BACKGROUNDER: EnWise Power Solutions Inc.

EnWise Power Solutions Inc. (EnWise) is a privately-owned, Toronto-based environmental company built on the principles of sustainability and social responsibility. EnWise launched with the sole purpose of providing Canadian homeowners with a means to turn their environmentally proactive wishes into a carbon-reducing reality. The 80 person-strong company assists consumers who have the will but lack the know-how to radically improve the energy efficiency and comfort of their home, reduce their home’s ecological footprint, and save money on household utility bills in the process.

The company’s unique business model affords it an unrivalled entry into to the market. EnWise is the only Ontario company of its kind to go beyond merely advising homeowners about how their house is energy-inefficient, and what products they might need to improve it. The first step, known as a ‘home energy audit’ is where other companies stop, but with EnWise, this is just the beginning of their four-step, one-stop shop solution that ends with homeowners saving money and the environment, while improving the quality and comfort of their home.

Once a homeowner contacts EnWise, their Residential Energy Professionals (REPs) are certified by the Government of Canada to advise customers proactively on best-in-class solutions for their home’s environmental and energy use shortcomings. The process continues with the EnWise installation team making those improvements so the homeowner does not have to. The company also offers financing via EnWise Capital Corporation if of interest to the homeowners. Depending on the particulars of the home energy audit, the improvements implemented will offer guaranteed savings on the utility bills from the onset. Improvements may even result in positive cash flow as the energy savings may actually be greater than the monthly payment financed through EnWise Capital.

The company embodies a relaxed, altruistic corporate culture, reflective of its leaders Peter Hwang (president & CEO) and Phil Winters (chief sustainability officer). A small group of investors co-funded the company’s inception with a vision of creating a national culture of conservation and ultimately providing leadership in developing sustainable market driven environmental solutions.

The launch of EnWise is particularly auspicious as it catches a change in social attitudes towards the environment, and the federal government’s EcoEnergy Efficiency Initiative of April 2007. The latter is a $300 million program that entitles Canadian homeowners to receive rebates as high as $5,000 to make their homes or businesses more energy efficient. In June 2007, the Ontario government announced that it would match the Federal commitment therefore making homeowners eligible for up to $10,000 in grants and rebate incentives which offset the cost of energy conservation efforts. EnWise is a certified delivery agent of the ecoENERGY program and facilitates access to these rebates to their customers as part of its offering. EnWise guarantees its customers a significant reduction in home energy consumption if its recommendations are carried through to implementation.

EnWise’s initial target market is people who own houses that are 10 years or older within Southern Ontario, with plans to expand this service territory to other provinces and select US States during the coming months.

In the future, EnWise plans to grow into new home construction and commercial markets assisting both home developers and businesses to embrace a culture of energy conservation while minimizing their impact and highlighting their environmental benefits and improved comfort and reduced operating costs.

Further information on EnWise Power Solutions is available on the company’s website at www.enwisepower.com.

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In the right compass direction, but the journey has barely begun

Movie review of "The Golden Compass".
Published on facebook.com, 8th December 2007.

Interesting and attention-keeping for adults though at times seems a mish-mash of Lord of the Rings and the Narnia Chronicles. Great acting from DB Richards who succeeds in giving her character the right level of annoying brattishness. Kidman looks nauseatingly thin apart from her lips but does a good enough job of balancing the conflicting objectives of baddie and mummy. Little else to say except that this is a whimsical enough kids' movie, but with little time to explore any character in great depth. All more akin to placing chess pieces on the board before the game really starts, as the first film of a trilogy franchise sometimes is.

Current king of Scottish movies

Movie review of "The Last King of Scotland".
Published on facebook.com, 5th December 2007.

Thrilling all-the-more because you know it's based on actual events. Brilliant performances from the two leads, and the right balance of suspense that ensures you're both left to your own imagination as to the events happening in the background of the film without an unnecessary gore-fest from the beginning. Excellent movie.

Spiderflan

Movie review of "Spiderman III".
Published on facebook.com, 28th November 2007.

Yuk. What a farce, and what a shame after two pretty darn good movies in the franchise. Poor scripting, wooden acting by the Sandman, exaggerated characteristics of the Venom-ised Spiderman that make this almost a Christmas pantomime, and lots of unnecessary subplots e.g. the police chief and his daughter that detract from the overall plot and prevent any in-depth character study. Eminently missable!

Period drama for period drama's sake

Movie review of "Elizabeth".
Published on facebook.com, 14th November 2007.

Disappointing alas. Revel in the costume and human face of Elizabeth bestowed in the 'behind the scenes' scenes but expect all else to be a superficial, neither fish nor flesh mix of almost fairy tale, not quite romance nor action, and historical inaccuracy.

Knocked together

Movie review of "Knocked Up".
Published on facebook.com, 8th November 2007.

I was expecting great things from this following "40 Year-Old Virgin" but, I have to say, I was a little disappointed.

Certain parts were exceptionally funny, and this is definitely a brain candy rom-com rather than anything else. Even then though, it's difficult to suspend one's disbelief when the likes of Katherine Heigl pulls a munter like Seth Rogen. And, alas, without that then the premise for the whole film is gone. Without it, all's left is the enjoyable banter between Rogen and his stoner friends.

Matrices made interesting

Movie review of "The Matrix" trilogy.
Published on facebook.com, 21st October 2007.

The Matrix
One of the few good films I was lucky enough to know absolutely nothing about when I walked into the cinema, and got totally blown away.

Reeves slightly less bogus than usual, more guns and special effects than you can shake a big stick at, and an stunning woman in the form of Carrie Ann Moss, clad from head to foot in black PVC. Damn. All this wrapped into the sci-fi conspiracy theorists's wet dream. Marvellous.

Action, plot, decent character development and believable situations despite the implausibility of the plot...although is it really that implausible? After all, we are an arrogant species that rarely considers "should we" as much as "can we"?

The Matrix Reloaded
Bigger, louder, and kung-fuier than the original with the addition of a number of new characters who inhabit the matrix as rogue programs. The love story is slowly developed between Trinity and Neo, though the Matrix theory gets slightly muddier with the elusively ambiguous 'Architect' and the beginning of the sequence of events that demonstrate the connection between Neo and Agent Smith and the trilogy's ultimate crescendo one film later.

Hugo Weaving steals this one I think. "Me too."

The Matrix Revolutions
The last of the three. Hated it when I first saw it at the cinema right up to the point when I realised there was never going to be any way in which the sequel could replicate the "aha" moment of the first film.

