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

Haddasah's first blog

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that last bit was a guest blog by my niece Hadassah. I'm not sure this laptop will ever be the same.

Great Pockets!

This is a really hilarious "ad" thats been on the web for a while apparently.
Have fun exploring greatpockets.com.
You must have speakers for this.

ps: the contest is over.

Elyssa Rachel Foster

I am now an uncle x2. Elyssa Rachel Foster was born last night at 7:40 pm. We immediately went over to see her. She weighs 7lbs 14 oz. Baby and mother are doing quite well.

Here are some pictures of the cute kid when she is only 3 hours old. What an amazing miracle babies are. It really puts life into perspective. All of a sudden nothing else matters. No one can look at a little baby and not be totally amazed.

Kill To Get Crimson

I am not sure about the title but the disc is typical Knopfler. Its not bad.
But the best part is this......
Vespas on the album cover!!!!!

Surface Computers - the future?

I was alerted to this new technology by a colleague and than started stumbling upon it everywhere. As everybody knows the Iphone with its multi-touch screen (you can touch more than one thing at a time) has been a huge success. Couple that with the older Bluetooth and Wifi technology and you get the computers of the future: Surface Computers.
Developed by Microsoft (what happened!?!) they are designed to interact with any electronic device. The potential applications are enormous. So as usual they are predicting that eventually every surface (fridge, coffee table, desk, shopping carts) is going to be an interactive LCD surface. um yeah. sure.
Currently the only uses are in high-end bars and casinos where the table will read things like your credit card (surprise) and glasses, and the usual digital paraphernalia (cameras, cellphones). Check out the video to get a better idea or do a search for 'Surface Computers' on youtube and you will be amazed at how many videos there are. Probably all microsoft marketing videos.

TV - that doesn't suck!

Yes that's right. Last night I actually sat on my butt and watched the tube. I haven't really been paying attention to the TV for the last while what with the house shenanigans. But we decided to devote a night to doing nothing. It was pretty good - but what made it absolutely amazing was the discovery of an awesome show. Pushing Daisies is a so different from everything else on TV. It's got a touch of Lemony Snicket and reminds me of a cross between Emilie and a Tim Burton film.
But I am sure it won't last. The only shows that seem to survive are mediocre (read boring) sitcoms, sleazy reality shows and over the top crime dramas.
Oh well, maybe they will release a dvd. Its better that way - no commercials.