The post where John takes a shockingly controversial stand

The apartment we live in isn’t conducive to trick or treaters. It’s on the second floor, over a business so most kids wouldn’t think of going up there. I’ll also be putting out a dead goat to help ward off those who do. In any case, we won’t be handing out candy this year.

And that’s too bad because I’m a bit of a softie for Halloween. I like to see the kids dressed up, especially the real wee ones. It’s just, you know, cute.

What I don’t care for are the kids who come to your door and don’t say anything. No “trick or treat” and “thank you” – just a look of entitlement or maybe a grunt. Who’s raising these kids? If we’re going to go through this ritualistic legalised extortion, at least do your part. And for the teenagers who show up wearing pajamas? Fuck. Right. Off.

There I said it and I don’t regret it.

Diamonds are a murderous West African warlord’s best friend.

Low Culture reports on the diamond industry’s new advertising efforts that equate feminism with acquiring the Bling Bling. They also link to a Black Table interview with Janine Roberts, who’s written a book on the diamond trade.

Supermayor?

Suddenly deflecting attention away from the demerger debate, Montreal Mayor Gerald Tremblay rescues a student from an assault and will likely whip up some nice press for himself to boot.

I just want to point out that cruising around Montreal in the limo looking for crime is more Green Hornet than Superman but I guess that would be a too obscure reference. I think this also makes Aziz Taif his “Kato.” You think for the rest of the year we can refer to Mayor Tremblay as The Green Hornet? Okay then, how about just for the rest of the weekend?

Meanwhile, in a stately Toronto mansion, a short, stocky man with Brillo Pad-like hair flings his glass of cognac at the fireplace and exclaims, “Damn it, why didn’t I think of that?!”

If it’s Thursday, Russell Smith must be embarassing himself in print

Once again, our boy Russell Smith attempts to put his finger on the pulse of popular culture. He once again dismisses blogs as “on-line diaries” (“Oh dearest me, the unwashed are posting their worthless thoughts online. How common. How vulgar. How undisciplined.”). This time, he documents the rise of moblogs as hipper than regular blogs. Then he goes and spoils it by declaring Vice magazine as “superhip.” Dude, that quasi-racist skateboard avert posing as a magazine is so over.

This just in…

Low Culture rocks and is soon to be moved to my Must Check Every Morning list. Check out this post comparing George W. Bush’s news conference style with the managerial style of David Brent from BBC’s ‘The Office’.