portland pause
Posted on May 31st, 2025 –
Raisin Gang: Marissa Caldwell
Posted on May 30th, 2025 –
With another couple of weeks gone it appears that my threat of an exposé wasn’t sufficient so now I’m forced to take the next step. Keep in mind that this is all on you, Raisin Gang — YOU FORCED ME TO DO IT!
Next target: Marissa Caldwell
I first noticed this Gang member when she impersonated Babette “The Fishin’ Magician” Sinclair. The following video aptly demonstrates why the cruel and deceptive Raisin members need to be exposed:
You may have noticed another Gang member, Thomas P. Conway, posing as Marissa’s hapless sidekick. They’re all in it together!
Should there be any doubt regarding the Gang’s callousness, here’s another video in which they harass writer, actor, and director Dan Ramos:
There’s yet another clip in which Marissa confirms her sadistic tendencies but I’m sure that by now you get the idea. It should therefore come as no surprise that after she split from the Gang she spent some time producing filthy corporate videos and luring children overseas. Proving that evil knows no bounds, she’s currently an intellectual property lawyer.
Maybe I’m nuts to make such an offer but I’m still willing to reel this series in if anyone from the Gang reaches out to me. However, time’s running out and my patience will soon disappear!
god garden
Posted on May 16th, 2025 –
Raisin Gang: Thomas P. Conway
Posted on May 14th, 2025 –
It’s been well over a month and no one from the Raisin Gang has bothered to get in touch so … I’m making good on my threat.
Might as well start with the guy I featured in the initial post: Thomas P. Conway
Here he is, ostensibly auditioning for Saturday Night Live as the cast of Seinfeld:
Despite the stellar performances I don’t believe Tom was ever included in the SNL cast.
Shame.
He did nevertheless give us a great send off as the late Andy Rooney.
I was able to find a bit more info on Tom and it turns out he’s not dead or starving in a gutter somewhere. In fact, he ended up being a talented TV writer (and comedian), despite his dyslexia.
Moreover, he did a great impression of Sean Connery which, to me, suggests that his focus on writing is simply a front for sublimated impersonation, even if only in the form of voice-overs.
As previously mentioned, I strongly encourage Tom to get in touch before I expose any of his compatriots in a similar fashion. Y’all been warned!
Old Empire
Posted on May 8th, 2025 –
I remember walking by Empire Office Equipment many years ago when its Queen West storefront displayed quaint and dusty office hardware that had been stacked there, seemingly, for convenience rather than for display. The grimy windows and murky interior made it hard to see inside but it appeared to be packed with nicotine-infused business furniture and apparatus that weren’t modern even at that time.
The place didn’t ever look open to casual foot traffic or, for that matter, ever actually open at all. Posted business hours were nowhere to be found and given the stuff perennially piled up against the front door it now seems appropriate that all that remains today is found in an alley at the back.
/sectionb: NAVEL INTELLIGENCE
Posted on April 15th, 2025 –
… in which the Section arrive at the boathouse where Arti and Cornelius furnish them with a warm welcome, and a few answers. Sort of.
no loitering
Posted on April 13th, 2025 –
If it wasn’t for bureaucracy this city would be no fun at all.
Hankerin’ for a hamsammitch? Why not?
Posted on April 6th, 2025 –
Not long after I got comfortable with TCL I happened upon a local comedy troupe called The Raisin Gang. Unfortunately, their official website is now defunct, their X account hasn’t been updated since it was called Twitter, and little remains of The Gang but their YouTube channel.
I did a little expectant spotlight piece a while back but, to my discredit, I have not done much to follow up since then. In my defense, neither did they. Every once in a while, though, I flash back to the first Raisin Gang video I ever saw and wonder whatever happened to them.
The concepts were ahead of their time, the production values were great, the skits were well written, and the execution was excellent. For a while there I thought Toronto might have a “new media” Kids in the Hall on our hands.
Alas, as far as I know this never materialized. Maybe it was bad timing. Could be a lack of follow-through. Possibly the participants got into the hooch a wee bit too often.
Perhaps they’d care to contact me to explain themselves. As an added incentive, failure to do so will result in more videos being posted at unspecified future times, possibly with additional context.
And yes, that is a threat.
... with pictures
... with sounds
... with videos
... with opinions
... that's shorter
... that's longer
