemistry questions.
That alone might not seem like much cause for concern to some, but University administrators considered the information sharing the equivalent of cheating and slapped Avenir with 147 counts of academic misconduct. He also faces another charge for his role in setting up the group, and a charge for each of his classmates that used the site.
Avenir remains bewildered as to why he's being singled out. "What I participated in is basically what all the other study groups that are going on in the library," he protests.
Meanwhile, Avenir's case is being watched extremely closely by other students and school administrators, as it promises to be precedent-setting. Those supporting the Ryerson student agree that talking about schoolwork on Facebook is no different from study groups that work on homework or cram for tests together outside class.
"It's the exact same thing. The only difference is it's online. You know, there isn't a massive bust-up of study groups in our library or anything like that," noted Ryerson's Student Union President Nora Loreto. "Actually in engineering, most engineering students will say that they really got through by being able to actually have help from their classmates, because it's a very collaborative program."
Avenir was quick to second those sentiments. "The only real reason that I think it's getting the attention that it is getting is because it is on Facebook," he insists. "It's a pretty new technology and that the school hasn't really adopted yet."
Other students were quick to support their peer.
"To be honest I'm kind of disappointed, "said Ryerson student Lyndsay Morrison. "Personally I don't see how it's any different from sitting around the library and having a discussion."
Ryerson administrators are singing a different tune, however.
"This isn't really an issue of Facebook or technology," counters Ryerson professor Dr. James Norrie. "This is about whether people want to be responsible for their behaviour no matter where it occurs, how it occurs, when it occurs."
In terms of Tuesday's hearing, which wrapped up just before the dinner hour, Avenir and his lawyer had little to say, other than to reiterate his faith and belief that he's done no wrong.
"I feel pretty confident and optimistic about the appeal hearing that we did have," he said to dozens of reporters and cheers from fellow students. "I don't have any regrets about what happened inside."
Avenir could find out this week whether he'll be able to keep studying at the downtown Toronto university. If he isn't reinstated following Tuesday's hearing he could take his case to the university senate which means that even if he's expelled he could still wind up attending classes.
Under Ryerson's rules, students "who are awaiting an automatic hearing, may continue in their program until the matter is resolved."
Studying your opinion
So does the Facebook study group fit the university's own definition of cheating? Judge for yourself from Ryerson's Student Code of Academic Conduct.
Cheating
i. using materials or aids not expressly allowed by the instructor in an examination or test;
ii. copying another person's answer(s) to an examination or test question; copying anotherperson's answers to individually assigned projects;
iii. consulting with another person or unauthorized materials outside of an examination room during the examination period (e.g. discussing an exam or consulting materials during an emergency evacuation or when permitted to use a washroom);
iv. improperly submitting an answer to a test or examination question completed, in whole or part, outside the examination room unless specifically permitted by the examination format;
v. resubmitting altered test or examination work after it has already been evaluated;
vi. presenting falsified or fabricated material, including research results; or
vii. improperly obtaining, through deceit, theft, bribery, collusion or otherwise, access to examination paper(s) or set of questions, or other confidential information.

The Facebook account appears to have been pulled offline yesterday, although Avenir said it has not been in use since the course ended in December.
He had earned a B in the class, but after the professor discovered the Facebook group over the holidays, the mark was changed to an F. The professor reported the incident to the school's student conduct officer and recommended expulsion.