That said, the Zion inhabitants do a good enough job of delivering a whopping body count in the final grand battle, and most captivating of all is the climax (so to speak) of Neo and Trinity's love story. Again, Weaving does a great job of erring to be almost human, a characteristic seen the first time during Morpheus' interrogation scene in the first film. And what a great scene that was by the way: "...this zoo, this prison...it's the smell!"

A satisfying end to the set of three although one wonders how they ever got the financing to make a film, "...about an unbalanced equation." The DVD has some excellent bonus features that have the effect of making one appreciate all the subtleties of casting, costume, sound, and the fact that the theory on which the movie is based is real, published, and even earned the writer a cameo role as one of the Zion counsel. I forget his name though.

FACT SHEET: Energy Conservation Statistics

• Ontario provincial government wants to create a “culture of energy conservation”.
• Conservation of energy is much easier and much cheaper than trying to increase the supply of energy - every $1 not spent on energy conservation costs $5 on new energy generation.
• Ontario residents use 15-35 per cent more energy per person than the average New York or California resident.
• The Ontario Government has set energy reduction targets of 20 per cent by 2007.
• In 2003, the residential sector accounted for 17 per cent of secondary energy use in Canada, and 16 per cent of related greenhouse gas emissions.
• Scandinavian countries enduring cold winters use less than half the energy per capita that Canadians do.
• Over 81 per cent of residential energy is used for space and water heating. Reducing the amount of energy for space and water heating can decrease energy-related greenhouse gas and air emissions, improve the health of Canadians, and save money.
• The largest growth in global Green House Gas emissions between 1970 and 2004 has come from the energy supply sector, an increase of 145 per cent.*
• About 85 per cent of Canada’s total greenhouse gas emissions are associated with energy production, distribution and consumption.*
• April 2007: Ontario Government announced province wide ban on the sale of incandescent lightbulbs by 2012.
• Canadians typically spend 90 per cent of their time indoors. According to Health Canada, indoor air quality has become an important environmental issue.
• Poor indoor air quality can be detrimental to one’s health and can cause headaches, fatigue, shortness of breath, sinus congestions, coughing, sneezing, skin irritation, dizziness, nausea, and eye, nose and throat irritation.
• Through a combination of the federal government and Ontario provincial government, EnWise can help its customers claim up to $10,000 in rebates for environmentally-friendly and even profitable, home improvements.

SOURCES: Ontario Power Authority, December 2005 Report; Ontario Ministry of Energy; www.energyshop.com; Office of Energy Efficiency: The State of Energy Efficiency in Canada Report 2006; Kingston Whig Standard-“Canadians Urged to Get Green”, Monday, February 5, 2007, p.B1; Red Deer Express, “Retrofit $$$ for Homeowners”, Wednesday, January 31, 2007, p. 31; Health Canada Website; statistics taken from a wide variety of sources including: Zerofootprint.net, David Suzuki Foundation, Ministry of the Environment, Natural Resources Canada, Office of Energy Efficiency, Powerwise and Flick Off

The Hitch Hiker's Guide...oh bollocks, forget it

Movie review of "The Hitch Hiker's Guide to the Galaxy".
Published on facebook.com, 9th October 2007.

What a shame. The 1970s/1980s BBC TV series, despite its appalling poor and now cringingly dated special effects, had better character actors, a funnier performance, and eminently more watchability. The best bit about the 2005 movie version is Stephen Fry's narration. Boo!

Super job

Movie review of "Superman Returns".
Published on facebook.com, 3rd October 2007.

Brandon Routh is superb in this remake of the 70s classic, right down Reeve's mannerisms. Spacey is as ever, extremely watchable and the role brings out a Nicholson/Shining-esque pantomime baddie performance that's steered gingerly over the line of eccentricity but just short of the likes of Alan Rickman's OTT rogue in Robin Hood.

Eastern and promising

Movie review of "Eastern Promises".
Published on facebook.com, 2nd October 2007.

Excellent composite of gangster themes from the likes of Goodfellas, The Godfather, and others but with a European backdrop. Plot cleverly links the roots of post-Soviet Bloc underworld mafia dealings with modern day London. Excellent individual performances from Mortensen and Watts in particular, and thoroughly believable screenplay that packs no punches. Left 'hanging' for a possible follow-up but excellent in its own right too, as the quasi-cliffhanger, unresolved ending makes you reflect on the film back from the beginning again as if to say, "Well, it wasn't meant to be about that so it must've been about something else....?" Strongly recommended, though note there are a couple of squeamish bits in it.

Putting the 'ass' in christmas classic

Movie review of "Bad Santa".
Published on facebook.com, 30th September 2007.

Worth watching if only for the relentless cussing of the most foul-mouthed dwarf elf santa-helper you'll probably see in movie history.

FACT SHEET: Energy Conservation Tips

EnWise Power Solutions is an environmental company built on the principles of sustainability and social responsibility. The company is committed to creating a culture of energy conservation and was established to focus its attention on the indisputable need to reduce energy consumption and harmful emissions that result.

There are a number of things that homeowners can do to help reduce their ecological footprint and do their part for the environment. EnWise has collected a number of energy conservation facts and statistics to help put energy consumption into perspective. The following tips are intended to encourage people to conserve energy and thereby save money and the environment.

Cooling / Air Conditioning

• A room air conditioner adds about 1 KWh per hour to a home’s energy usage. If it is left running for 24 hours, that will total about 24 KWh, doubling the average residential energy consumption.
• The cost to run a room air conditioner for 24 hours will average from $2 to $3 per day.
• A ceiling fan will cost about 15¢ a day.
• A portable fan about 30¢ a day.
• A central conditioner adds about 3.5 kWh per hour to a home’s energy consumption.
• If the unit runs for 24 hours, it will consume about 85 KWh, more than tripling the average residential daily energy consumption. The cost to run a central air conditioning unit for 24 hours will average $8 to $12 a day.
• An air conditioning thermostat set at 25°C or higher will use three to five per cent more energy for each degree that is set below 24°C (75°F), so set the thermostat at 25°C (77°F) to provide the most comfort at the least cost. The less difference between the indoor and outdoor temperatures, the lower one’s overall cooling bill.
• Replacing a ten year old air conditioner would amount to $60 to $80 in electrical savings per year.

