Jaimoe

I forgot: plug your iPod into a docking station and/or entertainment system.

If you can't get it here, then go to the LCBO and buy yourself a dozen regular imported Dogfish Head Pale Ales and crank Bitches Brew on your stereo. Problem solved.

Classy speech from Randy. James is starting to sound punch-drunk a la Evander Holyfield and Tommy Hearns, which is indeed troubling. For his health, I hope he sticks to MMA instead of being a journeyman boxer, because you know damned well he won't retire from boxing (no boxer ever does when they should, except Marvin Hagler).

He became a whole lot cooler by not being in the Eagles.

This appears to be an issue but I dont really care because I am in a Rogers zone so fuckyou Hal. Cry me a river. It's happened to me and will happen again in my lifetime. BELLRDSHD'd. Topical article from Friday's Star regarding this mess: http://www.thestar.com/article/853070--zelkovich-sportsnet-one-battle-turns-into-a-shooting-war

The Raps suck, but the Jays do not. They`ve been darn impressive this year and there`s finally a buzz about them in the city, and in the Majors for that matter.

Even if you are in a Rogers zone, are we expected to change to watch 20 baseball games? Yes, but there's going to be all kinds of other sports on the channel too. Imagine if the Jays were threatening for a playoff spot?

I agree Andre. I could care less about the Bell folks. It's a cable war out there. But I do feel for the Cogeco, Shaw subsribers that can't switch to Rogers since it's not an available option in their region.

And that's just part of it. It's the movement to a specialty HD Rogers channel that pisses off people with zero cable options (i.e., not being in a Rogers zone). Smaller pubs and bars also get fucked since they already pay a high premium for cable and HD.

I believe that is a big fucking YES!

Bell is evil too. What we are forgetting is that most don't have HD yet, so this new channel alienates millions of potential viewers. Also, Rogers isn't an option in many other cities across the country such as Kingston and Oakville (both are Cogego). These sports and Jays fans have no option and are shit out of luck. You should hear Bob McCown ripping his own company on the air. He's disgusted with Rogers. Good thing his name ain't Mike Wilner or he'd be suspended or fired for his open derision. Part of why this is so disgusting and confusing is that Rogers offered the free channel in mid season, but then pulls the plug in September. Fans don't have an option after this and get screwed.

Rogers are evil bastards and willingly cut the audience their own Blue Jays. That being said, I already have Rogers so I get the channel for free. Hey, did anyone notice that TVO is now in HD. C'mon Rogers, get AMC going on HD in time for that zombie series in October.

David Gray as a double-bill killed it for me.

It didn't always suck. It started out as a great pub. Their policy changed though sometime in the last two years. I continued going there because Vicki along with several friends continued to work there; they'd pour me good pints, but I was "special". And the pub itself is located in one of the nicest and most interesting parts of the city... plus they have their own beer store, which isn't a rip-off.

Great beer. I'll miss their old ceramic bottles though.

True Brad, but you know better than anyone that a boxer takes far more head punishment and damage over a career. A boxer gets washed-up in a hurry too, but they still don't retire.

Toney is still a monster puncher and he's still fast. It's not as if Toney hasn't been training as a MMA fighter; for his sake and entertainment value, let's hope he has.

Good stuff. Love the Boys and the Dead.

Great beer (Mill St. and Saranac Lake Pale). However, beware of Mill St. the pub. Their flagship pub in the Distillery District in Toronto borders on suck due to poor management and even poorer beer and food pricing. But the worst thing about Mill St. pub is their policy to pour a piss-poor pint/half-pint, where bartenders are told to leave a head as big as two fingers width from the top of the glass. When you are paying close to $7 a pint and getting huge foam, it sucks and you feel ripped off... and you'd be right. I know this to be true since my wife and a number of her friends worked there and I have been at the pub many many times. I stick to bottles now.

I believe you mean Couture.

I don't wear earplugs. If I want to be up front at shows, I generally go in with the attitude that the sound may be spotty. This hasn't always been the case - The White Stripes at the Amphitheatre in '07 sounded killer in the front section. However, historically, the amphitheatre's dead-sounding zones are in various areas of the 200-300 levels. I don't think Toronto has many consistent acoustic-friendly mid-sized venues, not including the new Opera House, Queen Elizabeth Theatre and newly renovated Royal Conservatory and Sony Centre. Standing by the soundboards at clubs and bigger venues is usually a good idea, but even that doesn't always work. I think the Kool Haus is just too cavernous for some some bands to handle. It's all a crap-shoot.

I've seen far too many brutal-sounding shows in the past 20 years to like the place. However, The Black Keys sounded really good there.

Too bad Toney is over the hill (age 42) and hasn't fought anyone of substance in years. I'd like to see the mid-90s middleweight Toney fight in MMA and not this old and slow heavyweight version. However, this fight will be interesting if he lands one of his big punches.

With our luck, The Frames will get booked at Kool Haus or Sound Academy.

Well, I know Marketa is still very young, so perhaps Glen recognized that she should go on her own at some point and/or it's simply just time for a change. I think he'll still be in the background somewhere when she records solo stuff. I look forward to both their future endeavours. The Frames at Lee's Palace or Opera House will kick ass.