Like so many other people who work in the service industry, I miss quite a few weekend shows that I would love to attend. If I do get off by eleven, it's usually difficult to make it out to more than one event so needless to say, I was pleased to see that Crystal Castles were playing a second show at Wrongbar.

I'd like to see more bands do a couple of shows but I doubt that many would be up to the task. It's kind of like going out Friday when you know you're doing something Saturday; sure you can try to maintain your buzz at a certain level but the odds lean towards a certain amount of weariness beginning to seep in through the cracks of your party-façade.

The first show had been huge and I'm sure many people had no doubt the second one was going to be just as good. Massive hype notwithstanding, Ethan Kath and Alice Glass are very, very good at what they do and even though my exposure to the band was limited to numerous music blogs singing their praises, I had that jumpy feeling in my stomach that you get when you know you're about to see a fantastic show.

After a brief hiatus TnO is back with a special Valentine's Day post. Mind you, this post isn't for those of you who knew what you were doing on the 14th a month ago. This isn't even for you poor bastards who are desperately searching for something, anything, to impress your significant other with and show them that you care.

This is for those of you who have complicated feelings about this day; that silent majority. I feel that I am qualified to speak to you because I have been a not-so-proud card-carrying member for most of my life.

Although the blizzard that had Toronto in its slushy grasp undoubtedly prevented many a party-goer from reaching their intended destination, I determinedly headed back to one of my favorite spots in the city for a chance to check out the premiere of Three Man Dance Party as they opened for Candy Coated Killahz at The Boat as part of the monthly show put on there by Rollin' & Scratchin'.

I had no idea what to expect. Jeffrey's (half of TMPD) house parties always had great tunes (and they'd put out a fantastic mixtape last summer that I still listen to) but even listening to some of the new tracks on their website didn't properly prepare me for the spectacle that was about to ensue.

God knows I've tried... monogamy I mean. Girl after girl, all of them possessing wonderful characteristics; many of which put together would make most guys bend down on one knee and pop the big question.

But not me.

I still want that special someone, don't get me wrong, but I want that someone to want more than just me. I want them to get off on that first time when you know you're interested in someone else and pursue it with the full knowledge that they have my approval and that it turns me on just the same.

Maybe I'll be there and maybe I won't but I want them to enjoy it just as much as I would when I'm in the same position next month.

Sounds simple, right? I mean, two people who are committed to each other should be able to explore various intimacies with other people with the full knowledge and approval of their partner, right?

It's anything but.

Making New Year's resolutions is a time-honored tradition dating back to the Babylonians although our present-day resolutions tend to be more focused on things like being nice to your family than returning borrowed farm equipment.

While regular resolutions are more than fine, this is a sex column and I'm interested in commitments that could improve that area of our lives. With or without a partner, it's really easy to get stuck in a rut and a new year is perfect opportunity to try some new things or, at the very least, brush the dust off of your old habits.

So, without further ado, I present eight sexual New Year's resolutions. (Why eight? I didn't want to do ten and I couldn't think of twelve.)

Ideally, Public Service Announcements (PSAs) serve as an alternative to the majority of media advertisements, offering information to a public who then make informed decisions on issues affecting themselves or their communities.

Realistically-speaking, savvy viewers know that a lot of PSAs are put in place to promote an agenda, and while the groups behind them are sometimes well-intentioned, this does not often translate into a well-crafted piece. How many teenagers really pay attention to those anti-drug PSAs? It's easy to pick on egregious offenders like the Partnership for a Drug-Free America or Just Say No (thankfully, in Canada we generally have more balanced fare from Mothers Against Drunk Driving) but spots from industries targeting external criticism are equally problematic.

Anyone remember the clips the MPAA used to play before films (I couldn't actually find an original copy of that bit so this one on Youtube, modified by some pro-piracy folks to be their own PSA, will have to do. Incidentally, try searching on Google for PSAs from the RIAA or the MPAA and you will find nothing. I guess they do a really good job of protecting that particular intellectual property.)?

With this broad range of various entities promoting their agendas, running by themselves or piggybacking on cartoons, it's a wonder anything worthwhile ever gets said; a sad state of affairs considering the supposedly-altruistic nature of the genre.

This is why it's so refreshing when a PSA comes along that slaps the viewer upside the head, jolting them out of their comfortable evening spent in front of the TV. They do this by removing the naïve, it-couldn't-happen-to-me abstract blindfold that many PSAs employ and presenting you with a powerful dose of what I like to call "alternative reality."