Heating / Furnaces

• Using a programmable thermostat is the first step to controlling your heating costs and use.
• Moving the thermostat down just two degrees in winter and up two degrees in summer could save about 2,000 pounds of CO2 a year.
• Few household items provide as significant an energy savings, and return on investment, than an energy-efficient furnace. An energy-efficient furnace can save homeowners up to 25 per cent from their home-heating costs in just one year and reduce household greenhouse gases (GHGs) at the same time.
• When buying an energy-efficient furnace, look for a model with an energy-efficient fan motor that can save 20 to 50 per cent of the electricity needed to power a continuously operating fan motor.
• Every 1°C a thermostat is turned down over an eight hour period can amount to two per cent in savings. Average saving is $84 per year.
• If one in 10 households purchased an Energy Star furnace, 17 billion pounds of pollution would be prevented.
• When a 20-year-old furnace is replaced by a high efficiency furnace with an electronically commutated motor (ECM), a homeowner can expect to save over 40 per cent in energy or $600 per year.
• If the average sized home replaces a 63 per cent AFUE (Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency) furnace with a high efficiency furnace, the resulting savings would be over 93 per cent in energy or $480 per year.

Lighting

• Standard light bulbs lose 90 per cent of their energy as heat. New compact fluorescent (CFL) "spiral" bulbs are 75 per cent more efficient and fit in standard sockets.
• If everyone in Canada switched just one bulb in their home to a CFL, Canada would save over $73 million in energy costs that year alone.
• The average house has 27 lights:
• Each 60 watt light replaced by 15 watt CFL would amount to $13.14 per year in savings.
• Each 75 watt light replaced by 20 watt CFL would amount to $16.06 per year in savings.
• Each 100 watt light bulb replaced by 29 watt CFL would amount to $20.73 per year in savings.

Appliances and Electronics
Choose energy-efficient appliances. If one in 10 appliances were replaced by Energy Star appliances the resulting effect would be like planting 1.7 million acres of trees.

• Electronics:
• Using a power bar to turn off electronic equipment – televisions, DVD players, stereos and computers – when not in use will save thousands of pounds of CO2 a year.
• Refrigerators:
• Refrigerators are an energy-hogging home appliance. Replacing a 10-year-old refrigerator with a new Energy Star-approved model would save enough energy to light a home for more than three months and would save a homeowner an average of $120 per year.
• Beer Fridge. Don’t keep that old, inefficient refrigerator running in the basement for occasional refreshments. It could cost up to $150 or more per year in electricity.
• Washing Machines:
• A whopping 85 to 90 per cent of the energy used by washing machines is for heating the water. A lot of energy can be saved by lowering the water temperature.
• Energy Star clothes washers use one third less water, amounting to a savings of
• 50 per cent in energy and water consumption.
• Dishwashers:
• Today's dishwashers are about 95 per cent more energy efficient than those bought prior to 1972 - old dishwashers may be costing more money than buying a new one.
• Replacing a 10-year-old dishwasher would save an average of $30 per year in energy.
• Cooking:
• Using a microwave oven instead of a conventional oven can save up to 50 per cent of cooking energy costs.

Insulation, Caulking & Draft Proofing

• If all the “heat leaks” in an average Canadian home were combined, there would be a hole in the wall the size of a basketball. Proper weather stripping and caulking of doors and windows can reduce heating bills by 25 per cent.
• Home heating needs can be reduced by up to 20 per cent by eliminating drafts and leaks around the foundation, attic hatches, window air conditioners, doors, plumbing stacks, attic penetrations such as pot lights, and exterior penetrations such as the dryer exhaust, water pipes, and electrical and cable connections.
• Draft proofing the home will reduce energy bills by 15 to 20 per cent; just caulking windows and doors will save on the average of $60 per year.
• Up to 10 per cent or more can be saved on energy bills by reducing air leaks in the average home.
• Installing exterior or interior storm windows can reduce heat loss through windows by 25 or even 50 per cent.

Water
Showers:

• A low flow shower head saves as much as 60 per cent of the water used by a conventional fixture.
• Showers save hot water – a typical bath uses approximately 75 litres of hot water, while a five-minute shower with an efficient showerhead will use about half of that amount.

Toilets:

• A low-flow toilet uses six litres or less of water and can save up to 10 litres per flush.

Water Heater:

• On average, water heaters use the most energy in the home after heating. A 175-litre tank can use up to 5000 kWh per year, which amounts to almost $500 at today’s prices.
• Replacing a standard hot water tank with an instant hot water on demand system can reduce hot water heating by up to 50 per cent

Water Usage:

• Toilet flush: 6 to 30 litres per flush.
• Showering: 5.7 to 18.9 litres per minute.
• Bathtub: 115 to 190 litres per full tub.
• Washing machine: 170 to 190 litres per cycle.
• Dishwasher: 40 to 55 litres per cycle.
• Kitchen faucet: 7.6 to 11.3 litres per minute.
• Bathroom faucet: 7.6 to 11.3 litres per minute.

A good omen

Movie review of "The Omen".
Published on facebook.com, 19th September 2007.

This film is to Carl Orff as Reservoir Dogs is to "Stuck in the Middle With You". Brilliant, suspenseful horror as the viewer aches for the actors to catch up with what the viewer already knows, and the most sinister child you'll ever see in a horror film. Plus, some of the leading characters get dead in some really creative, grisly ways.

I have to say I see this as a horror classic, spread nicely over a trilogy that sees Neill doing for satanic possession what Jack Nicholson did for dementia in "The Shining".

The "Herschey's Kiss" of brain candy

Movie review of "The Long Kiss Goodnight".
Published on facebook.com, 14th September 2007.

What fun this film is.

Far from being his usual "the path of the righteous man" cool self, Samuel Jackson takes beating after beating, verbally at the hands of Geena Davis and physically at the hands of numerous baddies. Davis is vaguely convincing as the schizophrenic housewife/hitman, but the real winner is the script. Crammed full of groan-worthy cheesy one-liners, this is a total Friday night, finished a tough week of work, take your brain out and laugh film. Excellent interplay between Davis and Jackson, as well as zinger lines from Brian Cox. Add buckets of action, a plot as dubious as George Bush's foreign policy, and the MacGyver-like skills of a hitwoman scorned and the result is a very pleasurable albeit infantile 120 minutes.

Judy Cheeks: "Respect" 12" single

TNT mixes are a little disappointing, with the vocal garage A1 track and dub A2 tracks similarly basic. Great, strong vocals from JC but lacking in the accompanying beats and bassline. Bottom Dollar versions on the B-side however are stronger, chunkier, and more urgent, delivering a serious 'hands in the air and whoop it up' vocal anthem, with an equally chewy dub to follow. Good use of the vocals, piano and strings in equal measure. Nice.

