Your Attention Please

everything is fine at the offices of [redacted] we simply lost track of time. (as tends to happen.)

stay tuned, as we'll soon be returning to regularly scheduled programming.

The Weekly Leaflet: May 6th, 2013 - Maple Leafs vs Bruins.

Welcome!

The Weekly Leaflet is back, and this week we're running down the batshit crazy pandaemonium that is YOUR Toronto Maple Leafs in the Stanley Cup Playoffs!!

No, seriously! See?

see? right there!

Games one and two have already happened. Hit the jump and we'll do a little recap of those, then talk about tonight's game.

The "Weekly" Leaflet: April 29th - Playoffs!!1!

hey hey! we're back!

we've experienced a bit of technical difficulties here at [redacted] for the last little bit, but with things worked out, we're looking to get back into the swing of things. It's been a busy last little while for the blue and white. Having suffered no significant losses - or gains - at the trade deadline, everybody's favourite hockey team hobbled a bit in the final month of the season.

that said, for the first time in 9 years, the final month of the regular season isn't the final month of play for the Leafs, as they've finally made it into the post-season! Their first appearance during which I'll legally be permitted to buy alcohol. Huzzah!

(source)

 Leafsman is just as excited as I.

Jump with me, and we'll talk a little about how the Leafs got here, what exactly "playoffs" are, and what we might be able to expect in their first foray there in what feels like forever.

WTF's a Databat?! - new track! "I am the Doctor"

Did you know the second half of Doctor Who's 7th 'season' returns tomorrow?

Us Databats did, and we prepared a little treat for y'all as a result!

Below you'll see a fine piece of databending we've accomplished for the "single's" "artwork"

Below that will be a jump.

Below that will be the song.

nanana nanana  - gettin' glitchy with it

The Weekly Leaflet: March 26th, 2013

hey, hey!

Welcome back for another week of discussion about everybody's favourite Canadian NHL team,
the Toronto Maple Leafs.

This week the Leafs found themselves right in the thick of the playoff race to start things off, with a slew of teams nipping at their heels. How would the Leafs make out in their 3 games under these circumstances?

Could they overcome their poor luck against southeast opponents during midweek home games?
(i hope so, or realignment is going to suck.)
Could they take advantage of their monthly home game in Buffalo?
Could they finally defeat the Bruins?

you can do it, Phil. We believe in you.

I don't know (well, I do, but what's the fun in telling you here?) So why don't you hit the jump and we'll find out together?

The Weekly Leaflet: March 19th, 2013

oh, hey.
you're back here?

well, i guess it's time for one of those leaf-talk things we do, eh?

forgive my general apathy, it seems to be arriving right in time for the annual leafs' mid-season slump.
wonder if there's some crossover there.

Just beyond the halfway point of the season, the Leafs face off for three matchups this week - two against southeastern wonders the winnipeg jets, and another against some penguin guys from pittsburgh? word on the street is they're pretty good.

with such a workload, one would hope for pretty good results for the boys in blue, right?

oh well.
just how bad did it get?

poor phil "the fill" has taken to camouflage on the streets to prevent

encounters with angry "leaf fans"

hit the jump and we'll talk about it. i'd advise drinking, but hey - it's not like we're watching an actual leaf game, right?

Monday Morning Commute Album #5! Young Modern - Silverchair

Hey again!

Welcome back to our Monday Morning Commute Album feature.
We're back with a bit of a bang after taking a break last week.
I shan't get into the specifics, as nobody really wants those, but ol' Wrrrtika's been fighting off a bit of a cold, and that's put him behind the 8Ball in terms of blog content. Yup, a little shitty - I know. Watch along as I try to play catchup.

Daylight Savings Time sucks. Who took my extra hour?
Rain sucks too - particularly during cold, dark mornings.

As such, I needed a little bit of a pick-me-up this morning.

What was said stimulant?

Well look no further than Silverchair and their (last?) most recent offering, Young Modern.

Hit the jump and we'll talk about this offering from these wonders from down under *shudder*.
That's like, the worst moniker I've ever come up with.

(linky)

the recording of young modern left daniel johns with permanent blackeye.

...okay, not actually.

The Weekly Leaflet: March 11th 2013

Hey, we're back!

Forgive the slight delay and sag in content this last week, won't you? Ol' Wrrrtika's been feeling a little under the weather.

The Leafs, however, have not - it would seem.

The team had a pretty busy week, playing 4 games in 6 nights (something of a standard in this truncated season).

