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‘Monty Python and the Holy Grail’ 40th Anniversary Blue Ray Box Set Contains A Working Catapult And Farm Animals

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Watch John Cleese, Michael Palin, Terry Jones and Terry Gilliam demonstrate how to make the most of the new limited edition ‘Monty Python and the Holy Grail’ 40th anniversary box set, available for pre-order now on Amazon, and in stores this October.

The box set includes all-new artwork by Terry Gilliam, an all-new 30-minute “Monty Python and the Holy Grail at the 2015 Tribeca Film Festival,” a Q&A with Terry Gilliam, Terry Jones, Michael Palin, John Cleese and Eric Idle, hosted by John Oliver and recorded live at the Beacon Theatre in New York City, and features collectible castle packaging with real catapult action and rubber farm animals, plus all-new exclusive introductory letters from Terry Gilliam and Terry Jones.

2015 Gold/Platinum Year End Review In Canada

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2015 was a landmark year for Canadian artists dominating the international pop music spotlight. Within Canada, Canadian artists saw an increase in Gold/Platinum certifications over 2014, with many of the 2015 releases expecting further certification milestones in 2016.

70 albums were certified Gold in Canada this year, 30 of which were released by Canadian artists (up from 20 in 2014). 31 albums were certified Platinum, 11 of which were by Canadian artists (up from 9 in 2014).

The full list of albums and tracks certified in 2015 in Canada can be viewed here.

Justin Bieber had the highest certified Canadian album released in 2015 with his album Purpose earning a Double Platinum certification, as well as it’s accompanying singles “Sorry,” “What Do You Mean?” and “Where Are U Now?”

Canadian tracks released in 2015 also certified Double Platinum include The Weeknd‘s tracks “The Hills” and “Earned It,” as well as Shawn Mendes‘ “Life Of The Party.”

Bruce Cockburn‘s classic 1993 holiday album Christmas is the highest certified Canadian album in 2015, joining Taylor Swift‘s 1989 and Josh Groban‘s Noel as the year’s highest certified albums at 6X Platinum.

117 tracks were certified Gold in Canada this year, with 42 being Canadian artists (up from 21 in 2014). 19 Canadian tracks were among the 76 Platinum certifications, up from 10 in 2014.

The highest certification for a song in 2015 was Mark Ronson ft. Bruno Mars’ “Uptown Funk” at 9x Platinum, while OneRepublic‘s “Counting Stars” was the second highest certified track at 8X Platinum. Ellie Goulding “Love Me Like You Do,” X Ambassadors “Renegades” and Wiz Khalifa “See You Again” (ft. Charlie Puth) hold the highest certifications for songs released in 2015 at Triple Platinum.

Via Music Canada

Insider’s view of 1930s radio studio showing production of dramatic sound effects

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A boy lies on his bed (wearing a white shirt and a necktie), listening to a radio western. We see the images the radio creates in his mind, then we cut to the studio, where we see that this whole fantasy world is created at a frantic pace by announcers in three-piece suits and sound-effects technicians operating incredibly complicated jury-rigged devices. We get to see such things as one guy doing both voices in a conversation, an adult do a very convincing impersonation of a child’s voice, guys playing cowboys impersonating the sound of conversing while riding by playing “horsie” while reading their lines, and all the weird stuff used to make sound effects. Since this is a Jam Handy picture, the good guys catch the bad guys in the end because the good guys are in a Chevrolet and the bad guys are only on horses.

A real gem of a short. Watch it the second time with your eyes closed.

Twitter Invests In Muzik, The High-End Headphone Startup

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Here is something you didn’t expect to hear about coming out of CES this year: Twitter has invested in Muzik, a “connected headphone” company.

This isn’t an Apple-Beats sized-deal — Muzik says it has raised $18 million over a couple of years, and Twitter is one of several investors — but it’s still an interesting one. And whileTwitter has been putting money into other companies via its Twitter Venture arm, this is Twitter’s first investment in hardware.

Muzik makes wireless headphones that give users the ability to control the tunes they’re hearing by swiping on buttons on the outside of the device.

Via ReCode

Psychologists Answer The Question: “What’s The Most Profound Thing a Patient Has Ever Said to You?”

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Someone on Reddit asks the psychiatrists and psychologists of Reddit: “What is the most profound or insightful thing you’ve ever heard from a patient with a mental illness?” Here are some of the most profound responses:

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How to Build a Death Star According to a NASA Engineer

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NASA’s Brian Muirhead explains how to build a Death Star and tells us what it would really be like to fly past a flurry of asteroids.

Take A Look Back With This Winnipeg Tourism Video From 1964

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Let’s start the year off right, with a look back. In this case, Winnipeg, Manitoba, in this Manitoba Department of Industry and Commerce-produced film hosted by the late Ed McCrea, whose son found it in storage and whose grandson shared it to YouTube.

