Not News of the Week

Another week, another dose of all the news that’s not fit for print. It’s time for the Not News of the Week.

Downtown Toronto had an unexpected visitor last week. A female deer was found lounging in some shrubs around University and Dundas in the heart of the downtown of Canada’s most populous city. The deer wasn’t too keen on leaving her adopted home near City Hall and had to be both tranquilized and tazed to be captured and removed by animal control. No one is really sure how the deer got to downtown but it had been spotted before it was captured at Union Station which is about 1.5 km south of University and Dundas. However, I am pretty sure that the deer is at least as smart as the average denizen of Toronto. Continue reading

Sunday Link-Off: Thanksgiving Leftovers

Shockingly for only the first time, here’s Natalie Portman.

The boys at Deadspin passed the US Thanksgiving long weekend by posting high school reunion horror stories. Of them all, this was my favourite. (Deadspin)

I don’t suppose anyone can help me find a way to talk EA Sports letting me have a copy of NCAA Basketball 10 to review. I’m not just saying that because my favourite play-by-play man Gus Johnson is calling the action. (Fanhouse)

This stuff never gets old. It’s the second edition of the best things overheard at the U of WO. (Lion’s Den University)

After the jump, some painful sports stories, something else, and the return of a classic WWE announce team. Continue reading

Entertainment Link-Off: Black Friday Hangover

I’m sure everyone is exhausted from the endless shopping, so it’s time to just sit down, relax and check out this week’s Entertainment Link-Off. After a Twilight heavy link-off, let’s shift the focus to other stuff. This ELO features Anna Kendrick. She’ll be co-starring with George Clooney in the film Up in the Air. The critically acclaimed film directed by Jason Reitman is set to hit theatres next week. Hurray! We can simply forget that she was in that vampire movie that just came out.

After the jump, a few featurettes on Avatar, FOX announces its midseason schedule, some fun Star Wars stuff and more Lego awesomeness. Continue reading

Twilight Link-Off: Let the Wrong One In

There’s a lot of hoopla generated over the big weekend at the box office as hoards of teens, fangirls and maybe some fanboys flocked over to the theatres to see New Moon, the second installment of the Twilight series.

I haven’t seen New Moon, so I can’t go all out and bash it, but I have seen Twilight (not by choice). To be honest, Twilight wasn’t horrible, but at the same time it is not a good movie either. The fact that it is based on a mediocre novel series didn’t help its prospects. The acting was a bit wooden, but can you blame them? [See source material] Anyway, watching or reading Twilight is not as bad as sitting on an electric chair; however it doesn’t deserve all the hype it’s getting right now. If you truly appreciate a great vampire relationship movie, go check out the amazing, yet haunting Swedish flick ‘Let the Right One In’.

I can never seem to get into the whole vampire/human love thing. It worked to a certain extent in Underworld (which is another deeply flawed film) since the female vampire Selena was attracted to a human adult man. However, this concept doesn’t work so well in the Twilight series. It’s not the role reversal, it’s the age issue. Seriously girls, Edward might seem like the perfect guy for you, but does it not disturb you that the vampire is over 100 years old and he’s going out with a teenage girl? We do have a name for something like that in real life, they’re called pedophiles.

Over the past week, there have been plenty of Twilight related stuff piling up. In fact there’s so much that it’s getting it’s very own link-off! Just for kicks let’s take a look at one good and one bad attempt to defend the vampire saga and various items that poke fun or bash the Twilight series after the jump. Continue reading

The Humanoids: Black Friday

Today is known in America as Black Friday. The day after Thanksgiving is the biggest day for discounted merchandise at American retail stores. That makes today the biggest shopping day of 2009. I don’t exactly know why it’s called Black Friday. Maybe it’s because it’s absolute hell for store workers. Though a more likely explanation is that it’s absolute hell for the guys being dragged along for the shopping. Today’s column subjects aren’t exactly being dragged through hell but most aren’t seeing things as all peaches and cream, though.

