...not to vexation, but to discussion! Roslyn's brother Jeremy recently posted his thoughts on the documentary "The Great Global Warming Swindle," and I did a hostile takeover of the comments with my links to studies and my thoughts on the arguments. Please, take a read, and leave your thoughts (whatever your opinion may be). Not only will this richen the discussion, it will balance the 2000 + word monopoly I hold on the comments section.
go here.
Monday, April 23, 2007
Friday, April 20, 2007
hinterlands: recent discoveries
Happy Friday! Here are some recent musical discoveries that have delighted my ears.
I read an article about Wolf Parade a short while ago. They were formed in Victoria, BC, and now play out of Quebec, as does just about every hip young Canadian band these days. Wolf Parade
I downloaded a couple of songs and thought they were all right. I even played them for Ryan, who though they were all right. This was over a month ago. Then two days ago Ryan was going on about this great new band he'd found who were formed as a warm-up act for Arcade Fire that sounded a bit like Victoria band Hot Hot Heat. He'd found their entire album "Apologies to the Queen Mary". He couldn't remember what they were called but hearing one of the tracks was enough to jog my memory and I started yelling that I'd found them first. Like it matters; I'm still on the "at least one year behind everyone hip" path of musical discovery. Anyway, thanks Ryan! The whole album is pretty great.
some videos and things here
One of my co-workers is crazy about all kinds of music and every so often he puts a few mp3s on our server (ssh). The next two offerings were discovered this way:
Calexico: I knew of them because of their collaboration with Iron and Wine and they're not exactly a new band - they're going on 10 years. "You and Me" off Garden Ruin has the distinction of moving me to tears while at work. Usually only Pat Metheny can do that. Garden Ruin is described as "more mainstream" than their previous work but I found the album quite eclectic, from folk to country to rock to big-band horns to world-music with lyrics in english, spanish and french. It improves with each listen.
the Besnard Lakes are another husband-wife duo out of Montreal (now with some additional band members). Their sound is unlike anything I've ever heard (more accurately, unlike any collage of existing musical styles I've ever heard): imagine a girl and a guy channeling the beach boys in their vocals while riffing in the style of the Doors and then go listen to Disaster (from The Besnard Lakes are the Dark Horse) on their webpage. It's a fantastic mashup. The main fun of their album is hearing which part of rock n roll history they'll emulate next.
Happy listening!
I read an article about Wolf Parade a short while ago. They were formed in Victoria, BC, and now play out of Quebec, as does just about every hip young Canadian band these days. Wolf Parade
I downloaded a couple of songs and thought they were all right. I even played them for Ryan, who though they were all right. This was over a month ago. Then two days ago Ryan was going on about this great new band he'd found who were formed as a warm-up act for Arcade Fire that sounded a bit like Victoria band Hot Hot Heat. He'd found their entire album "Apologies to the Queen Mary". He couldn't remember what they were called but hearing one of the tracks was enough to jog my memory and I started yelling that I'd found them first. Like it matters; I'm still on the "at least one year behind everyone hip" path of musical discovery. Anyway, thanks Ryan! The whole album is pretty great.
some videos and things here
One of my co-workers is crazy about all kinds of music and every so often he puts a few mp3s on our server (ssh). The next two offerings were discovered this way:
Calexico: I knew of them because of their collaboration with Iron and Wine and they're not exactly a new band - they're going on 10 years. "You and Me" off Garden Ruin has the distinction of moving me to tears while at work. Usually only Pat Metheny can do that. Garden Ruin is described as "more mainstream" than their previous work but I found the album quite eclectic, from folk to country to rock to big-band horns to world-music with lyrics in english, spanish and french. It improves with each listen.
the Besnard Lakes are another husband-wife duo out of Montreal (now with some additional band members). Their sound is unlike anything I've ever heard (more accurately, unlike any collage of existing musical styles I've ever heard): imagine a girl and a guy channeling the beach boys in their vocals while riffing in the style of the Doors and then go listen to Disaster (from The Besnard Lakes are the Dark Horse) on their webpage. It's a fantastic mashup. The main fun of their album is hearing which part of rock n roll history they'll emulate next.