Wednesday's tilt against Ottawa signified the mid-way point of the 2012-2013 season, and as such it was a pretty important week for the Leafs, who came into things in the thick of the playoff bracket. How would matchups against the always challenging Bruins, Eastern Conference Champs The Devils and perennial contendors in the Penguins affect Toronto and their playoff chances?

Well, I'll give you a hint - they wound up exactly .500 on the week for points percentage.

Who did they beat? Who beat them? Where did that funny little extra point come in? Hit the jump to find out!

goaltender ben scrivens seems confused about a puck in his crease.

The Weekly Leaflet: March 2nd 2013

Whoa - what's that? It's Saturday night and the Leafs aren't playing?

What is this? The lockout?!

No, I understand - it's just that rare Saturday that occurs once or twice during a typical season during which the Leafs don't play. From what I gather, CBC is offering a pretty exciting matchup between the Penguins and Habs, but I'm making some chili and watching Kids in the Hall with my partner.

Never mind me, though. The Leafs, right?  What happened this week? Even with a rare Saturday night off, the Leafs suited up thrice throughout the week, facing off against the Flyers in Philadelphia on Monday night, followed up by playing the Habs Wednesday in Toronto, and the Islanders Thursday night on long island.

What happened?
How did they fare?

Hit the jump to find out.

insert the new leafs theme song "playoffs!!1" by clarkey marc and the nazzy grabs

(this image comes courtesty user niftymittens at pensionplanpuppets)

WTF's A Databat?! Skeletons, the new Single.

So, you're apparently just in time to check out the new single offered up by The Databats.

This song can be found on our first full length release Databats.exe


Check it out below



The art for it looks a little something like this.

the artwork is something that we're particularly proud of, just as much as the track itself.

featuring an original painting by rasiqra/revulva and a databend of van gogh's "skull of a skeleton with burning cigarette" by jonny haus. the two images are interlaced, with a degree of subtractive databending applied to both. 

a skeleton is something hidden, which lives beneath the skin and cradles the heart. a structure which provides support, while secreted in flesh. it can be exposed, but the relationship between the body and the bone will be deeply compromised.

enjoy!

Monday Morning Commute Album #4! My Dark Beautiful Twisted Fantasty - Kanye West

Welcome back to the Monday Morning Commute Album series.
Last week we took a brief hiatus, as I had no commute Monday morning.

Why?

Whelp, a bunch of provinces in Canada decided that there should be a holiday to spend with your family. As a result, Family Day was born. Every body gets paid to sit and home and come up with plausible excuses for why they can't spend this free time with their families.

It was fun.

I played some Minecraft and worked on Databats tunes. Great times.

I digress, however. Here we are with the last Monday Morning Commute of February. For various reasons, many of which I consider relevant temporally, we'll be discussing Kanye West's My Dark Beautiful Twisted Fantasy. I quite like this one. Hit the jump with me, and we'll get started.

baby kanye had all sorts of SWAG

The Weekly Leaflet: Maple Leafs at Senators, February 23 2013 and the week ahead.

Okay, I've gone ahead and done it. For the time being this segment has been given a name, apparently, that name being "The Weekly Leaflet", courtesy rasiqra/revulva.

Today's edition features another round of the Battle of Ontario with the Leafs facing off against The Sens, on the road, sort of.

The Buds headed into Ottawa to cap off a fairly eventful week on their schedule.

Starting the week of in Florida, the Leafs downed the Panthers by a score of 3-0 (continuing their shutout ways) before heading into Tampa Bay and playing a much better Lightning team (better than who? well, the leafs and the panthers I'd wager). The Leafs laid a bit of a stinker in this one, with Scrivens pulled late in the game and the team ultimately falling by a score of 4-2. Two nights later, they were back home in Toronto, facing the Ruff-less Sabres, who they trounced 3-1 on the back of a big 2 goal night from JVR.

tap, tap, tap-a-roo

The Ottawa Senators record was one win better than the Leafs, as they beat most of the Atlantic Division this week, dropping the Isles, Rangers and Devils since we saw them last.

This made for many questions heading into the evening:

-how will each team respond to their litany of injuries?
-why in the hell is this Alfredsson guy still playing ? (yea, yea, great player, whatever)
-which Ben Scrivens will show up ? Back to back shutouts Ben Scrivens, or four goals on 16 shots Ben Scrivens?

I know you're clearly very excited to find out, as there's certainly no way for you to have gleaned this knowledge before, so hit the jump and let's see what happened

WTF's A Databat?

Hey!

Have you gathered yet that I dig music?
No?

Then you probably have yet to gather that I make music! (unless you've hit my profile).

For the past year or so, my primary creative outlet has been a little entity called The Databats.

...Yes, The Databats.