T.T.C. Strike Possible For April 1st

If you wake up on April 1st and find that Toronto's subways, buses, and streetcars aren't running, you may think you're the victim of a cruel April Fool's prank. You'd be wrong.
The union representing T.C.C. workers is dead serious when it comes to negotiating their new contract, and they've already recommended that workers reject the commission's first contract offer and deliver a strike mandate.
Despite the ominous outlook, T.T.C. Chair Adam Giambrone is confident a strike can be avoided.
"We're optimistic that we'll be able to reach an agreement that is fair both to our employees who deserve a raise but also fair to the city and to taxpayers who have limited financial resources," he said Tuesday.
"The last thing we want to do is take away a service that the people of Toronto need so desperately," adds Union president Bob Kinnear.
The T.T.C. is offering a four-year deal with 2% wage increase each year. The union says the commission is looking for too many benefit and working condition concessions.
It all adds up to more stress for riders.
"The people need the transportation and we've got to think in the best interests of the people in the community of Toronto and do what you need to do to work out your differences so that we can continue to take the subway," said Michael Adamczyk.
Members will be taking a de facto strike vote on Wednesday giving the union the right to walk out April 1st, should it come to that. That's when their current deal expires.
The last time the Red Rocket fizzled out came on May 29, 2006, when workers staged a one-day wildcat strike that centered over money, safety and the way they were being treated. It left 800,000 people across the GTA stranded and cost the TTC $3 million in lost fares.
The workers - who called the strike a lockout - returned by 9pm after being ordered back by the Ontario Labour Relations Board, which termed it an illegal walkout. And despite the threat of legal action, Toronto never recovered the lost funds.
The TTC would later give those who qualified a one-time refund for the loss of their Metropass service for the day. It was an expensive lesson and one no one wants to see repeated.

Maslenitsa: Blini Week

Maslenitsa is not only a week’s celebration, but also the entire period of preparation for the Lent, which includes two more weeks. During the first week the ferial and maigre days change each other in succession. The third week, which was called “butter”, or “cheese” week, it was prohibited to eat meat except dairy products.
Maslenitsa week in itself is not homogenous. During the first three days of Maslenitsa peasants still continued doing their domestic chores, whereas on Thursday it was prohibited to work since on this day Generous Maslenitsa began. Thus, Maslenitsa consisted of the two parts, which were “Maigre” and “Generous” Maslenitsas.
Every day of Maslenitsa had its own name:
Monday — The Greeting
Tuesday — Popular Games
Wednesday — The Sweet Tooth’s Day
Thursday — The Lavish Day
Friday — Good Mothers’ Evenings
Saturday — Good Daughters’ Parties
Sunday — Forgiveness Sunday
Maslenitsa is not simply a holiday. This is the end of a very important stage of life of both men and nature. This is the day of summing up of the past events and the beginning of the New Year.

Maslenitsa (Pancake week) is the only purely Russian Holiday that dates back to the pagan times. For seven days Moscow jingles with bells, sings with garmoshkas and glares with gaily-painted dresses. The people are letting the long-annoying winter out and the long-awaited spring in.
The counters in the Maslenitsa town are groaning with various dainties. There are the paunchy samovars with mellow tea, bunches of sweet-scented barankas, nuts and honey pies with different signs: "Whom I love - to those I give", "A present of the sweet-hart is the dearest". Salted foods, various fish, caviar - choose and eat anything however much you like!
But the essential elements, of course, are pancakes (blini). Pankacke is a symbol of sun. It is as round, gold and warm as the sun. Pancakes are served hot with either butter, or sour cream, or caviar, or mushrooms, or sturgeon - to any exquisite taste.
Where else can you take a horse-drawn sledge ride that will take your breath away? Or take a jaunty slip down an enormous ice slope? Or go round on a giant carousel? The Great Maslenitsa will reel you round in a dancing fairy-circle and your feet won't be able to keep still to the sprightly chastooshkas (gaily songs) and byword. Clowns and skomorokhs (histrions) will make you laugh to tears. The show goes on and on in the balagans (Punch-and-Judy shows) and theatres. And those who will not want to be simply a spectator can take part in the masquerade: to dress up beyond recognition or to muffle in a long fur coat and to drink a glass of vodka with a bear.
On the last day of the Great Maslenitsa the feasting and drinking ends up by burning down the scarecrow symbolizing winter thus saying goodbye to winter till the next year.
For the Russians Maslenitsa is like a carnival for the Italians, especially because the initial sense of festivals is the same: the Italian word "carnival" (carne-vale) means "farewell the beef!", and Maslenitsa that precedes the Great Lent, in old time was called "Myasopust" because it was forbidden to eat meat during this week.
The last day of Maslenitsa is called the Forgiveness Day. Everybody ask one another for forgiveness in order to redeem themselves from their sins before the Great Lent. They bow to one another and say, "God will forgive you". Maslenitsa is over and so is the winter giving way to the spring.
Everybody knows what the Russian Soul is! This is prowess, dare-devilry, and, of course, the famous Russian hospitality. Everybody is welcome to Moscow to see the Russian winter off!

