3 hours and change, from Kamloops to Surrey (that's nearly 400kms); 2 agonizing hours, from Surrey to the coast (I'm pretty sure baseballs have been hit further)...

Personal transportation, in the context of mass transit, is a failed urban experiment.  We keep adding lanes, but no matter how many cars you can get on the freeway, there's still the same number of parking spots downtown.

Take the train, people.

Kal

No smoke and mirrors:

I can't say that I've ever given Evanescence the time of day, but Amy Lee just did it for real on Leno.  Seriously, one of the best live vocal performances I've seen; up there with K.D. Lang covering "Helpless" at the `05 JUNO Awards.

Take that, all you pro-tooled pop tartlets!

Whilst I'm talking integrity: The Eagles, Blue Rodeo, Eddie Vedder, and Bruce Springsteen—back with the E Street Band, no less (halleluiah!)—still got it.

Lest we overlook my favourite bona fide underdogs of late:

• Matt Costa
• Jamie Cullum
• Granian
• Stabilo
• Adrian Glynn

Check 'em out!

It seems Mr. Thomas finally came to his senses and is fronting Matchbox 20 again (phew).  You had me going there, Rob.

Oh, and have you seen this cat Andy McKee play the freakin’ guitar?  Holy F___, I've got some work to do!

Kal

A trashcan spoke to me.

It lifted its own lid and said "thank you".  The adjacent recycling-bin also made good-natured remarks.

A blue box that you have to plug-in: how very green.

Kal

I wished upon a dog star...

Ended up on stage, arm around Perry Ferrell, singing "Jane Says".  Out of this world!

Satellite Party...love and music...what a night.

I'm giddy (grin).

Kal

In order to spare y'all one tedious tirade, I decided to let the JUNO Awards wane...and yet, a month later, k-os’ lyrical libel resonates: "This show is propaganda!"

Indeed, an overly festooned Billy (so called) "Talent" was a little suspect; never mind this year's inept host-with-the-most (groan).  Humbug aside, however, there was some integrity to offset the slander: Stephen Fearing, Jim Cuddy, Jacksoul, and Tomi Swick; all warranted wins.

Still, it's getting ever more difficult to find artists deserving of any real recognition.  Every year, the technological veneer becomes less discernible and we (those of us actually looking for the wires) are left wondering who to admire.  Here are some genuine cats you can root for in good conscience:

• Raúl Midón
• Rob Szabo
• Kyle Riabko
• Matt York
• Wil
• Warren Flandez

Low Stars is simply the best singer/songwriter collaboration I've heard in years.

"I Traveled" by Jully Black gets me every time; it's that gospel choir, chorus-out...so much soul!  Plain White T's got me with "Hey There Delilah"; go figure, I hated that band; being open-minded can be so hard on one's convictions (smirk).  Hedley sucker-punched me with "Gunnin’" and apparently I'm a masochist.  Despite my skepticism, The Killers managed to bring me round; I just bought "Hot Fuss" and "Sam's Town".  Well...at least I'm not getting stale (grin).

If you're looking for a quality Queen supplement, you might appreciate Mika; I'll forgive him his Freddy-worship and blatant borrowing of `80's pop hooks, on account of the fact that "Life in Cartoon Motion"—albeit a tad frolicsome for my peevish personality—rocks!

It seems new music may just be finding an edge again.  Perhaps Neil Young's "Prairie Wind" reestablished the value in being honest...we'll see.

On the downside: Avril is becoming Britney; Beyoncé has become Shakira; Thomas became Timberlake; Gwen left No Doubt, started singing about bananas, disappeared down the rabbit hole, and never came back...I should have taken the blue pill, sometime in the early `90's.

(burp) Ah, that's better (grin)!

Kal

Corinne Bailey Rae will save the sophisticated from the likes of Rihanna.

Kal

Privy to some first-date conversation:

It seems the dumb girl with the plastic smile is buying actor/model boy's yarn about life after NASCAR. 

Please!

I'm sure these people are good for something; tanning salons seem to be a lucrative business, after all.

One small fruit-cup [hers], two over-sized cookies [his], four tall cappuccinos, and an even taller tale [also his] later...she paid!  He must have given his last million to the mission.

I don't know about you, but I'm off to hunt yeti atop Everest (smirk)!

Kal

[2pm - Esquires]...and I thought I was a rough start:

There is a dogged gent at the next table, rickety yet upright in his armless chair; the newspaper in his hands smartly flanked, elbows afloat; there are no less than three empty espressos before him...and he is fast asleep: a valiant effort (grin)!

Creaming my coffee, just now, I couldn't help but note the rather ghastly portent that the dairy expires on my birthday (ugh).  Yes...although time pitilessly plods ahead with every passing picosecond, fast approaches the one day of the year when I am forced to take tally of it, ponder it, and ultimately deny it (smirk).

Aging gracefully in the entertainment biz comes hard and often obliges artists (those who don't despair or carry on conceitedly) to curb their shtick...well...not me (grin [denial]).  My friend, Craig Cardiff (proud singer/songwriter) asked how I plan to remain relevant as the years form a fissure between me and my enduring college fan-base..."booze!" I replied (grin); I may not be tragic at this juncture, but so long as I shroud what few mature things I have to say in the remnants [my alcoholism] of a time when I was...they shall relate.

I think he was hoping for a slightly more philosophical answer; nevertheless...

Flaws validate you.  In the same way that I don't trust people who never swear (and I do mean "cuss"; the other is always a façade), I wouldn't expect any self-respecting youth to heed the posture of one who has always played by the rules; by that measure, I am a faithful logician indeed (grin).  I swear.

Ah, getting older...life's a satirical bitch, eh!  Frankly, with all the flimsy, whirring bits enclosed and how we tax them so, I'm amazed we live (on average) as long as we do.  I consider it a miracle that I've made it this far.

My!  Look at the time...

Kal