Hey Rosetta!, Jenn Grant, Fortunate Ones, and City Natives among initial performers announced for 2016 East Coast Music Awards Gala

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Hey Rosetta!, Jenn GrantFortunate Ones, and City Natives are among the initial performers announced for the 2016 East Coast Music Awards Gala. The gala, co-hosted by Ashley MacIsaac and Heather Rankin, takes place on Thursday, April 14 at Centre 200 in Sydney, NS and will be broadcast live on Eastlink TV. The evening will also feature a special tribute to the late Ron Hynes.

On the heels of their JUNO nominated and Polaris Prize short-listed album, SeedsHey Rosetta! returns with Second Sight, a record that sees the orchestral driven seven-piece band from Newfoundland experimenting with their sound and expanding their sonic horizons. Blending haunting and distinctive vocals, instantly resonant choruses, and shifting musical textures, the band describes their latest effort as “warm, yet mysterious.”

A heralded singer and songwriter from Prince Edward Island, Jenn Grant has been touring steadily around the globe in support of her JUNO nominated album, Compostela. Teetering on psychedelic folk and staying true to her intricate melodic storytelling, the album is full of lush and adventurous offerings.

Newfoundland-based folk-pop duo Fortunate Ones endear audiences with wide-eyed energy, pragmatic optimism, and an earnest mission for connection. Their debut album, The Bliss, released on JUNO Award-winning songwriter Rose Cousins’ record label Old Farm Pony Records, features two songs that hit #1 on CBC Radio 2’s Top 20 and took home the 2015 Canadian Folk Music Award for Vocal Group of the Year.

With members from New Brunswick and Nova Scotia, City Natives combine their cross-provincial talents to create a sound “reminiscent of Los Angeles’ grittier hip-hop, easily mainstream and full of the ego and heavy bass lines that make great rap” (Polymic). Their album Red City earned the group the 2015 East Coast Music Award for Aboriginal Recording of the Year.

Early bird Gala tickets, early bird wristbands, and early bird festival passes are on sale until December 24 at http://ecma.com/festival/tickets. For a limited time, Gala tickets are $39.50, wristbands are $65, and festival passes are $160. VIP Passes are also on sale for $350. All prices include tax and fees.

Award nominees and initial showcasing artists will be announced on Tuesday, January 26 at 11:00am. The announcement takes place in the Membertou Trade and Convention Centre in Sydney, NS.

Canada’s first-ever Pride Month to feature expanded Toronto-wide programming

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The countdown is on! With only five months until the kick-off of Pride Toronto, the city’s most vibrant and inclusive arts and cultural festival and North America’s largest Pride celebration, preparations are well underway to deliver the most dynamic, inclusive and expansive programming ever.
Canada’s first-ever Pride Month will launch on June 1, 2016, featuring extended programming and provocative events throughout the city, culminating with the 10-day Pride Toronto festival, June 24 – July 3. Pride Month will begin with its inaugural city proclamation and the raising of the Rainbow flag at Toronto City Hall, set to occur for the first-time at the beginning of June.
Pride Toronto’s major cultural partners will offer expanded installations, festivals and programs. Signature events delivered by prominent institutions like the Art Gallery of Ontario, Buddies In Bad Times Theatre, Inside Out, the Royal Ontario Museum, OCAD University, Ryerson University and the University of Toronto will spark meaningful conversations with new audiences across the city. Leading community partners include The 519 Community Centre and PFLAG Canada.
 On July 3, 2016, Pride Toronto will make Canadian history with the first time a sitting Prime Minister participates in the annual Pride Parade. Come and join the leaders of the municipal, provincial and federal government who have the Parade in their calendars already — Toronto Mayor John Tory, Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.
On the 35th anniversary of the infamous Bathhouse Raids that incited mass protests and spurred the development of Pride in Toronto, Pride Month and the Pride Toronto festival will reflect on the community’s victories since 1981 and explore the issues that still require change, commitment and focus.
Pride Toronto is on track to make the 2016 Guinness Book of World Records and claim the title of the World’s Largest Drag Queen Stage Show from the Gay Softball World Series in Columbus, Ohio, which set the record in 2014 with 55 participants. Don’t miss DRAG ON! — the marathon extravaganza at Yonge-Dundas Square on July 2.
The final weekend of the 2016 Pride Toronto festival will vaunt exquisite beauty and art with an immersive Middle Eastern cultural performance on Pride Toronto’s stage. For the Canada Day festivities, extend a warm, patriotic welcome to newly arrived queer Syrian refugees.
Pride Toronto’s 2016 festival will run Friday, June 24 – Sunday, July 3, 2016. Pride’s 2016 festival theme, honourees, artists and additional signature events will be announced shortly.
In a year of progress and transformation with Executive Director Mathieu Chantelois, Pride Toronto released its 2016-2021 strategic plan, Beyond 20/20, and currently boasts its largest-ever Trans representation on the Board of Directors.
Download the strategic plan and annual report and learn more at www.PrideToronto.com.