MARCH BREAK 2008: Starting today, March 7

Fun Stuff to Do
Get busy this March Break

Just because school is out is no reason to sit at home and watch television all week. Keep busy this March break with hockey games, frog exhibits, musicals on ice and even some events for the adults.

OFFICIAL MARCH BREAK GUIDE: TORONTO

CMW 08: Moby's Night Out in Toronto

Moby is in Toronto!!!!!!!

Celebrity's interview is tomorrow at 5:15 p.m. in the Royal York Hotel Ballroom, as part of Canadian Music Week.

This is a copy of a brief interview, taken yesterday afternoon

at the upscale This Is London club where he's doing a DJ set tonight.

For a preview of Moby's new "Last Night" album, you can download the almost nine-minute long Album Mash Up Mix for free off his website.

This new album, Last Night is a concept album of sorts, taking the listener through a night out on the town. How did this come about?

"I have a little studio on the lower east side. When it comes time to making a record, one of the biggest questions I face is what kind of a record should it be. In the neighbourhood where I live, there are so many bars and clubs and I go out all the time. So I really just wanted to make a record that sounded like a night out in New York -- a night out in New York in 2008, but also in 1990 or '91. "Dance music is going through a very playful, nostalgic period now. Most of the DJs and producers I know aren't really so concerned with when it was made, but how people respond to it. I like that almost temporal eclecticism. So I wanted to make a dance record that, to me, felt like a night out in New York."

Read on for more on Moby as a DJ, a New Yorker and visitor in Toronto....How has a night out in New York changed over the years?

"In the mid- to late '80s New York was a really dangerous place and it was really ravaged by crack addiction and HIV-AIDS. Nightlife was kind of insane. Almost every time you went out, you heard about someone else who had died either of an overdose, someone had died of AIDS or someone was shot. It was a weird time to come of age musically."Now, going out in New York is fantastic. The only problem is it's so expensive. Probably not for Canadians, because the dollar is better. It's almost a victim of its own success. There's so many places to go. You go out to the lower east side, or Williamsburg, or anywhere downtown on a Thursday, Friday or Saturday night and it's like Mardi Gras. The streets are just filled with people. On one hand it's fun, but it can be a little overwhelming.

What's it like DJing in front of a club crowd?

"Sometimes if you're just DJing, you can become a little too self-involved and you forget that there has to be a populist, utilitarian element to DJing, because ultimately you're playing music for other people. I know some of my friends who are DJs sometimes forget that and just play records for themselves. I think I'm more of a populist. I really like the idea that I play records that make people happy."

What's your experience of Toronto like?

"The first time I came to Toronto was in 1992. I was playing a rave at an old Masonic Temple (a.k.a. The Concert Hall, now owned by CTV). I remember Joey Beltram was on the bill and some other rave acts."Toronto's one of my favourite places on the planet. I love it here and I'm not just being nepotistic. I really do love it. Every time there's an election in the States and a right-wing politician wins, it makes me want to move to Toronto."Only two things have kept me from living here. Number one, all my friends and family are in and around New York. And also -- not to sound too much like a sissy -- but the cold does start to get to me."Toronto is such a great city. It's got so many of the nice elements of New York: It's big, it's cosmopolitan, it's multicultural and multiracial, but it's a lot more progressive. New York is progressive as well, but the United States is a lot more conservative and right-wing than Canada is."