"WTF's A Databat?" I can hear you asking. Well now, jump with me and I'll tell you all about it.

Recap: Senators at Leafs - Feb, 16 2013, and the week ahead.

Welcome back for another preview/recap of the Maple Leafs' recent schedule, a little something I may start referring to as "the Weekly Leaflet." Note: I said may. I totally may not. Double Note: sticktap to rasiqra/revulva for the idea.

The Leafs had a relatively easy week this time around (especially for a shortened season) playing only 3 games in the last 7 nights.

The week started off on a mixed note, with the Philadelphia Flyers in town for the first meeting of these teams this season, and consequently since the Schenn/JVR trade. Things started off shaky with a rebound from a point shot by the aforementioned Schenn resulting in a Wayne Simmonds goal just 38 seconds in. From there, things were essentially all Toronto after Captain Phaneuf tied the game late in the first. Toronto cruised on to a 5-2 victory, featuring this dandy by JVR.

yeah, that's Luke Schenn who slides away at the end.

The bad news is, however, that James Reimer left the game slightly before the halfway mark with what would turn out to be a strained MCL in his left knee. Ben Scrivens came in in relief, and ended up stopping 32 of 33 shots, looking shaky but dependable.

Two nights later, the Leafs were in Carolina and laid a complete egg against a Hurricanes team playing their first game at home after a long road-trip, starting their back up goaltender Dan Ellis. The game started out with some rough stuff between Colton Orr (who Randy Carlyle seems to be viewing as the second coming of Darren McCarty these days) and Kevin Westgarth before remaining incredibly boring for a period and a half. Quite possibly the most boring game I've seen this year. The second period featured all 4 goals in the game, with Joe Corvo striking first for the 'Canes, Kadri retaliating for the Leafs before Jussi Jokinen and Jordan Staal put it away for Carolina, downing the Leafs 3-1.

Despite this clunker, the Buds headed into Saturday night's game with a record of 3-1 in their last four games. Unfortunately, the injury cloud loomed heavily over this game for both teams, with Gunnarson, Lupul, Frattin and Reimer injured for the Maple Leafs, and notable Sens Jason Spezza and Erik Karlsson on the shelf (the last due to a nasty achilles tendon cut.)

Would the Leafs be able to put the stops to a losing skid before it started?
Would Krusty the Klown Daniel Alfredsson be booed mercilessly by the ACC faithful?
Which team's injury troubles would pose the most trouble?

Well click on through and we'll talk about how the Leafs fared against the SNES

artist rendition of "sens" third jersey wordmark.

Monday Morning Commute Album #3 : Red - Sonoio

This morning's monday morning commute album has a somewhat different route this morning, as work was foregone for a trip to the doctor. yay.  Unfortunately, as the commute was shorter, as was the album. having to pick something shorter and suited to a grey, rainy day, I settled on an album by a solo artist by the name of Alessandro Cortini.

Hit the jump and we'll talk about RED, from Sonoio.

here's Alessandro, and the rest of his band

The Weekly Leaflet -February 9 2013: Leafs at Canadiens

It's sunday?

The Leafs played last night?

The Canadiens tried to?

Well now, I guess I have a game recap for you then! How fun.

The leafs wound up at the bell centre in montreal last night, playing montreal for the second time this season, looking to build on the momentum they'd gained over the course of the week.

With back to back monday/tuesday night games against southeast opponents, things looked grim - they started that way too. after going getting the lead early in the game, the team dropped four straight goals to the Staal brothers Hurricanes, ultimately losing 4-1.

humourous graphic courtesy sportsnet ontario

The next night, the team put a decidedly better performance in front of netminder Ben Scrivens, who picked up the win over the Capitals as James van Riemsdyk had a big night, potting a pair added to by Korbinian Holzer, who picked up his first NHL goal. 

Two nights later, the Leafs flew into Winterpeg, and beat the Jets 3-2 with Phil Kessel providing the game winner late in the game, registering his first goal of the season.

Would the Leafs be able to carry this momentum into Montreal on this Saturday night?

Would the Canadiens show up?

Would Don Cherry embarrass himself?

For answers to these questions, and many more - go over that there jump/cut thingy.