Label:	Positiva
Catalog#:	12TIVDJ-028
Format:	Vinyl, 12", Promo
Country:	UK
Released:	1995
Genre:	Electronic
Style:	Garage House
Notes:
Rating:	3.1/5 (9 votes)
Submitted by:	ades

Tracklisting:

A1		Respect (The Ultimate Anthem Mix)
		Remix - Roger S.*
A2		Respect (Dream Team TNT Mix)
		Remix - Dream Team, The
B1		Respect (Bottom Dollar Club Mix)
		Remix - Bottom Dollar
B2		Respect (Bottom Dollar Dub Mix)
		Remix - Bottom Dollar

Junk Project: "Volume 1" EP

A-side is a relentless acid house driver. Strong all the way through with a couple of good breaks towards the end of the track. It's a little overly bleepy and lacking in substance but the B1 track makes up for it. Nice, building intro into a more pensive and evenly finished fast, hard, acidic house trancer. B2 track is instrumental bleeps and strings with no beat. Only three minutes or so long but handy for overlaps or to lay over the top of something beaty.

Label:	Universal Prime Breaks
Catalog#:	UPB 009
Format:	Vinyl, 12", 45 RPM, 33 ⅓ RPM
Country:	Germany
Released:	1995
Genre:	Electronic
Style:	Acid
Credits:	Written-By, Producer - Andreas Krämer , Markus Schneider
Notes:	On cover shows: "All tracks written and produced by:Thai rec. (Andreas Krämer & Markus Schneider)"
Rating:	4.5/5 (54 votes)
Submitted by:	yvan

Tracklisting:

A		Brain Tool (7:13)
B1		Tongasine (7:50)
B2		Research Future (4:13)

Seb Fontaine: "Hooked On Junk" EP

Peculiar selection of tracks here, clearly from a fan of The Police and pretty good value with six tracks crammed onto one disc.

A-side comprises the Judge Jules-esque mixes. All three are based on the similar percussive breakbeat. A1 is a painfully slow tempo percussive house track with a funky beat to it and "all that junk" vocal sample. Probably the most vocals of all six tracks. A2 moves more towards dub from vocal, and is a stepping=stone to the A3 track, which is all percussive apart from an odd organ break three quarters of the way through. This is the best track of the six in my opinion.

The B-side mixes all sample The Police in one way or another. B1 and B2 are fairly dreamy, laid back house tracks sampling from "Roxanne" B3 is a reggae mix of "Walking on the Moon" that works quite well but is so short it's practically over before it's started - mix with care! ;o)

Label:	Spot On Records
Catalog#:	seb 002
Format:	Vinyl, 12", EP
Country:	UK
Released:	1994
Genre:	Electronic
Style:	House
Notes:
Rating:	3.2/5 (5 votes)
Submitted by:	mentalist

Tracklisting:

A1		All That Junk
A2		Dance (The Night Away)
A3		Bass (The Night Away)
AA1		Sell Your Body (I)
AA2		To The Night (II)
AA3		Dubbin On The Moon

Disco Sluts: "Full Flyte" 12" single

always find it a bit of a shame when a remix single like this comes out a couple of years after the original, or even a couple of months, and the original mix or mixes are still the better one/ones. That's definitely the case here with the B1 original track still putting the other two to shame. Nice, looping, uplifting progressive house as used by the likes of Digweed and Dimitri (not from Paris, the other one).

Of the remixes, A1 uses piano well and bounces along happily enough, but just comes across as a little cheesy. The B2 track is better, with a more serious, progressive feel to it. It builds nicely too, but still isn't as good as the original on the flipside. Shame.

Label:	Dam Mad Music
Catalog#:	DAM 1011
Format:	Vinyl, 12"
Country:	UK
Released:	1994
Genre:	Electronic
Style:	Progressive House, House
Notes:
Rating:	3.8/5 (13 votes)
Submitted by:	dansauk

Tracklisting:

A1		Full Flyte (Helicopter Mix)
		Remix - Helicopter
A2		Full Flyte (Floor Federation Mix)
		Remix - Floor Federation
B		Full Flyte (Disco Sluts Original Mix)

Funny bone most likely to 'give'

Movie review of "Something's Gotta Give".
Published on facebook.com, 7th September 2007.

Hilarious, perceptive, and endearing performances from Keaton and Nicholson in this 'coming of age' meets rom-com flick. Reeves is his usual d'uh self although even he manages to be convincing enough as the younger suitor for Keaton's attentions. Peet does an OK job of supporting the main cast but this is really a Jack and Diane movie, with Jack's self-analysis and late-in-life discovered mortality/conscience and Keaton's creativity-causing grief being the two constant sources of laughs from beginning to end. Romantic enough for her, and funny enough for him with a happy ending that doesn't make the viewer cringe. Recommended.

EnWise Power Solutions: Products & Services from A to Z

Part of the EnWise business model is its ongoing assessment of all home-related environmentally-friendly products and services from around the world. This assessment enables the company to deploy best-in-class solutions when improving the energy efficiency of its customers’ homes. The products themselves are measured according to environmental industry standards such as the EnergyStar rating and EnWise installation and services teams are the most qualified in the region.

Blower Door Test, The
An EnWise service where the residential energy professional (see overleaf) creates negative air pressure inside the customer’s house, drawing air in to detect any cracks and leaks. This also establishes the total air leakage rate of a home and highlights remedies.

Compact Fluorescent Bulbs - CFLs
CFLs are simply miniature versions of full-sized fluorescents. The compact design allows them to be used in place of incandescent light bulbs. CFLs are available in a variety of shapes and screw into standard sockets. A range of wattages is available and give off light that looks just like the common incandescent bulbs, not like the fluorescent lighting that is often associated with factories and schools. Standard light bulbs lose 90 per cent of their energy as heat. New compact fluorescent (CFL) “spiral” bulbs last ten times longer than ordinary light bulbs, are 75 per cent more efficient and fit in standard sockets.

Dual-flush Toilets
Of all the water consumed in modern-day homes, toilets account for 30 per cent. Dual flush toilets enable homeowners to use as little water as is necessary every time they flush. Homeowners are also eligible to receive subsidies from the government for installation.

EcoEnergy Initiative
The EcoEnergy Efficiency Initiative, officially launched by the federal government in January 2007, encourages the construction and retrofit of more energy-efficient buildings and homes to accelerate energy-saving investments separately. The first part of this initiative that began in April 2007 includes a budget of $220 million over four years and is designed to offer homeowners and smaller businesses support and information to retrofit buildings and make them more energy efficient. Under the initiative, homeowners are eligible to receive a grant of up to $5,000 depending on the energy efficient upgrades installed in the home, providing an incentive to homeowners for improvements that reduce their energy demands. In June 2007, the Ontario government announced its commitment to match the Federal program, making homeowners eligible for up to a total of $10,000 for their energy efficiency efforts.

Energy Audit
Typically, the term energy audit is used to describe a broad spectrum of energy studies which stem from a thorough walk-through of a residence, identifying major problem areas and detailing a study of all systems and appliances that use energy in the home. The audit is intended to demonstrate where energy is being lost and where there are opportunities to increase efficiency.