Tonight is also This Is London's two year anniversary. Their Soho Fridays night includes Manzone & Strong DJing. Expect Moby on around 1 a.m.Doors open at 10. Get there early to avoid line-ups and be sure to dress to impress as their "English style code" is in effect. This means no jeans or runners and collared shirts are a must for guys. Let's hope Moby doesn't get bounced at the door.

Hundreds Turn Out For Free Snow Shovel Offer

CITYNEWS.CA

"It wasn't exactly a headline, but it was a 'scoop' of sorts.
Just one day after CityNews told you how some GTA stores were running out of snow shovels in the relentless winter of 2007-2008, Canadian Tire decided to come to the rescue. They agreed to provide more than 40 free shovels on a first-come-first-serve basis at their Lake Shore and Leslie store to help out those who found themselves facing another big storm with no way to clear it off.
"We saw your show yesterday obviously and just given the crazy weather ... we really wanted to do something to make sure Toronto residents are prepared for the storm," explained spokesperson Lisa Gibson. "We've got 40 shovels with us, a bunch of windshield washer fluid and some other goodies. And so we're inviting people to come on down so we can hand out some free stuff."
The giveaway started at 5pm but unlike the snow, it didn't last long. Scores of people showed up even as the falkes fell, trying to get one of the limited freebies. And all had some odd stories to tell about their need for the vital tool.
"Mine broke after the city decided to clear my street and bury me in my driveway," explains Karim. "I was shovelling away and my handle snapped so I've got a mini shovel I've been using. So I'm glad to come down and pick one up because I really need it, especially this weekend."
Ted jumped up from his couch and rushed out to the scene when he saw the offer. He didn't even bother wearing his socks to ensure he reached the store on time. Why does he need a new shovel? "[I had] two shovels stolen from our small apartment building this winter," he explains.
By 6:30pm, all the shovels were gone but the giveaways weren't over. Snow brushes, windshield wiper fluid and other vital items were still being handed out and some $50 gift cards were given to a woman who built a square igloo in her yard (don't ask) and a couple who was expecting. And a $200 electronic snow shovel was awarded to a Canada Post letter carrier who always helps clear the driveways of his elderly neighbours
The promotion ended Friday night. But if you weren't able to make it down and can manage to get out to one of their stores, Canadian Tire is assuring snow weary GTA residents they're replenishing their shovel supply and expect to have a full compliment on hand this weekend.
Although how you get there without having a shovel to clear a path is up to you. "

March break won't catch a break from the weather :Toronto

Winter storm warning in effect for GTA
Friday, March 07, 2008

Toronto - Environment Canada has issued a winter storm warning for the GTA and most of southern Ontario.
A significant amount of snow -- up to 40 centimetres -- is expected,
starting Friday late-afternoon and into Saturday.
The storm is expected to last 36 to 48 hours.
It appears that the snow will come in two doses.
The first one will begin this afternoon for southwestern Ontario.
The heaviest snowfall is then expected beginning later Saturday.
Storm totals may be near 30-40 centimetres in some areas of southern Ontario,
with a potential for 30-50 centimetres of snow over the Niagara peninsula.
On Saturday, strong winds combined with fresh snow will cause
blowing snow to lower visibilities and create dangerous driving conditions.

When it finally leaves, the city is expected to be digging out from between 20-30 centimetres, potentially making this one of the worst storms of the winter. The flakes arrived at the worst time on Friday, just before the start of the afternoon rush. They weren't that heavy at the beginning, just steady, and while they hampered the rush home, causing the usual problems, the going was slow but steady.