Monday Morning Commute Album # 2 : Le Noise - Neil Young

i like to ease myself into consciousness most days, specifically so on mondays. the early week tends to be a little jarring for me, skipping back into the work-a-world routine of dime-a-day 9-5 cliches.

couple this with the cold, dark, winter months, and monday mornings can be downright dreary affairs. today's selection doesn't exactly counter that, it moreso embraces it.  though a little on the short side, this collection pairs quite well with the colour of a pre-dawn sky, and the cold smell of february.

hit the jump, and we'll talk about Monday Morning Commute Album #2, some Neil Young.

grunge rock grandpa, neil young, provides this week's transit score

Recap: Bruins at Leafs, February 2, 2013 - Preview: Hurricanes atLeafs, February 4 2013

we're back again to run down some leafs' hockey.

the week that was since last week's post has been pretty eventful for the buds. the team managed to go into buffalo and come out with a win on tuesday night, on the backs of huge games from cody franson and matt frattin, who provided overtime heroics with his second goal of the night with under a second left in OT.

two nights later, the leafs hosted the capitals at the acc and achieved victory in spite of going down early, the game winner again coming on a pretty play from frattin and linemate nazem kadri (who we love around these parts)

joe bowen with the call on this game-winning beaut.

ending the month on a high note, the leafs went into saturday night's game with some momentum against a team who was beaten badly, to the tune of 7-4 in their previous encounter (against the buffalo sabres.)

hit that jump, and we'll talk about how the leafs wound up, and a bit about what's going on tonight.

Sunday Spin # 1 : Pink Floyd - Wish You Were Here, Brunch - Egg SaladSandwiches

Sunday's a day I adore. I'm usually particularly busy throughout the day, but without the standard demands of my 9-5, there's a lot more free time to devote to my creative endeavours. Before I can do that, however, it is almost always essential to partake in a big, hearty breakfast to fuel me through the day. I agree heavily with the late Hunter S. Thompson, who was quoted having said about the meal; "Breakfast is the only meal of the day I tend to view with the same traditional reverence that most people associate with lunch or dinner."

The man really, really, liked his breakfast.

Since music and reverence go hand-in-hand for me, I often take this opportunity to listen to some records as I cook my breakfast.

This feature will stand as a chronicle of both the breakfasts I make, and the records I listen to.

So, with all that, hit the jump here, and we'll talk about some Pink Floyd and Egg salad

Liberal Leadership Convention - January 26th 2012

This past Saturday, the Liberal Party of Ontario held their leadership convention at Maple Leaf Gardens in Toronto to appoint a new leader, replacing outgoing Dalton McGuinty. Kathleen Wynne was ultimately selected, becoming the province's first woman and openly gay premiere (hey, yay liberals?.)

With the event at such a high profile location in downtown Toronto, it grew a pretty hearty protest/rally crowd. I quite enjoy these types of atmosphere, and as such, headed down with my trusty iPhone in hand to "document" some of the afternoon's sights. Hit me over the jump to take a look!

Monday Morning Commute Album #1 : Adore - The Smashing Pumpkins

Here we go again, with a new feature for [redacted]!
I listen to a lot of music- as a recreational listener, a songwriter, a musician, an engineer, whatever the case may be. ( i wear a lot of hats.) It's by far the most important artistic facet of my life.

As such, I'm almost constantly listening to music on my iphone when I'm out and about in toronto.
typically, i allow the shuffle in itunes to be my deejay, and carry about my merry way listening to whatever it offers up. However, on monday mornings during the long, dreary commute to work, i tend to try to fit in listening to a complete album. i'm afforded roughly fifty (though sometimes as many as seventy, stupid TTC) minutes in which to listen and digest a a complete musical experience. y'know, like they did in the 'olden days' of 33's and 45's (oh don't worry, we'll get there too.) I've decided it would be a fun excercise to note the experience of listening to these albums, and share my thoughts and reactions to them. There's no particular rhyme or reason to the albums being reviewed. some are old, some are new, musical styles will vary little or completely week to week, and the relevance of the works themselves may reside in days long since passed. that said, i think we'll have some fun talking music together. thus, without any further adieu, join me over the jump for this week's edition.

The Weekly Leaflet: January 26, 2013 - Leafs at Rangers

this'll be my very first leafs-related post, so some pre-amble.

i'm not going to post about every game i watch, just some of the more notable ones.
as a leaf fan of nearly 20 years now, i tend to catch most of the season, and i won't be overloading
[redacted] with tons of leafs news, just a bit as i see fit.

last night, the leafs rolled into new york city to play the rangers, hot off the heels of a 7-4 flub against the islanders at the ACC.

i'm certain you wonder why i didn't chose to cover this match as well?
i find the islanders insanely boring, and i fear contracting dipietro's boneitis through my television set.

so come on then, hit the jump, and we'll talk about the game that was.

_______

hello, hola, howdy, hey.

i'm wrrrtika. or at least, i'm pretty sure you're not, and one of us has to be. so i'll do it. it's cool. things'll be easier to understand this way.