EnergyStar Rating
EnergyStar is a joint program of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Energy helping us all save money and protect the environment through energy efficient products and practices. Energy efficient choices can save families about a third on their energy bill with similar savings of greenhouse gas emissions, without sacrificing features, style or comfort. EnergyStar helps consumers make the energy efficient choice.

EnWise Building Science (EBS)
EnWise Building Science (EBS) offers a comprehensive home energy audit service developed by the Government of Canada, ensuring that our customers receive the highest quality unbiased home energy efficiency assessment using the most up to date and comprehensive systems of evaluation.

EnWise Capital Corporation (ECC)
EnWise Capital Corporation is the sister company of EnWise Power Solutions, providing EnWise customers with access to financing, if so desired.

EnWise Consumer Finance Program
Financing program designed specifically by EnWise to make the completion of environmentally beneficial changes to the home as affordable as possible. EnWise has the capability to qualify homeowners on the spot for up to $50,000 in financing towards the EnWise Basic Suite, at a competitive APR and repayable over three, five, seven, or 10 years. The program is facilitated by EnWise Capital Corporation.

EnWise First Step, The
The EnWise First Step is the basic suite of products from which any home can see significant benefits in reducing their energy consumption to become energy efficient. The First Step includes the following products: a tankless hot water heater, a programmable thermostat, weatherization (weather stripping, draft proofing, caulking and insulation), an Intellidyne controller and compact fluorescent light bulbs. The average cost for the EnWise First Step is approximately $5,000 or $60/month based on bundle discounted pricing. The average consumer can save approximately $80/month on their energy bill which translates into a positive net-cash flow of approximately $20. (Results will vary for different homes).

EnWise One-Stop Shop Process
The EnWise one-stop shop solution is an easy four-step process: First, Registered Energy Professionals (REPs) conduct a home energy audit and provide a customized home energy report with recommendations of the most energy efficient suite of products and services that make sense for the homeowner and the home. Second, the EnWise Installation Team performs a certified and reliable installation on all recommended products and services. Third, if required, EnWise provides the most affordable end-to-end financing through EnWise Capital Corporation. Finally, with upgrades complete, the homeowner will start saving money on their home energy costs and reduce their impact on the environment.

Furnaces
These are another common area for energy inefficiency in the home, with the root of the problem being a poor conversion ratio of fuel to heat in below-par furnaces. This ratio is known as the annual fuel utilization efficiency or “AFUE” rating, and the Ontario Energy Efficiency Act specifies that furnaces should normally have an AFUE of between 65 per cent and 80 per cent or better, depending on the type of furnace in question. This means that between 65 and 80 per cent of the fuel entering the furnace is converted to heat and the remainder is lost through the chimney. EnWise only carries Energy Star rated furnaces that have AFUE ratings of 92 per cent or better.

Geothermal
A geothermal system consists of a geothermal unit, generally located in the basement of a house, which is connected to a Ground Loop that is buried in the earth. Water circulating through the loop pipe absorbs the heat from the ground and takes it back into the house. The geothermal unit transfers the heat to the air that is drawn through the unit and blows the warm air around the house using standard air ducts. In the summer, the constant temperature of the ground is also used for cooling the house.

Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning (HVAC)
EnWise assesses all furnaces, appliances, air conditioning units, gas and electrical loads to determine where homeowners are unnecessarily wasting money and energy.

Heat Loss/Gain Test, The
EnWise calculations made using seasonal temperatures that assess windows and the building structure for their relative energy efficiency.

Home Energy Audit
Term for the service by which EnWise determines: how much energy a home consumes; where the home is energy-inefficient; e.g. insulation, heating, cooling, lighting; where the homeowners can make improvements to increase the home’s energy efficiency and reduce utility costs. This ecoENERGY certified service takes approximately 2 hours to complete and is the first step in the EnWise four-step process.

In-Floor Heating
This is a form of “hydronic” heating where water is used as the medium for transferring heat. Hydronic systems tend to be more energy efficient than conventional forced air heating systems because the entire floor radiates heat evenly across the rooms of the home. They also negate any problems associated with drafts, or the distribution of dust etc. through ducts in the home.

Insulation
Poor insulation is a common cause of energy efficiency in the home. EnWise assesses windows, doors, air ducts and other areas during the home energy audit to identify where improvements can be made, and currently employs the ‘Zerodraft’ product line of draft proofing, weather stripping, and sprayed insulation to the benefit of its customers. In some cases EnWise will recommend replacement of the entire door or window, in which case EnWise relies on Pollard Energy Star doors and windows.

Light Bulbs
Possibly the best-known and easiest method of improving energy efficiency. Compact Fluorescent, energy-efficient light bulbs last ten times longer than ordinary light bulbs and use 75 per cent less energy.

Residential Energy Professionals (REPs)
EnWise’s in-house professionals, who are trained and certified by Natural Resources Canada to conduct the ecoENERGY home energy audit, deploy the four-step process (see previous). They make recommendations for fixes, develop an implementation schedule as well as coordinate with the government for a potential energy savings rebate, and coordinate with EnWise Capital Corporation if financing is required.

Smart Programmable Thermostats
The basic thermostat will only switch on the furnace to heat a home when the temperature in that home drops below a point specified by the homeowner. The settings are static; however, smart thermostats can also be set on timers to warm the house in advance of the homeowners waking up in the morning or arriving home in the evening. This ensures that energy is not wasted heating the house in the winter when there is no one there, or – similarly – cooling the house with air conditioning unnecessarily in the summer. EnWise employs Intellidyne Smart Controls for furnaces, air conditioning systems, and boilers in order to improve energy efficiency.

Solar* Power
Once perceived as science fiction, solar is now the fastest growing source of energy in the world. Solar energy has become mainstream for creating electricity, heating air or water in homes. As an energy source, solar is plentiful, free, and very environmentally friendly. The photovoltaic (PV) cells that act as semiconductors in the panels contain no liquids, corrosive chemicals, or moving parts, and the panels have zero emissions and require very little upkeep once installed. EnWise carries a range of solar pool kits, solar PV systems, solar roof tiles, and solar thermal systems.

Tankless Hot Water Heaters
Older or poorly functioning water heaters use a significant amount of energy as the tank endlessly heats and cools even when not in use. EnWise uses replacement ‘tankless’ or “hot water on demand” water heaters from Rinnai to improve energy efficiency in its customers’ homes.

Wind Turbines*
Wind energy systems are one of the most cost-effective, non-polluting home-based renewable energy systems. Depending on the available wind resource, a small wind energy system can reduce electricity bills by up to 100 per cent.