Time for the regular radio plug. We were on this week. Here’s this week’s episode about H1N1, hockey and the assorted randominity that we usually do. We’re going to tape both December shows this weekend. December 8th is our gift giving guide and December 22nd is our Christmas special featuring the weirdest Christmas music we could find. They’re always fun shows and we can’t wait to do them. Continue reading

10 Things Gary Bettman Should Be Thankful For

NHL fans may be wondering what good there has been for their league this season. Sure, the standings have been pretty scrambled and you’re never really sure who will win on a given night (unless the Leafs are playing) but that was the whole point of the salary cap and the attempt to create parity. Of course, that was the reason why the owners hired commissioner Gary Bettman in 1993. If he were to listen to the fans, Gary wouldn’t think he has a lot to be thankful on his Thanksgiving. But I think there are a few things that he give thanks for helping the NHL. Continue reading

Wednesday Link-Off: Into The Dawn

I was looking for a subtly anti-Twilight title so that’s why it’s weird. And Sofia Vergara looks a lot more like a woman than the Twilight toothpicks.

Let’s kick off with a trio of Twilight links. First, it’s The War of the Worlds. By which I mean the battle between the fans of Twilight and Harry Potter in NERDMAGEDDON! (NBC Dallas-Fort Worth)

There’s a university professor that thinks that Twilight should lose that fight. She says that Twilight is setting woman back despite the fact they’re the only ones that read/watch it. (Daily Telegraph)

And for the sake of balance, here’s legendary director Kevin Smith talking about why Twilight isn’t such a bad thing. (Huffington Post)

After the jump, Thierry Henry’s new video game, Super Dave Osborne, and Top Gear insanity. Continue reading

The Lowdown Radio: November 24, 2009

It’s two days until American Thanksgiving but you had something to be thankful a little early this year. The latest episode of The Lowdown had something for everyone. The show starts with Steve and Jackie talking about the Canadian Swine Flu vaccination program. Steve investigates the program in depth when he goes to a vaccination clinic to get a shot. In the news, the guys talk about the UWO police brutality lawsuit and the WWII veteran who fought off an attempted armed robber. Entertainment features Jackie’s new single and Alex Trebek comes from YouTube. Sports includes the NHL quarter-year awards complete with a new sports game called Too Soon.

Click here to download the 10 MB podcast version.
Click here to download the 26 MB high-quality version.

On The Extra, Steve kicks off with a trademark rant that starts with Twitter and ends with the guys’ general life dissatisfaction. The H1N1 talk includes a pile of added and uncensored banter. The news has a story about a woman that’s allergic to sperm and a man who tried something drastic to get out of work. The honours of being the worst in music goes to David Guetta and Akon this week. Sports includes an exclusive evaluation of the Red Wings’ and Maple Leafs’ seasons thus far. There is also more discussion behind each of the quarter-season award winners and more Too Soon questions. In total, there’s nearly 40 minutes more of exclusive Lowdown Extra goodness for you to enjoy. As always, the action comes to you uncut and uncensored.

Click here to download Lowdown Extra.

Not News of the Week

If it’s not worth talking about, then it must be time for the Not News of the Week.

Only in America is livestock something a part of urban life. A cow decided to take a late-night dip in its neighbour’s pool. A woman was home alone when she heard the cow jump into her pool. It wouldn’t have been a terribly big deal but the pool didn’t have any steps in or out of it. The Anderson County Technical Rescue Team had to be called in to pull the cow out of the pool with the heavy equipment. No word if the woman’s homeowner’s insurance covers damage to the pool caused by runaway cows. Continue reading

Lowdown Radio Preview: November 24, 2009

We’re exactly two days from the next big episode of The Lowdown radio show on 94.9FM CHRW. The show kicks off with the guys talking about the H1N1 vaccination program. Steve goes in depth on this when he goes to a vaccination clinic to get a shot. In the news, the guys talk about the UWO police brutality lawsuit and the WWII veteran who fought off an attempted armed robber. Entertainment features Jackie’s new single from Dashboard Confessional and Alex Trebek is “in the hizzouse” from YouTube. Sports this week is the NHL quarter-year awards complete with a new sports game that debuts on this episode. It’s another great half hour of Lowdown fun where men are men and censors are nervous.

The show goes live at around 6:30 PM Eastern. If you’re in the London, ON, listening area, you can listen live on 94.9 FM. You can also listen online at CHRWradio.com/listen.