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Top5 Tracks for the week of 11/30/2009

November 30th, 2009 | 2 Comments | Top5

Peter Bjorn and John – Up Against the Wall
The Winstons – Amen, Brother
Robert Plant + Alison Kraus – Gone Gone Gone
Neil Young – Mr. Soul
Keith Hampshire – Big Time Operator

The Meaning of Life

November 24th, 2009 | Comment | Personal

I like trying to break my brain on some big thoughts sometimes. One I used to wrestle with was the ‘Meaning of Life’. It’s like the cliché hard-question. It’s one everyone likely has to deal with themselves, but I have answered it to my satisfaction.

I think whatever it is, the answer has to be as relevant thousands of years ago as it does today. It has to be universal for everyone, regardless of culture or situation.

I have boiled it down simply to three things: Happiness, Love and Knowing God.

Maybe it’s over-simplified, maybe it comes off as preachy; but it’s how I want to live.

Bassics

November 18th, 2009 | Comment | Music

This month marks the sixth year since I bought my first bass and taught myself how to play. From learning tabs, and playing along with CDs to recording with a group of friends it’s been an awesome time so far.

One of the best things I did was learn the neck. I did it by making some sheets up and figuring out patterns. Enjoy;

Bassics PDF

My Top 1000 Days

November 13th, 2009 | Comment | Personal

Time to get a wee bit sappy. 1000 days ago today I married Kristi on a snowy February morning. What followed were the best 1000 days of my life. They’ll be hard to top. My wife is truly awesome. She’s my best friend.

I sometimes invent special occasions, but I feel the 1000 day mark is warranted; triple digits! Happy Kilaversary Kristi!

2010: (Don’t say Poh-taw-toe)

November 11th, 2009 | Comment | Personal

Next year is 2010. For the last year I’ve been trying to tell people how we should say this as a society.

I’m hearing a lot of people say “Two thousand and ten“. I totally understand, you’re adding one to the “nine” at the end of this year; but I think this is a misstep - ”Twenty Ten” sounds cooler, uses less syllables and is what Sci-Fi actors have been saying for years.

The only time I think it’s right to say “Two thousand and ten” is if they were saying “One thousand Nine hundred and ninety nine” a decade ago.

Spread the word.

Top5 Tracks for the week of 11/06/2009

November 6th, 2009 | Comment | Top5

Dr. Dog - “I’m In The Light”
The Most Serene Republic – Phi
Years - The Major Life
Sebastien Grainger - (are there) Ways to Come Home
The Hidden Cameras – Walk On

Sam’s Answers (a short story)

November 4th, 2009 | Comment | writing

Chapter one

Walden’s Post

Novmeber 4, 2003

It was a day like any other for Herbert S. Walden. There was nothing extraordinary about the weather or the people hustling by the 22 story complex on 23rd and Spine St. It isn’t often that there are anomalies in the working day of a door man, but this day promised to be different to this forty-something.

“Morning Herbert.”

“Morning Mr. Ralph.”

No cars careened off the road into pedestrians. No Squeegee-kids discussing quantum physics. No one was wounded by the pigeons that bobbed predictably on the curb. Gargoyles didn’t rain from the rooftops. Curious. Continue Reading

Wine

November 2nd, 2009 | Comment | Personal

For most of my life I have thought that Wine was a really snobby unapproachable subject. It’s like some heavily over-intellectualized drink for the most unbearably snooty people in the world.

A few months ago a friend introduced me to some Gary Vaynerchuk keynotes on Social Media and self branding, as these are a natural extension to my job of helping people grow their businesses online. This led to me checking out some of his other messages on the subject of business. On his personal site he has a lot of really good thought provoking videos; many in which he uses his on Wine Library TV podcast as an example. I was still a bit skeptical, so I decided to check out his wine podcast to see how he put his money where his mouth is.

Within 2 minutes he had completely removed the negative stigma about wine, and made it totally approachable. Over the last couple months Kristi and I have been sampling some wines here and there and slowly learning about this vast wine world. As a result I find I’ve been enjoying smelling and tasting all food much more! For the first time in my life I’m starting to really enjoy eating.

So far our favourite wine has been a 2005 Masi Costasera Amarone. What’s yours?

Arley, Link it Up

The first Vaynerchuk video I saw on Social Media

Gary Vaynerchuk Personal Website

Wine Library TV – this video is a highlight reel.

Top5 Tracks for the week of 8/27/2009

October 27th, 2009 | Comment | Top5

Regina Spektor – Laughing With
Yeah Yeah Yeahs – Heads will roll
Lackthereof – Locked Upstairs
Sebastien Grainger – I hate my friends
Dr. Dog – Say Something

Interim

October 14th, 2009 | Comment | Personal

While Kristi and I are transitioning from Kincardine to the GTA we are staying with her folks (speaking of which, wanna buy a house!?) A lot of people ask me what it’s like to live with the in-laws, and the truth is it’s pretty awesome. Mumsy makes me tea from time to time.

The biggest change of course is my office; but with the help of a KVM switch I was able to sabotage their study and make it my new office (I miss my third monitor dearly, but I needed it to stage my desk at home).

But, Kristi and I are loving being close to civilization – food, stores, family and some good friends.

My Writings. My Thoughts.