Music Monday - Next Year

Well, another year has come and gone. As I have the last two years, I'll be posting a "Year in Review" within the next week. But first, Music Monday!

I've posted live Jamie Cullum videos before, and I'll likely continue that trend in the future. This time I've got "Next Year Baby," a fitting song for the final day of 2012. A lot has happened this past year: graduated from UBC, moved to Banff, picked up two internships. I didn't travel outside of Canada at all, but instead went back and forth between Kelowna and Victoria, drove out to Banff, went snowshoeing in Glacier National Park, and visited Calgary a few times.

And next year? Well, I'm off to Hawaii in just over a week, more National Park adventures are sure to happen, I might do some travel abroad in the summer, and - fingers crossed - I'll be moving to Vancouver or Montreal in the fall.

Can't promise anything about drinking less beer, though.

Enjoy Jamie's performance below, and have a happy new year!

Music Monday - Supremacy, Skyfall

The internet is abuzz with posts about Bond, James Bond. I haven't yet seen the film (no spoiling it for me, you hear!?), but I there's a perfectly good reason for that: I've got tickets to see it on Wednesday in Calgary, on an IMAX screen! Stoked!

Now, Adele is getting a lot of attention because of the theme song she supplied. It's great. Better than great, really. It's more of a "classic" Bond theme, unlike some of the songs in the last decade. Apparently the film itself feels much like a "classic." But that's yet to be seen. Anyways, back to the music.

There's been a rumour going around that Adele was not the only artist being considered for the theme. Gossip will tell you that Muse was in the running, but Barbara Broccoli says otherwise. According to her, Adele was the first and only choice. The first song of Muse's recent album, though, is everything a Bond theme should be. It even has part of the "Goldfinger" theme in it, just like Adele's "Skyfall." The song I'm talking about is called "Supremacy," and it has gotta be my favourite Muse song. Ever.

To illustrate how perfectly this song goes with Bond, please watch the fan-made video below. Enjoy!

on the Grid - Renovating the Waterfront: Kelowna, Canada’s Downtown Parks Plan

As a waterfront city, Kelowna, Canada is heavily reliant on its shoreline. Okanagan Lake provides many things for the city, though the limited points of access pose a complex question when it comes to the provision of space. Competing for use of the shore are the tourism industry, public parks, boat launches, marinas, a logging mill, and the natural riparian environment.

Read the full post on the Grid.

Music Monday - Remember, Remember

For those of you who aren't aware, today is Guy Fawkes Day. Arguably, the only reason people even mention this nowadays (outside of Britain, that is) is the film V for Vendetta. It's a favourite of mine, not just because of the storyline, theme, acting, or cinematography. No, it's the music that I have the fondest memories of, particularly a cover by Cat Power of Lou Reed's "I Found a Reason." It's a chilling, emotionally powerful song. At least in my mind.

Anyway, I haven't got much else to say, so please enjoy the song and video montage from V for Vendetta below.

Walking in a Winter Wonderland

Wow, it certainly has been a while since I wrote anything for the ol' blog, eh? Let me tell you what my days have been filled with the past few weeks.

Snow has fallen in Banff, and it's definitely winter here. That has brought a few changes to my routine. The biggest? I've traded by bike for hiking boots, spiffy looking North Face ones. I walk everywhere now, and even with the hiking boots I still have moments of arm-flailing terror occasionally.

The winter weather has also brought an increased dependence on hot beverages. Recently (alright, a couple hours ago) I discovered the blissful combination that is apple juice and tea. Seriously. Instead of water, boil a mixture of apple juice and water - I use an equal amount. Obviously this won't work well for every kind of tea, but I've tried it with lemon ginger, and am contemplating a chai trial next. I'll keep you posted!

The third change has been in music. I try to make a new playlist each month, and October's list was very acoustic. This is usually the case. When the weather turns cold, I'm drawn to a different sort of music than in the summer: I want jazz, acoustics, vocals. Suffice to say, I've been listening to a lot of KT Tunstall, Amy Winehouse, the Delgados, Jamie Cullum, Feist, and all the other autumn standbys. Soon I'll be breaking out the Christmas jazz, I guess.

Until next time!

