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November 6th, 2007

  1. Aretha Franklin in Toronto!

    November 6, 2007 by Gail

    Aretha Franklin's in da house!

    For those of you in western Canada — because I think it’s aired already here — watch ET Canada tonight to see Aretha Franklin… and because I filmed her from the front row (stage left) with my digicam and you might see me in the clips! Let me know if you do! I was surrounded by cameras from FashionTV, CTV, and Entertainment Tonight. I don’t have a TV, so I can’t see any of it.

    My friend sent me an SMS this morning to give me the heads up. I worked late so the timing was perfect to get to Bloor after work, grab a quick bite and a big cup of mocha to warm my hands during the live (free!) show. I left the DSLR at home today because my bag was full, but thankfully I have my point-and-shoot digicam with video in my bag at all times. Just before the show started my batteries died, so I had just enough time to race over to HMV 50 metres away and buy some replacements while the ET Canada hosts were doing their introductions.

    The Queen of Soul was in town as part of a holiday promotional campaign for Holt Renfrew, and they set up a stage for her in front of the flagship store on Bloor Street. It was windy, cold and a bit rainy, but nobody seemed to care because bloody hell, this is ARETHA FRANKLIN!

    Queen of Soul, Aretha Franklin performs mini-concert in Toronto – November 6, 2007
    By: Victoria Ahearn, THE CANADIAN PRESS

    I tell you, the woman didn’t need a mike — even at 65 years of age she’s got the pipes to blow away the piano!

    I uploaded one clip thus far to YouTube:

    Sorry about the shakes — it’s not easy to hold a digicam and dance at the same time!

    http://www.sodamnhappy.com

    View photos as thumbnails, or as a slideshow.

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    Posted in Music, Out + About, Videoclips | Tags: , , , | 10 Comments

  2. Comedy In Commute

    November 6, 2007 by Gail

    Over the weekend I subscribed to all sorts of podcasts, including YouTube’s “Best Of” videoclips and Comedy Central’s standup shorts so I can look at something besides the sleepy faces of morning commuters while on transit. I take a streetcar, subway, and bus to go to work but the whole journey only takes about half an hour, all segments being more or less equal. If I get a seat, the most I can read in one sitting is whatever I can scan in 10 minutes before I have to make a connection. If the streetcar/ subway/ bus is full, I’m standing and usually hanging on for dear life while everyone sways en masse.

    iPod Touch to the rescue! Videos to my heart’s content! And if I have to actually pay attention to where my feet are going, I can just listen for a bit until I get back on the TTC.

    The only downside to all this free entertainment is stifling the fits of laughter during the commute. I was watching one of the standup comic clips yesterday morning and he said something so hysterical I burst out laughing on the bus and startled the woman next to me, who didn’t notice my screen.

    If you’ve got a similar device, beware of Comedy Central’s free podcast: it could make you look like a lunatic.

    [I forgot to add the main benefit: it starts the day off right by putting you in a good mood!]

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    Posted in Working Life | Tags: , , , | 4 Comments