But it won't stay that way for long. The snow began acculmuating early and it won't be slowing down much for a while. This storm is slated to last for at least 36 hours, and likely won't end until Sunday morning. Forecasters say it will come in waves, with varying intensities. The timeline isn't fixed but it appears this is what you should expect:
3pm Friday-1am Saturday: 2-5cm
1am-4am Saturday: 4-6cm
7am-11am: 6-8cm
11am-3pm: A brief break with flurries
3pm-9pm: 5-10cm

The city claims to be ready for this latest onslaught and they should certainly be good at it by now. The full compliment of Toronto's 600-plus plows will be out in force, trying to clear it all away. Remember that the main routes get the priority attention - your side street may have to wait for up to 24 hours after the snow ends for crews to reach it. You'll then have 12 hours to clear your sidewalk or face a $125 fine.
And all this white is costing us a lot of green. So far, Toronto has spent some $42 million of its $67 million snow removal budget. And this one threatens to take another big bite out of the little bit that's left. The problem: the city's budget year extends to December 2008, so next winter could prove to be a big financial challenge, too.

So how much is on the way where you are? Keep in mind this is still just a best guess, because any number of factors can change the outcome.
Possible Snow Totals by 9am Sunday
Toronto: 20cm
Niagara Falls: 25cm
Peterborough: 25cm
Barrie: 21cm
London: 27cm
Goderich: 15cm
Next week, temperatures will moderate somewhat, leaving us with rain and the chance to melt a lot of what's fallen almost non-stop since February - finally turning our March Break into a much needed March brake.

UPSTAGED: ARE YOU UP TO THE CHALLENGE?

Upstaged is a brand new BBC entertainment event hosted by BBC Radio 1 DJ Scott Mills and is open to anyone across the UK who thinks they’re worth watching.

The first five weeks of Upstaged will be streamed on the web . However, there will be an opportunity for you to catch up on all the Upstaged goings on in three highlight shows: BBC Three: 22nd February, 29th February and 7th March.
Starting on March 10th, there will be four 30-minute shows a week airing Monday-Thursday. Tune in for all the live action from Millennium Square, hilarious chat, all the latest Upstaged news and celebrity guests - not necessarily in that order.
Fridays will then get all exciting with an hour long show featuring all the highlights from the best and worst acts of the past five weeks. Every show will end in the live exit of the losing act from that day.

The aim of the show is to come up with an idea or act to entertain the nation for 6 hours. The most entertaining acts will have the chance to make it through to perform live on a Stage in Bristol, ultimately with the chance of winning £10,000.
To begin with, prospective Contenders must create a profile explaining what they plan to do and why they should be voted through to the Upstaged event.
The Online Community will determine a Contender's overall ranking. The top placed Contenders each day will have the chance to take part in a daily vote; the winner of which will be the next Challenger to take part in the live show in Bristol.
The live event will take place between 3.30pm and 9.30pm in real time, Monday to Friday from 4th February 2008. Online users will be able to vote by rating what takes place on each of the stages every three minutes from 3.45pm until 9.45pm or whenever live streaming is available. The act with the highest cumulative rating over the day will be the Champion for that day. This is subject to the ratification of the vote and that the act has conformed to the rules.

It definitely gives a great exposure to all new talents over there, but the question is:

what is there future afterwards? It's way too uncertain. Will the bands get signed?

Who knows? And all this puts a shadow over the project.

Personally. I wouldn't be involved on something like that. The life of this show is

predicted short. Basically, this is a perfect example of the way of promotion techniques multiplied by the new internet media. Acts get 15 minutes of fame, producers get a huge cut

because of all the advertisers and media attention , and everybody seems to be happy and satisfied.

XXI century promotions, here I come !

My another point is concerning the way the whole show is organized. To be exact, not ORGANIZED at all. How come all the talents and acts are in one big group to choose from???

This look plainly ridiculous, stand up comedian competing against a singer? Where is the criteria?

The structure of the competition has a touch of unfairness.

From all the competitors , my eye was cought by no one else, but Dr Tracey Bell.

MORE INFO ABOUT DR TRACEY BELL

The reason why is plain and simple: She is my fellow Doctor Dentist with a

passion to entertainment world!

"I make people smile and laugh and feel really good about themselves.

I intend, with the help of my Dream Team to make as many people smile and ooze self confidence as I can in 6 hours".

She has a great pitch and I wish her luck with all my heart.

