JSH Renovations

I added a link to my Dad's new website on my sidebar. He recently started contracting on his own again and apparently business is quite brisk.
My brother designed it and a friend of mine uploaded it.
You can check out some of his work in the photos section. I think it turned out pretty good overall. Its simple and concise. Just what you want in this sort of website.

The Great Global Warming Swindle

This BBC produced show was sent to me a fellow anti-global warming aficionado.
It really pulls together a lot of the arguments into one concise hour long show.
If you have some time and want to bolster your arguments against those who call you a heretic, give it a quick watch. Pretty interesting stuff.

http://en.sevenload.com/videos/ha4PoKY/The-Great-Global-Warming-Swindle

I hear there's this election down south...

So does anybody actually know what's going on with the election in the States? I realize they are voting for new leaders but nobody seems to be able to answer some key questions. Who is actually voting? Is it everybody or just select people? Why do they do one state at a time? That could take all year! I have also heard that on some Tuesday in February they have 'Super Teusday' on which a bunch of the states get to vote on one day. Is it sponsored by Wal-mart? Even an American friend couldn't answer most of these questions.

Actually just last night many of these questions were answered by a buddy over some beers (thanks Nick). Apparently the race is quite close so 'Super Tuesday' which is usually the day the leaders are basically chosen. If you don't win big on 'Super Teusday' than just quit already. But this time it may be so close that most won't want to quit. The problem is the money being spent by these candidates will skyrocket if they have to continue the leadership campaign past February. Usually they have started the usual bickering between parties by that point. So having learned this bit of information, I am looking forward to 'Super Teusday'. Maybe I can get cheap election underwear from Wal-mart.

The End of Record Labels?

I recently stumbled across some interesting articles from wired.com.
The first was by David Byrne (from the Talking Heads) writing about how the music industry works and what the future might hold. There are some really interesting discussions with other industry people (like Arcade Fire's label) that provide some real insight into what is actually going on.
The second was basically an discussion between Thom Yorke of Radiohead (who get their name from the Talking Heads song) and David Byrne about the value of music. It really is quite interesting after Radiohead's latest cd release in which they skipped the record label and just offered their music for whatever you wanted to pay. The article also features some cool radiohead footage.
By the way In Rainbows is phenomenal.

It takes lots of balls....

This is one of my favorite commercials in the last couple years. Its so simple but so different and funky.

The tune, 'Heartbeats' by The Knife, is covered by Jose Gonzalez. He is a Swedish/Argentinian and I personally think that the song goes so perfectly with that commercial.

And in case you are interested, here is the 'Making of'.

1st Annual Enjoyment Awards (without any actual awards)

Since it seems to be the thing to do these days, I have decided to jump into the making a favorites of the year list.
However, I am not confining my list to music and it is not necessarily my favourites of the year. Actually some of the music may not even be from 2007. My list is all about the stuff I got the most enjoyment out of in 2007. Most likely no one will agree with me but that really doesn't matter because in this individualistic post-modern age it is all relative right?
Anyways, here it is:

My most enjoyed artist of 2007 was:
Sufjan Stevens who also happens to be my favorite artist these days.

Some runners up were Great Lake Swimmers, Iron & Wine and The Arcade Fire

My most enjoyed album of 2007 was:
Iron & Wine's The Shepherd's Dog which I purchased after listening to every other Iron & Wine song a billion times and deciding more couldn't hurt. And it didn't.

The runners up were In Rainbows (didn't get enough time to enjoy it in 2007), Sigur Ros (Takk...) and Neon Bible from The Arcade Fire of course.

My most enjoyed song of 2007 was:
Could just as easily have been something by Great Lake Swimmers or Sufjan Stevens but I think I will have to go with Sodom, South Georgia by Iron & Wine. That is a tune I have turned back to several times during the year and it never fails to make me close my eyes and just listen....
Much like the song Orange Sky by Alexi Murdoch which makes a very poignant appearance in Zach Braff's Garden State (my most enjoyed movie of 2007).

Some runners up would be one of the new Radiohead tunes (can't really choose) or maybe Ryan Adams' La Cienega Just Smiled.

My most enjoyed live performance of 2007 was definitely the Great Lake Swimmers who melted the place with awesome vocals and perfect (but not too perfect) playing. Also the drummer stepped on my foot.

The runners up would have to be Kathleen Edwards featuring Jim Bryson at WestFest.

My most enjoyed Local Band (Greater Ottawa Area) of 2007 was:
Craig Cardiff because I could not (and still can't) get over his album Judy Garland (You're Never Home) even though it is over 10 years old now.

The runners up are The Acorn (one of the best Ottawa bands) and if I move out of the Ottawa area it could expand to include the Great Lake Swimmers and Tim Dejong (especially if he had more songs)

My most enjoyed music venue of 2007 was:
Black Sheep Inn, Wakefield QC hands down.

My most enjoyed city of 2007 was:
Barcelona, Spain.

And last but not least my most enjoyed person of 2007 was:
Irene