Why solar power is a lost cause

This story clearly illustrates why solar power just isn't the future. It is just another nice idea that won't work. The story explaines that they guys who set the record for solar power efficiency at 40.7% have just now (2 years later) broken the record again with a whopping 40.8%. That kind of improvement is why solar power just isn't that great.
However the story did say that they made it cheaper but maybe that is just because even Wal-Mart and Crappy Tire are selling solar panels. Maybe the inventors picked up the panels at Wal-Mart and that is why they are so useless.
But I doubt it.

Sigur Ros @ MoMA in NYC

I love this band so much and I really wish I could go see them in Montreal in September.
Since my brother is going I figured I could post this little preview of Sigur Ros performing in New York City at the Museum of Modern Art.

This Icelandic music moves me so much. This is experimental prog-rock at its highest level.
And everybody should watch their movie Heima.
Or at least check out the trailer to that movie.

And now we will know the truth!

First the good news - Sasquatch has been found! The bad news, he's dead.

http://www.inquisitr.com/2357/has-bigfoot-been-found/

I will believe it when I see it.

This is so sad

I was sent this article by a fellow Ottawa Mission volunteer. It is about a girl who I often volunteered with at the Mission. She was hit by a truck while biking to Montreal.

You know how when people die young they always talk about how driven, athletic, inspirational, nice and willing to help others they where. Well I guess April was one of those 'clichè' people. She really was all those things. She was one of the reasons going to the Mission was fun.

One of the first times I met her we ended up dropping about 10 prepared plates of food perfectly upside down when the serving shelf gave way because of the way we were leaning on it. That kind of became our story and it regularly got brought up whenever we volunteered together.

I have many good memories of her. April surely will be missed.

Christopher's Lens

A friend of mine recently started a blog on which he will be posting pictures fairly regularly. He has a fantastic camera and an eye for a good shot plus he is pretty handy with Photoshop.

I have added a link to my side-bar so please check it out and let him know what you think.

Free Parking for Scooters in Ottawa

A guy at my local Vespa dealership started this petition to get counsel to look at setting up free parking for scooters and motorcycles in Ottawa. I want as many people to sign it as possible.
Other cities in Canada have it so why not the capital city? Scooters are a benefit in that they reduce traffic congestion and gridlock so why not encourage their use by providing free parking. This is the rule in Europe where the streets are lined with scooters wherever you go.
This is in Paris, where I found the scooters to be just another part of my romanticized vision of the city.

In other news, Irene now has a helmet and jacket so she can ride on the back of the Vespa. Good times ahead! I just need to get a top box for her helmet and we are all set up for doing day trips into the Gatineaus.

Take Away Shows do Arcade Fire

I think I have stumbled across one of the coolest music sites on the internet. Take Away Shows really is something special. The concept was created when Parisian film maker Vincent Moon got together with Chryde and they began filming indie bands doing short sessions on the street, in a bar or even in an elevator. The result is a raw but interesting way to see your favourite bands. The videos are barely edited and the sessions are not rehearsed.
This video of Montreal's Arcade Fire in Paris at the Olympia is especially well-known. Even if you don't know Arcade Fire, these are some amazing versions of both Neon Bible and Wake Up. I don't want to give anything away so just watch it and be blown away. These guys are just so good.

#41 - Arcade Fire - Neon Bible & Wake Up
by lablogotheque

And because I am a huge Canadian indie-music fan here is another video of a Canadian. One man strings band Final Fantasy (aka Owen Pallett) from Toronto does a song while walking (running) down the streets of Paris. This brings back some awesome memories of Paris for me.

#65.1 - Final Fantasy - Pour Light is spent
by lablogotheque

Oh, how I want to go back!