Talking about simular shows, Samsung has recently launched the

ONLINE Battle of the Unsigned Bands

MORE INFO HERE

Bands sign up free, upload bio, photos, music, ect. Then it's all up to

voters, who decide online whom to keep and whom to kick.

"Fans can win money by voting, apparently.

It's a pretty good viral marketing strategy --

both bands and fans are incentivized to promote like crazy."

At least, they have one particular group- BANDS., which makes a good sense.

For more information or to register click on the link: www.bbc.co.uk/upstaged

THE TUDORS NEW HOT VIDEO :)

Why you should eat what you crave

You've been told way too often to resist cravings. You know: "When cookies call, munch on carrots. When ice cream screams, scoop up some cottage cheese." Yeah, right. Better advice: When you've just gotta have it, give in -- but eat the healthiest version of whatever it is you're lusting after. And try to buy a single portion so there are no leftovers to tempt you the next day, when the crisis has passed. Some yummy options:

IF ONLY CHOCOLATE WILL DO GO FOR:
Hershey's Antioxidant Milk Chocolate OR Dove Dark Chocolate Singles (1.3 oz. bars)
WHY:
You'll be feasting on flavanols -- the compounds that make dark chocolate so heart-healthy. Dove and other dark chocolates have them naturally, but Hershey's recently added them to its milk chocolate bar for those who prefer moo juice in their candy. Bonus: Both come in at under 200 calories, while other popular candy bars push the 300-calorie mark.

IF ONLY Real ICE CREAM WILL DO GO FOR:
Blue Bunny Personals Double Strawberry Light OR a small cone at Dairy Queen
WHY:
The portions are perfect. A container of Blue Bunny Personals (sold at Wal-Mart) holds just a single cup -- technically two servings, but at 200 calories and 4 grams of fat, you can polish it off in one sitting without guilt. If you want the ice cream-stand experience, a small soft-serve Dairy Queen chocolate or vanilla cone will lick your craving for 230 to 240 calories and 7 to 8 grams of fat.

IF ONLY COOKIES WILL DOGO FOR:
Nabisco 100% Whole Grain Newtons Minis
WHY:
They contain whole grains, fiber, vitamin A -- you even get calcium without having to dunk them in milk. Each 130-calorie packet of eight cookies delivers 150 milligrams of the mighty mineral -- about as much as 4 ounces of skim milk. The only drawback: They're sold in six packs, so share the extras with fellow cookie cravers.

IF ONLY A DOUGHNUT WILL DO GO FOR:
Entenmann's Softee Plain Donut Singles
WHY:
We almost fell for Krispy Kreme's Whole Wheat Glazed, which at 180 calories appear to be one of the skinniest, healthiest options sold individually. The bummer: Hidden inside are 3.5 grams of scary trans fats. All Entenmann's doughnuts, on the other hand, are trans fats free, though for mysterious reasons the "singles" come two to a pack -- so share one with a friend and you'll only eat 170 calories each.

IF ONLY PIE WILL DO GO FOR:
A slice of pumpkin OR blueberry
WHY:
Choose pumpkin and you'll get a serving of veggies (thanks to the vitamin A-packed pumpkin) and quite a bit of calcium (courtesy of evaporated milk) for about 230 calories, no matter which brand you buy. Remember: Just fork over the cash for a slice, not the whole deep dish. If you can handle 270 or so calories, blueberry pie is a healthy alternative -- the berries are chock-full of cancer-fighting antioxidants. IF ONLY CHIPS WILL DO GO FOR: A 1 1/8 oz. bag of Baked Lays WHY: Even though they're totally free of saturated and trans fat -- few other brands can claim that -- they taste good. So good that you need to buy the single-serve, 130-calorie bag. With the family size, it's practically impossible to stop crunching when there are still chips this good in the bag. The payoff for indulging like a smart cookie? Avoiding saturated and trans fats -- which most of these do completely, and even the few exceptions aren't outrageous -- can make your RealAge more than 4 years younger