Happy listening!
Tuesday, April 17, 2007
the sun, here it comes
I was in the Vancouver Sun Run this Sunday!
here is my time. I was ahead of Ryan (who ran alongside me the whole way) by 0.01 of a second! For the record, he could have finished faster but chose to run with me. Awww.
Overall, I'm happy that we finished under an hour (our goal) but we've definitely had faster runs. We waited over an hour in the starting lineup and got completely numb with cold as we were dressed in our running t-shirts and shorts. I could barely feel my limbs for the first 3 k. As a result of the freezing (or the hour wait?) I desperately had to use the washroom at the first opportunity, which led to a 5-7 minute wait at the port a potty lineup. Bah. I had an injured knee, which spasmed near the finish, and necessitated a short break. The constant dodging and weaving around other runners took its toll, too. I was suprised at how much people bunched up on the final hill before the finish - sprinting was simply not possible.
Without the bathroom break we definitely could have hit 55 - on a very good day we could have made 52 minutes or lower. I'm already looking into other 10 k runs - I had a blast training for this one and I want to keep running, after my knee heals up. I'm proud of us for finishing our first 10k!
here is my time. I was ahead of Ryan (who ran alongside me the whole way) by 0.01 of a second! For the record, he could have finished faster but chose to run with me. Awww.
Overall, I'm happy that we finished under an hour (our goal) but we've definitely had faster runs. We waited over an hour in the starting lineup and got completely numb with cold as we were dressed in our running t-shirts and shorts. I could barely feel my limbs for the first 3 k. As a result of the freezing (or the hour wait?) I desperately had to use the washroom at the first opportunity, which led to a 5-7 minute wait at the port a potty lineup. Bah. I had an injured knee, which spasmed near the finish, and necessitated a short break. The constant dodging and weaving around other runners took its toll, too. I was suprised at how much people bunched up on the final hill before the finish - sprinting was simply not possible.
Without the bathroom break we definitely could have hit 55 - on a very good day we could have made 52 minutes or lower. I'm already looking into other 10 k runs - I had a blast training for this one and I want to keep running, after my knee heals up. I'm proud of us for finishing our first 10k!
Thursday, April 12, 2007
still blogging this?! crazy canucks
I am watching the Canucks vs. Stars. They are tied at 4 and are in their 4th overtime period. To clarify: this is the seventh full period of play. Over 120 minutes of hockey. The game started at 7 and it is now after midnight.
Please! Canucks! Score!
UPDATE: Canucks won! Henrik scored off a pass from Daniel! (see post below for reference). Hurrah!
Please! Canucks! Score!
UPDATE: Canucks won! Henrik scored off a pass from Daniel! (see post below for reference). Hurrah!
Wednesday, April 11, 2007
so blogging this: coffee to go
This morning on my way to work I passed by Starbucks. Outside was a cyclist, emerging from the Starbucks and getting back on his bike. He had two water bottle holders on his bike: one on the crossbar and a vertical holder on his seat-post. The crossbar holder contained a regular water-bottle. The vertical holder contained a venti-sized Starbucks beverage.
Then he pedaled away (wearing a helmet! I hope the coffee didn't splash and burn his legs!) and pretty much epitomized Vancouver.
Then he pedaled away (wearing a helmet! I hope the coffee didn't splash and burn his legs!) and pretty much epitomized Vancouver.
Tuesday, April 10, 2007
Road to Osoyoos
It's been a while. But this happened: Ryan and I went on a day-trip to Osoyoos, BC, with Ryan's co-worker and his wife on Saturday. Things got quite interesting, as we all took our turn at our various cameras during different points of the trip. At one point I think Svetlana had three people taking pictures of her simultaneously. Poor girl; luckily she's photogenic.
Fun was had by all, and more photos will follow.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