Photo (cc) me

on the Grid - How and Why We Should Put People Before Vehicles

The Victoria Transportation Policy Institute and Walkable Communities provide many tips and resources to encourage pedestrian activity. While some of these aspects are in the care of urban planners, such as human scale in block length and street width, others can be achieved by individual property owners or developers.

Read the full post on the Grid.

Learning to Deliver a Rock to the Button

Sorry for the relative silence again, I've been busy with life in Banff! Last night I tried curling for the first time, and it wasn't quite as difficult as I thought. Didn't have a chance to learn how to sweep, but I had a couple hours to deliver (that is, throw the rock down the ice). I've got very little accuracy at this point, but maybe I'll head back to the hacks (the block you deliver from) and work on my delivery. Who knows, maybe I'll end up joining a bonspiel (tournament) this winter! Also, I like throwing around this new lingo. Makes me sound very Canadian, eh?

For those of you who have no clue what I'm talking about, there's a video below. It was filmed right here in Banff at the old recreation centre. The town built a new one recently, and the facilities are gorgeous.

That's all I've got today, enjoy the video!

Photo by Benson Kua

a Photoblog - Elk in Banff

all photos (cc) me

on the Grid - Kelowna’s Rails With Trails Active Transportation Project Stopped in its Tracks

As people continue to flock to cities, urban planners and property developers are increasingly pressed to come up with novel land use solutions to everyday problems. One problem that affects nearly every aspect of city life is transportation, with transportation networks strained by the pressures of increased usage and the sustainable agenda. Thankfully, creative solutions meet these multiple challenges head on.

Read the full post on the Grid.

Past, Present, Future

I'm still not quite accustomed to the fact I live in Banff. The other day I said the words, "Here in British Columbia." Nope, this ain't BC. I'm an Alberta boy now.

If you told me a year ago I would be living in Banff, doing what I'm doing, I wouldn't have believed you. I probably would have laughed. A year before that, the idea of living in Singapore would have brought forth the same reaction.

But here I am, living in the Rocky Mountains, working as a manager at the Gap, volunteering as an intern with planning and development in Banff.

Oh, right, I don't think I've mentioned that. I volunteer for the town of Banff! Basically I'm an assistant in the planning department. A few days ago I finished up some policy research, now I'll be compiling said research into various "best practices" case studies, and then the next step is to present this to the stakeholders and engage in constructive discussion. Our timeline ends in November, when the policy is presented to council for approval. Hey, look, I'm involved in the planning world!

All these recent developments make me chuckle when remembering posts like "Done Done Done," in which I mused the abysmal future Canada's number-crunched had forecast, and "Angsty Unemployment Cycle," where I ranted about my lack of gainful employment and workplace challenges. Well, I've got both in plenty, now!

I couldn't be happier with the way things have turned out. Moving was a gamble, and an impulsive decision at that, but I've been dealt a good hand. The social life could be improved, but now that I'm in the groove of my two jobs I'll have some time to dedicate to social pursuits. And it's only been the first month of twelve! Count me excited for the future.

photo (cc) me

on the Grid - Master Planning for a LEED Certified Neighbourhood in Kelowna

The site of the former Kelowna High School sits vacant only blocks from the downtown waterfront. The city of Kelowna, Canada, has grandiose plans for this piece of property: a mixed-use neighbourhood anchored by a large public park. The project is aptly titled Central Green.

Read the full post on the Grid.

Music Monday - Northern Lights

Slowly but surely I'm becoming accustomed to some of the bigger changes of life in Banff. One of the biggest? Waking up before 5am twice a week. Mhm, every Tuesday and Friday I'm up at 4:45am in anticipation of a 5:30am start to my workday. And as much as I'm not a morning person, starting that early has its benefits. One such benefit is biking through the cold, crisp air under a blanket of bright stars. My fingers are crossed that I'll one day see the aurora borealis here in the mountains. I've already seen it in Kelowna!

This is one of the songs that captures the experience nicely, "Northern Lights" by Cider Sky. If you've heard it before, there are three possibilities: you are a fan of Cider Sky, you have been to the Gap within the last month, or you've watched those popular teenage vampire movies that seem to suck (period here optional, but highly encouraged) perfectly good musicians into composing songs for the soundtracks. I fall into the second category. Here's the song for you to enjoy.

on the Grid - Tending the Urban Forest in Vancouver and Toronto

On opposite sides of the country are two of Canada’s iconic cities: Vancouver, British Columbia and Toronto, Ontario. In this age of green building practices and sustainable development, both cities are pushing forward to be leaders in environmentally conscious city planning and design. Toronto has adopted a green roof strategy and passed bylaws to require new developments to include green roofs. Vancouver has declared an intention to become the greenest city by 2020.