*Note: It is important to note that renewable energy products such as solar panels or wind turbines have the additional environmental benefit of reducing the strain on traditional energy sources that have a much worse impact on the environment, such as oil, natural gas, and coal.

About EnWise Power Solutions
Privately owned EnWise Power Solutions was created to meet the need for greater energy management efforts. EnWise is committed to fostering a culture of energy conservation by providing straightforward ways – a one-stop-shop approach – for homeowners to protect the environment, lower home energy bills and therefore save money, collect government administered energy saving rebates and improve the value, comfort and re-sale value of their home – all at the same time. The company is funded by 30 private investors, employs 80 people, and is headquartered in Toronto, Ontario. The Free* EnWise Home Energy Audit is available to homeowners in the GTA and parts of southern Ontario. Further information on EnWise Power Solutions is available on the company’s website at www.enwisepower.com.

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Dusted: "Always Remember To Respect And Honour Your Mother" Part One 12" single

The A1 mix is practically ruined by a grating, double-beat bassline that makes the song a real chore to listen to. The haunting, pensive vocal that gets top billing on the B1 mix is unfortunately splintered on the A side, and the simple but effective chord choice exemplified by the Deep Dish duo never quite makes it.

The result is a superbly moody yet optimistic deep house track on the B-side, with an unfortunate A-side mix that sounds like a work-in-progress.

Label:	Go! Beat
Catalog#:	ROLLO 4
Format:	Vinyl, 12"
Country:	UK
Released:	2000
Genre:	Electronic
Style:	Trance
Notes:
Rating:	4.7/5 (12 votes)
Submitted by:	tomix.bln

Tracklisting:

A		Always Remember To Respect And Honour Your Mother - Part One (Euphoric Mix)
		Remix - Dusted , Ibi Tijani
B		Always Remember To Respect And Honour Your Mother - Part One (Deep Dish Loves Their Motha Remix)
		Remix - Deep Dish

Jamiroquai: "Space Cowboy" 12" single

What a shame. Morales had no less than six years to remix this. And yet, the best that can be said about the '06 version of a track that's a poor choice from the album to rework in the first place, is that it's not quite as poor as the Morales mix that came six years prior.

Basically this is a 7" version stretched by three minutes, with an extra 10 or so beats per minute. Almost as dull and tasteless as the cardboard that the sleeve is made from.

Label:	Sony BMG Music Entertainment (UK) Ltd.
Catalog#:	82876 84600 1
Format:	Vinyl, 12"
Country:	UK
Released:	May 2006
Genre:	Electronic
Style:	House
Notes:	This is no.1 in a series of 5 reissues.
Rating:	3.9/5 (9 votes)
Submitted by:	Dan_Dadda

Tracklisting:

A		Space Cowboy (Mayhem & Musaphia 2006 Reconstruction Mix) (8:46)
		Remix - Musaphia & Mayhem
B		Space Cowboy (David Morales Classic Club Remix) (7:52)
		Remix - David Morales

Pretty good, but no runaway monster success

Movie review of "Monster House".
Published on facebook.com, 3rd September 2007.

Great story synopsis and not lifted directly from a great novel written 100 years ago either. Witty, original, and good transfer of kiddie mannerisms from life to the CAD screen. There's probably enough in here for adults to make a trip to the cinema light work for the parents as much as it is for the kids.

However, I think watching special effects in other animated movies has left me a little spoilt, and I couldn't help noticing the subtleties that seemed to be overlooked. For example, the water effects in 'the' house are great, but the star's bed in his own room doesn't crease when he sits on it. Maybe this was a shoestring budget, maybe I'm being too fussy, or maybe the bed was made from concrete. Regardless, this felt OK, but a little lacking to me. Fine for the younger kids though.

Green is Green

Ghost-written article for Phil Winters, EnWise Power Solutions Inc.
Published in Healthy Living magazine, Canada, September 2007.

It’s human nature to look for the quick fix. However, along with personal fitness regimes and healthy eating, the environment is one of those things that require an ongoing commitment. Hitting the gym seems hard at first but eventually pays off with that toned body. Equally, it might seem like environmentally-friendly home improvements are expensive but in reality, being green puts green in your pocket. Depending on the home improvement in question, it might pay for itself within a matter of weeks by reducing your energy bills by an equivalent amount. So, here are a few tips on how readers can commit long-term to the environment when it comes to preparing the home for the winter.

When you’ve been half-frozen on the way home it’s nice to be able to kick off the boots, drop the scarf, mittens and hat in the doorway, and stroll into a warm cosy house. However, did you know that 54 per cent of the energy consumed in the home stems from basic heating and cooling? That’s more than lighting, cooking, and all other appliances combined. So, if you and your family can reduce your energy use by the equivalent of turning down your thermostat by just two degrees, within one year you’ll have prevented 2,000 pounds of carbon dioxide from being pumped into the atmosphere. Installing programmable thermostats can help achieve this, preventing your home from using energy when no-one’s there anyway.

Think about the source of heat in the home too. If your furnace isn’t Energy Star rated, then you could be using 93 per cent more energy to heat your home than necessary. At today’s rate that’s almost $500 you could be spending on Christmas presents instead or, if you prefer, a gym membership for the following year to deal with the inevitable excesses of the festive season.

Simply weather stripping, caulking, and insulating other parts of your home properly can reduce heating bills by up to 25 per cent. Add exterior or interior storm doors and you can double that percentage. The other leaky culprits to check on are skylights, the attic, and anywhere that the home’s exterior is penetrated, such as the dryer exhaust, water pipes, and electrical and cable connections. Another 20 per cent can be saved just by sealing and insulating these.

Another great place to seek savings is that old inefficient rental water tank in your basement. Even when nobody is home, it is constantly firing up and re-heating your water, costing you money and contributing to air pollution. Replacing it with a hot-water-on-demand ‘tankless’ water heater will reduce energy use by 50 per cent and save an average of $240 per year (and take up much less space).

Also, by replacing your light bulbs with compact fluorescent lights (CFLs) you can make your lighting 75 per cent more efficient. The average home has 27 lights so specifically:

• Each 60 watt light replaced by an equivalent CFL would amount to $13.14 per year in savings;
• Each 75 watt light replaced by an equivalent CFL would amount to $16.06 per year in savings;
• Each 100 watt light bulb replaced by an equivalent CFL would amount to $20.73 per year in savings.

Note too, that if everyone in Canada switched just one bulb in their home to a CFL, Canada would save over $73 million in energy costs that year alone.

