ASM’s Year in Review – 2021
We launched ASM in April of 2021, needless to say, it has been an amazing and wild year! We’ve accomplished our goals for the first year (for the most part) and are eager to kick off 2022 and get to work on a bunch of new projects, but we’d be remiss not to take a moment and reflect on the year that made all this happen. 2021 was a difficult year, but it was not without its highlights, if Covid has done one positive thing for this World it has been to bring creativity to the surface, art (in all its varying forms and mediums) is often born from hardships, and 2021 had plenty of both! Here is ASM, et crews, year in review:
Top 3 Viewed Articles: GTA 5 TSRP, How to Get Radio Play, The Pandemic Flip
Most Viewed The Turn of Night: Season of the Dead -The Turn and In From the Left
Most Streamed Miss. Cellaneous: June 18th
Most Streamed Apres Le Bar: May 19th
Featured Artists: East York, Kanga, The NoMen, Matt Hart, Di Auger, Rivers of Nihil, The Velveteers, IAMX, Stabbing Westward
Contributors Top Tens:
Favourite TV Show – “Marvel’s What If?” I have been waiting for this for most of my life. Since I was a wee lad, I’ve read Marvel comics. The “What If” series looks at alternate takes on the classic stories we know and love. Narrated by the Watcher, these tales are vastly different even if they are based on one minor decision.
Favourite Youtube Channel – Acura Amanda. This very real show follows the exploits of a brave young lady in the state of Florida named Acura Amanda who seeks transparency and fairness among law enforcement and city/government employees. Along with her allies like American Amy and Sunshine Sam, Amanda is one of many First Amendment auditors who stand up against corruption. Of course, there are also auditors of note in California, the Carolinas, and New York state, but Amanda was my introduction to this street level style of crime fighting. Don’t spew false narratives…..and don’t be a LIAR!
Favourite Publication – Corpse Paint The World. The CPTW crew are among the most beloved of Anti-Social Media’s co-conspirators. Month in and month out, they produce a quality old school ‘zine chock full of bizarre, esoteric, and often entertaining knowledge like a punk rock “Farmer’s Almanac.” Do I write a monthly story for them? Yes. And those stories are definitely true!
Favourite Podcast – Mike’s Mystery Mansion. This show has it all and features real stories from real people. UFO’s, ghosts, serial killers…..the entire gamut of creepy and supernatural. Check it out, if you dare!
Favourite Live Music – Frightlight. They had been laying low for a bit, but Northern ON horror punks Frightlight reanimated for a headlining show at the Northern Vibe festival in August. True to form, they unleashed those classic originals and tossed in a couple of Misfits covers to satisfy even the most hardcore Halloween rock’n roller! Sadly, this would be their final show with longtime drummer, Chris Thompson, who passed away in November. May he RIP, but long live the legacy of Frightlight!
Favourite Band – Dead Heat. This crew are a part of the new school of thrash metal and holy hell it’s wild! Go….go now! You must check them out this instant!
Favourite Netflix show – This is a tie. Sort of. Let me tell you that Midnight Mass was excellent in that they had a great story, cast, and production. The nods to Salem’s Lot were more than enough to reel me in. However, in my heart I know it’s Cobra Kai. I love every second of the karate fighting for the soul of the valley and have to wonder…..would Midnight Mass have ended differently if Johnny, Daniel, and Kreese opened dojo’s on that island? Please, get Ralph Macchio on the phone so we can do a “What If?” on this one!
Favourite Store(s) – There’s a few. First of all, my old stomping grounds of Parkdale ON has an amazing store called the Budget One Stop (1281 Queen St. W). If you think it looks like an independent dollar store, you’re sort of correct. Keep walking to the back of the store, past the tools, cookware, and canned goods. It’s a veritable motherload of tools used in spiritual and esoteric practices. Seven Day candles, religious icons, sprays and other goods for magick and warding. You won’t ever expect it. Secondly, the Happy Soul. At some point along Bloor West, you’ll find yourself in the “metaphysical district.” The Happy Soul (961 Bloor St W),The Hermit’s Lamp (1076 Bloor St W), and Anarres Apothecary (Also 1076 Bloor St W). Crystals, tarot decks, oracle cards, altar cloths….I’m drooling. Lastly, World of Posters (664 Queen St W). These cats have provided me with some of my all-time favourite band tees and posters that adorn the walls of my home. These locally owned shops deserve your love and make for great gift shopping during the Holiday season!
Metaphysical Ideals – Vincent Pitisci Tarot. A unique and refreshing take on the mystical tarot cards, Pitisci offers the benefit of his 50 plus years as a reader and three decades as a teacher of card divination with an extremely logical explanation as to why the cards work. His work on conceptual blending with tarot is the first of its kind and much of this knowledge is free. Aside from the incredible amount of knowledge shared on his Youtube channel and books he has written on the topic, he also offers advice on becoming a professional reader. To top it off, he has even created a version of the legendary “Marseille” tarot deck that combines his own artistry with tarot tradition.
Favourite Beer – Cameron’s Cosmic Cream Ale. I might not have made it through this pandemic if it weren’t for this delicious beverage that’s brewed in Oakville, ON. ‘Nuff said!
1: Squid Game (Netflix)
2: Wet Leg
3: Loki (Disney+)
4: St. Vincent – Daddy’s Home
5: Boy Harsher – Tower
6: Duran Duran Rio, 33 1/3 book
8: Forza Horizon 5 (XBox)
9: The Green Knight
10: Curious Creatures (podcast)
ALBUMS
1. Rivers Of Nihil – The Work
2. Garbage – No Gods No Masters
3. Deafheaven – Infinite Granite
4. KANGA – You And I Will Never Die
5. Gost – Rites Of Love Reverence
GAMES
1. Deathloop, Arkane Studios
2. Far Cry 6, Ubisoft Toronto
SERIES
1. Narcos: Mexico (season 3), Netflix
2. Rick And Morty (season 5), Adult Swim
3. F Is For Family (season 5), Netflix
Music: Controversial, Di Auger, Matt Hart, Mesmer’s Ghost.
