autumn's for animals

Niagara Action for Animals sent out their fall newsletter this week, so I thought I'd dig into it and do my bit to distribute some animal-related information.

World Animal Day is October 4, and has been since 1931. It's also the day of the NAfA book sale, and of the Amorphis / Samael / Virgin Black show in Toronto (and my friend's birthday).

While World Animal Day was started for endangered species it's now a day for all animals. Feral cats have their own day though - National Feral Cat Day on October 16.

Apparently it was Hug a Vegetarian Day recently too...

And speaking of vegetarians... I made a last minute decision to eat at Fresh tonight before going to see Alpha Galates, Tub Ring and Three at the Mod Club. I like the venue - it was our first time there. My ears are a little tired; I don't think I've ever heard so much musical activity all in one night: layering, counterpoint, harmonies, speed, complexity, chaos... I have no previous Alpha Galates experience to compare their performance to but I was intrigued, particularly when they were all singing at once. Tub Ring was as crazy as usual, though I don't think they were as 'on' or enjoying themselves as much as when I saw them in Guelph last year. Three was amazing in terms of what they were able to pull off live and how well, but their set verged on showiness-over-substance at times. I'd see them again though (however, I highly doubt Trevorkian would join me).

it takes more than a click

How effective is online activism? Pretty effective when it's combined with a 'real world' commitment, reports the CBC: The rise of Facebook activism.

heavy metal fans are "gentle"

A few weeks ago, give or take a month, a[n Australian?] study on the personality traits of music fans was circulating, its results supposedly revealing a correlation between musical taste and stereotypical characteristics and behaviours. For example, I seem to recall it indicating some sort of association between metal appreciation and mental disturbance.

Research reported by the CBC today suggests a slightly different correlation. Still making a link between taste and personality/identity, this study suggests (among other things) that metal fans and classical fans share traits like creativity and shyness. Intriguing...

post labour-day music and vegetarianism

In the mad rush of end-of-summer beginning-of-term craziness I almost forgot to post this stuff, but here it is, just in time. Think of this as a things to do this weekend kind of post.

This is the weekend of the annual Vegetarian Food Fair at Harbourfront Centre in Toronto. As usual, there will be speakers, cooking demonstrations, music, vendors, and (I'm hoping) lots of delicious samples to try. I also plan on eating in the World Cafe. If you're in Toronto on Friday night you should drop by to watch the revealing documentary, The World According to Monsanto. Gene Baur from the Farm Sanctuary will also be at the Fair; so will Nimisha Raja, an independent food and environmental researcher, writer and speaker, and Ironman Triathlete Brendan Brazier among others.

After energizing yourself at the Food Fair (you may wanna go back for some re-energizing on Sunday), you can indulge in an all day/all night live music extravaganza. First, Glory Through Steel 3 starting 1:30pm at the Kathedral. I'm aiming to see Legion DCL XVI and Gates of Winter, but there are tonnes of bands on the bill, including headliners Nunslaughter.

From there, we plan on heading southeast a block or so northwest to Z-Club for the DTrash 'Fest D-Trash Records artist showcase. I'm particularly psyched to see Hansel again (I hope we make it in time!) but the whole line-up looks great: NWODTLEM, MEATPARADE, THE PHOERON, PHALLUS UBER ALLES, UNITUS, HANSEL, SCHIZOID, PRINCESSE ROTATIVE. Check out the Fest myspace site for a sampling of what you'll be hearing.

Then I should have enough time to recover before seeing Trouble at the Casbah in Hamilton next week. Thank the cygods for vegan energy.