Fridges might seem an odd thing to focus on when considering the winter, but it’s not called the festive season for nothing. You might be tempted to keep your old fridge and just move it to the basement, garage, or games room. But if that fridge was built before 1997 then replacing it with an Energy Star model will save you a minimum of $120 within a year.

These changes might all seem expensive, but if you’re keen to be green then now is the time to commit, with government rebates of up to $10,000 available to homeowners who need help financing those changes for the better. Regardless, many of the home improvements that make your living healthier tend to pay for themselves over time in decreased utility bills, and in fact can make you money right away – and, it’s rare that something healthy in life leads to a healthy bank balance too, even for Christmas.

Kenlou: "Moonshine/Hillbilly" 12" single

Lordy. I've had this on my wish list for years and only JUST picked up a copy. Wow - what a blast, and what a classic.

Urgent percussive midtempo house beats kick in from the start so the tune's a doddle to mix. Then there's the midway break into a cheery, bouncy, jazzy saxaphone break guaranteed to lift the spirits of the crowd. Strong bassline, enough flange / pitch bend / other effects variety to make it worthwhile playing to the end, and a sharp, incisive bar structure that makes it fun to cut with. A staple.

Label:	MAW Records
Catalog#:	MAW 001
Format:	Vinyl, 12"
Country:	US
Released:	1995
Genre:	Electronic
Style:	House
Credits:	Engineer - Steve Barkan* Producer - Masters At Work Written-By - Kenny 'Dope' Gonzalez* , Louie Vega
Notes:	Track A: Recorded at Dungeon Tape, Brooklyn, NY. Track B: Recorded at Base Hit, NYC. Pressed at Europadisk. This release was re-issued around 2000 with different artwork.
Rating:	4.3/5 (95 votes)

Tracklisting:

A		Moonshine (7:54)
B		Hillbilly Song (6:09)
		Harmonica - William Gallison

A silent film that speaks volumes from the past

Movie review of "Silent Running".
Published on facebook.com, 8th August 2007.

How odd that a film made 35 years ago is more relevant today than it was then. Sublimely simple and idealistic at the time because it was based on issues that had only just begun to occur, it is now almost a syllabus-compulsory educational film into the long-term effect of a cavalier attitude to the planet we live on.

Excellent performance from Dern, who has more time in front of camera than the rest of the cast put together, with the possible exception of the three robots combined (Huey, Dewey and Louie), to whom the viewer finds themselves emotionally attached before the film is over to such an extent that [spoiler alert] when one robot is swept into space, tears are almost inevitable.

Mindlock: "Timewarp" 12" single

Nice three-track hard house 12". All three mixes are no-nonsense progressive but with different combinations of urgency and thoughtfulness. B2 track is probably the best of the three with a distinctive and sample-hungry "house of pain" vocal loop.

Label:	Time Unlimited
Catalog#:	TIME 042-6
Format:	Vinyl, 12"
Country:	Germany
Released:	1996
Genre:	Electronic
Style:	Hard Trance
Credits:	Producer, Written-By - Jan Friedrich
Notes:	Written and produced by Jan Friedrich at Megaflex Studios.
Rating:	4.3/5 (25 votes)
Submitted by:	DJ_Dawn

Tracklisting:

A		Time Warp
B1		Plank-Ton
B2		Air Raid

Yellow Sox: "Flim Flam" 12" single

Nice job by Diesel on this mid-tempo, very X-Press 2 stylee, funky bassline guitar dub builder. Great for an early set selection as exemplified by Scotland's Justin Robertson amongst others (aka "Lionrock"). Mix 2 takes a more wah-wah guitar route similar to Hustlers Convention or maybe Outrage. Flanging synth chord stabs end up giving it a more melancholy feel though.

On the flipside, the Original mix presents a much more disco-influenced, cheery, almost bouncy house guitar builder. Even this, though, promises more in the build-up than it delivers in the crescendo, despite it being probably the best mix on the disc. Good for a set starter record, but not one to dwell too long with. Bonus beats at the end are good for fun.

Label:	Nuphonic
Catalog#:	NUX 109
Format:	Vinyl, 12"
Country:	UK
Released:	15 Apr 1996
Genre:	Electronic
Style:	Deep House
Credits:	Arranged By, Producer, Written-By - Diesel Artwork By [Design] - Paul Allen , Tom Hingston Engineer - Ben Mitchell (tracks: A2 to B2) , James Brown (3) Guitar - Wilkingswood (tracks: A2 to B2) Mastered By - Paul Solomons
Notes:	Engineered at State 51 Studios. Mastered at Porkys Mastering.
Rating:	4.3/5 (63 votes)
Submitted by:	tom

Tracklisting:

A1		Flim Flam (8:17)
A2		Flim Flam (Faze Beats by Faze Action) (3:30)
		Remix - Faze Action
B1		Flim Flam (Faze Action Live Guitar Dub) (6:39)
		Remix - Faze Action
B2		Flim Flam (Faze Action Mix #2) (6:24)
		Remix - Faze Action

Divine inspiration for green homeowners and first-time homebuyers

Paul Daly is best-known as the home improvement hunk from W Network’s Divine Design and will be the main attraction of the Canadian Home Workshop Show in Toronto next March. However, he is also an integral part of the Canadian Home Energy Conservation Council (CHECC) Advisory Board, a body established by EnWise Power Solutions to provide Canadians with advice on environmentally-friendly home improvements.

We interviewed Paul during his busy filming schedule to give Ontarians the inside track on what to prioritize when greening your home or looking for a new one.

NC: Regarding energy inefficiency, what’s the worst case you’ve seen?
PD: “I have many horror stories. The worst was a home with windows so old that they rippled in the wind. The house only had a wood-burning fire, so the temperature in the winter was almost the same inside as out. We raised the indoor temperature by 20 degrees by simply upgrading the doors and plastic-wrapping the windows. For me, this is the big thing about EnWise – if you don’t know where to begin then in under an hour of auditing, they can advise what to do that’ll make an immediate difference to your home, and your pocket. They’ll get the work done for you too, which removes a lot of hassle.”

NC: Thanks to the Australian and BC governments people tend to think about low-energy, CFC light bulbs as a first environmental step, but does it end there when it comes to lighting?
PD: “Badly-planned lighting is one of those mistakes that affect any size home. If everyone in Canada switched just one bulb in their home to a compact fluorescent one, Canada would save over $73 million in energy costs that year alone! Before they install light fixtures homeowners should also consider how many, and what kind they really need. Some places have three times the quantity of lights they need. In addition homeowners should follow my simple rules: 1. Use dimmer switches where you can so you’re not maxing-out your electricity bill every time you switch on. 2. Check the voltage – you probably don’t need as much as you think. 3. When positioning lights, keep them at least 16 inches from the walls and 12 inches away from TV cabinets or other light sources. This will make sure light bounces back into the room, make it more even, and stop any from being wasted.”