TV: You, Fear Street series, Squid Game, The Wheel of Time, The Witcher
Video Games: GTA 5 Online, Minecraft, The Forest, and 7 Days to Die.
Video Game Let’s Plays: The Last of Us 2, Little Nightmares 2
YouTube: Raptor (Gaming), theRadBrad, Nerdecrafter, Celina SpookyBoo, Royalty Soaps, and Jacksepticeye and Markiplier.
Books: My fav book of 2021 is also an oldie, Noir by Christopher Moore. I’ve slowly found myself working through his entire back catalogue and this one really entertained. Shortly after I started reading it, Moore announced that he is releasing a follow-up in 2022!
Twitch: 2021 being my first year on Twitch, I have not experienced a lot of what it has to offer just yet, but did find myself rather addicted to the early days of TSRP GTA 5 roleplaying, notable streamer favourites for me being LordMinion777 and Buffalo Prime. For music, I highly recommend checking out Hate Mior and LiveEvil Productions. There are many great streamers out there, and I hope in 2022 I am able to spend more time catching streams and finding more favourites.
Tarot: I try to make it an active goal in my life to grow, learn, and to find myself. 2021 is no different. Looking back, this year was far more productive in this area than most others. 2021 I found myself pushing my former comfort zones and trying new things, often those things I had always *wanted* to learn more about but somehow managed to avoid finding the time for it. The more obvious and impactful this year being: Tarot, though I am FAR from skilled yet, I have learned more about this art than any year previously, and find myself diving into it on a near daily basis. I have found my collection of decks growing and find myself really looking forward to continuing down this road for 2022.
Herbalism: Second to that, I have found myself really exploring Herbalism a lot more. I have always had an interest but in years previous I couldn’t find the time (or money) to start experimenting. In the last couple of months I’ve made my first medicinal tinctures, and have plans for a lot more. I can say now with full confidence, the only real way to learn either is to pick it up and GO. Action is learning. This is often said, and with good reason, of magick in many cultures. And I finally really understand why. And through learning all of this and through doing, I find myself.
Oil Painting: 2021 was an insanely massive year creatively, if you include ASM, designing from the ground up collectively as a group, to managing and coordinating teams at work (this takes no small amount of creativity, trust!), to art. Though artistically, it has been painful for me this year to not be exploring and creating with resin, or even being able to play with acrylic pouring techniques, I have done something utterly huge, I attempted oil painting for the first time. This was massive for me, at 42 years of age. I hated it, but I DID it. And now I can happily go back to acrylics.
• My Kundalini Yoga Teacher Training
• My new apartment
• My job as a yoga teacher
• My new album in the works
• Anti-Social Media dot ca
• Yerba Maté
• My family & friends
• My renewed perspective on social media use
• My personal evolution
• The fact that we can hug people again
10. Murder She Wrote. I am rediscovering a show that has now become a comfort watch for me. It has charm, mystery, closure and one of the most graceful women on our planet – Angela Lansbury. Slightly cheesy, but full of character and therefore a must watch for those of us looking for comfort during a difficult time. Not from 2021, but it has soothed my soul throughout this year.
9. Can you believe 42 dinosaurs have been uncovered this year alone? My favourite being the remains of a Supersaurus. Likely the world’s longest dino at about 137 ft found in Colorado. There are previous finds of this dinosaur including one nicknamed “Jimbo” and the other “Goliath”.
8. Grow: Song of the Evertree – can be played on multiple video game consoles. A stunning adventure that encourages playful curiosity.
7. A research Study found that adopted cats are less stressed in families who have children with Autism. A small study that leaves me feeling hopeful for shelter animals around the world.
6. The Witcher Season Two. Which was full of action, magic, chaos and a humorous singing bard. After a long long wait, my heart is happy. Highly recommend this show, even if the beginning seems entangled and confusing. I promise it will all make sense.
5. One very exciting accessible invention from this year is the Permobil Explorer Mini. This mobility aid is specific to children aged 1 through 3 years. This device gives children freedom to explore, while encouraging postural strength and control. A big step towards a more inclusive future with little ones. Plus, they look adorable sitting in it, you should google search it asap.
4. Brookesia nana, also named B. nana, is an amazing new find. Scientists have discovered a tiny new species of chameleon from Madagascar. It is the size of a sunflower seed and fits on the tip of a finger, likely the smallest reptile on Earth.
3. The Wheel of Time. Yes, another tv show mention – this year was filled with a lot of television distractions from the dumpster fire of the world. Based on one hell of an amazing book series; this show captures your interest quickly and does not let you down.
2. Do you have a particular sound that makes you instantly feel at ease? For some it is a cracking campfire and for others it is the sound of leaves rusting in the wind. While driving under a bridge during a heavy rainstorm, I found my new favourite sound.The windshield wipers were frantically moving back and forth, back and forth as the rain was pounding loudly against the glass. As I passed under the bridge – the vehicle went completely silent. Then a moment later, the thumping of the rain returned. At that moment, I felt so much peace. Every time I drive under a bridge during the rain, I savor the short minute of silence.
1. Wet Dream by Wet Leg. Everything about this song and music video gives me a badass attitude to kick the day’s ass. I can’t help but loudly sing along and dance off beat without a care.