NC: What would you recommend first-time homeowners and prospective buyers check to ensure their homes are energy-efficient?
PD: “You’re fairly safe with a new home but with older ones head down to the basement. Check that the walls are finished and insulated rather than just exposed concrete, which leaks heat like a sieve. Also check that the rest of the walls and the roof are properly insulated, preferably with blown insulation. If it’s wintertime then check the outside walls and the roof of the house; if there’s any melt, it means heat is escaping. Remember though, when it comes to home improvements, don’t start any projects you can’t finish. Or make it easy on yourself and contact EnWise.”

Word count 524.

You watched ‘An Inconvenient Truth’. You changed your light bulbs. Now what?

Tired of being told to go green but not being told how? Phil Winters understands. He is one of two conscientious entrepreneurs at the heart of EnWise Power Solutions, a company created to help foster a culture of energy conservation. EnWise provides a one-stop-shop for Ontario homeowners to protect the environment, reduce home energy bills, collect government administered energy-saving rebates, and improve the value, comfort, and re-sale of their home. EnWise offers homeowners the following energy conservation tips as a good start towards reducing their ecological footprint:

Tip #1: “To make one change that’ll cause a big reduction in the quantity of energy you consume, proceed directly to your furnace,” explains Winters, president. “More energy is consumed in the average home by heating and cooling than anything else – 44 per cent to be exact – with the next largest being a 30 per cent combination of lighting, cooking, and all other appliances.”

Tip# 2: Still got that under-utilized, clunky ‘beer fridge’ in the games room? Is your cottage kitchen dominated by a wheezy, old 1970s Coldspot? It’s time to let it go. Replacing a fridge bought before 1997 with an Energy Star-approved model could save you $120 per year, and $150 or more if it’s older than that.

Tip #3: Are you missing a basketball? No need to check the roof of the garage – hypothetically, it could have disappeared through the wall of an average Canadian home. Make sure that all your weather stripping and caulking around doors and windows is properly applied – if not, then the combined holes and gaps could add up to form a hole in your wall the size of a basketball, and you could be paying 25 per cent more on your heating bills than you need to.

EnWise offers more energy conservation tips on the web at www.enwisepower.com or call 1-888-8-BE-WISE.

Word count 318.

Ask not what your planet can do for you…

Even before the summer heat wave arrived the environment was in the media again. In June, Premier Dalton McGuinty subsidized the automotive industry with $650 million to investigate green cars. Around the same time, Mayor David Miller spruced up his plans – pun intended – for a greener Toronto, and all Ontario schools received a free copy of Al Gore’s hard-hitting documentary ‘An Inconvenient Truth’. A short time later, the Ontario government announced its commitment to match the federal government’s energy-saving rebate program, making homeowners eligible for up to $10,000 for their home efficiency efforts. This was an appealing incentive for Ontarians who were being challenged to meet McGuinty’s ambitious 2020 environmental targets, which require a 30 per cent improvement in efficiency. Clearly, there was the political will, but the way remained a mystery,

Ontarians were taking a keen interest to increase their knowledge around environmental issues. More importantly, they were also taking action by incorporating reusable canvas bags into their shopping routines, replacing standard light bulbs with CFC light bulbs, cycling to work and more. But, even for the keenest of wannabe environmentalists there were no tangible solutions between Al Gore’s “ten things to do [to help stop global warming]” and high level dreams of wind turbines and solar farms.

Only the voice of an altruistic upstart Ontario company, EnWise Power Solutions, presented a solution that would not only educate southern Ontario homeowners, it would turn their education into action. Like similar companies, it offered a ‘home energy audit’ that demonstrated in just 60 minutes where and how energy was being wasted. However, only EnWise went beyond this by introducing a truly turnkey solution, offering homeowners best-in-class recommendations to counter energy inefficiencies, installed those solutions, and even provided financing if homeowners want to fast-track their environmentalism beyond their current means. Homeowners now have access to an easy and affordable solution which can also get them up to $10,000 in those government rebates – another reason why now, a season later, EnWise remains in the words of its CEO, Peter Hwang, “…the only company in Ontario providing a convenient solution to an inconvenient truth.”

Word count 360.

Panini: "Star" EP

A1 Beats mimicked from Donna Summer's 1970s/80s disco "I Feel Love" given a housey update with sharp string stabs and a wandering string melody. A dreamy, slightly urgent, quizzical progressive house track is the result.

A2 Emptier dubbier version given a breakbeat, truncated vocal sample but little else, and never quite seems to get going as a result.

B1 Fuller version with complete, although debatable, female vocal and piano highlights with stronger strings to support.

B2 Probably the best of all the other three into one track. Teasing, gradual build from the start uses flanged vocal loops rather than the whole lyric, strings are used almost as improv but there's enough balance between the Donna Summer bassline and a better, funkier beat. Mainly instrumental but a good, curious, toe-tapping house builder all in all.

Label:	Not On Label
Catalog#:	FRUG 4
Format:	Vinyl, 12"
Country:	?
Released:
Genre:	Electronic
Style:	House, Trance
Notes:
Rating:	3.0/5 (1 vote)
Submitted by:	elisel

Tracklisting:

A1		Untitled
A2		Untitled
B1		Untitled
B2		Untitled

You've got...the same again but with a new title

Movie review of "You've Got Mail".
Published on facebook.com, 6th May 2007.

When Harry Met Sally is a classic rom-com.

Sleepless in Seattle was entertaining. By the time of this movie the Hanks & Ryan partnership had become formulaic for me, and I was longing to see Ryan in something other than a cheeseball romantic comedy. Besides, it's difficult not to be distracted by Ryan's ever-enlarging trout pout, and the genuine statistical likelihood of her lips actually popping like bubblegum in an out-take.

This is just a more-of-the-same, cheesy, mushy, will they/won't they cuddly christmas movie with the inevitable happy ending. To be honest, I'd have liked this better if Ryan, Hanks, or both of them had been crushed under a massive pile of books or run over by an amazon.com truck at the end, just to make it a bit twisted. No such luck though. Maybe there'll be a pornographic one later, "You've Got Male"...

Hadi Mahabadi, VP & centre manager, Xerox Research Centre of Canada (XRCC)

Sorry to hear that you are leaving Xerox. I and I am sure most of XRCC staff that know and worked with you are missing you. I appreciate your efforts and your contributions to XRCC and therefore to Xerox PR which were very valuable.

Thanks a lot and wish you the best in next job and beyond.

Hadi