Both cities are making strides to expand the urban forest, though in very different ways.

Read the full post on the Grid.

Music Monday - Woo-Sah

I'm a big fan of the Kingdom Hearts series, so featuring this song is inevitable. The soundtracks to the various games are superb, and all crafted by a woman by the name of Yoko Shimomura, lending a certain constant quality to each game. Of all the songs, though, my favourite has to be "Dearly Beloved," the home screen background music of each game.

Why do I love it so much? With the very first chord I am instantly relaxed. My shoulders drop, my lungs heave a soft sigh, I close my eyes and let all the tension leave me.

It's something I need every now and again, as I'm a rather emotionally closed person (comes with being a Green!). I bottle emotions up, and music is my most favoured form of relaxation. That's the reason I have a 'down tempo' playlist on my iPod, with five different versions of this particular song. I admit, I'm a little obsessed, but you will be to after giving it a listen!

Below are the two versions from Kingdom Hearts II, probably my favourites, but I love all the versions for different reasons. Enjoy!

a First Time for Everything

This may come as a surprise, but before today I had never had a library card. I had never borrowed a book from a library that wasn't on campus, and never a non-academic book at that. I never counted down the days I had left to finish a novel, never owed late fees on a book lost in a messy room. Nope, that was never me.

That's right: me, the Advanced Placement Literature student, Cultural Studies major, Star Wars book nerd, and longtime Protagonizer, has never had a library card. Until now!

Today I picked up my first ever library card for the Banff Public Library, with which I promptly borrowed Edgar Rice Burroughs' first volume of "The Collected John Carter of Mars." I now have a growing list of films to borrow from the library, and have yet to even look at the CD collection. If there's anything in the jazz family, you can be sure I'll borrow that, too. Hopefully this won't turn me into some sort of book hermit, the literary equivalent of a crazy cat lady.

That's all I have to say. It's reading time!

photo (cc) Ozyman

One of these Things is Not Like the Others

Click photos to enlarge

Originally I was planning on writing a post about how different my present location is from my location one year ago, but then I started thinking about all the other places I've lived. The photos above are arranged in the order of date lived in: Victoria, BC; Kelowna, BC; Singapore; Banff, AB. I'm not gonna say anything more, let's let the pictures do the talking this time around, eh?

photos (cc) me

a Photoblog - Views of Mount Rundle

click photos to enlarge

photos (cc) me

Music Monday - Hare Ram in the Rockies

Well, I've made it safely to my new home in Banff. It's still a little surreal, walking to work and seeing the giant Rocky Mountains all around and the most emerald water in the Bow River running under the bridge. I'm not sure whether I'll ever be fully accustomed to it, really.

So I wrote something. Those of you on Protagonize might have caught a little something called Rocky Mountain Sūrya Namaskāra the other night. It's not as exotic as it sounds, but it's full of foreign words that even I have trouble reading. If you practice Hatha yoga, you might recognize some of the phrases. And if you do, then you'll actually know exactly what's going on!

The soundtrack and inspiration for this particular piece is Krisha Das' "Hare Rame (God is Real)." I was introduced to the song by an instructor at the Hot Box yoga studio back in Kelowna, where I quickly fell in love with both the practice of hot yoga and the diverse soundtracks selected by the various instructors. Some stuck to more "traditional" yogi music: forest sounds, Hindu chants, wind chimes. Sometimes I heard Florence + the Machine, or Sia, or Passion Pit. I loved the variety, but this one song stands out.

Take a listen below, or pop over to Protagonize to listen to it while reading my short scene.
 

photo (cc) Claude Robillard

on the Grid - Xeriscaping and Landscape Design Challenges in Canada’s Desert

Canada is often imagined as a country of towering mountains, vast prairies, frozen lakes, and lush forests. However, tucked between two mountain ranges is the Okanagan Valley of British Columbia, a semi-arid swath of land containing the country’s sole desert.

Kelowna, Canada, is the largest city in this region, and is subject to the many challenges of developing in an arid valley. Most obvious in these summer months is the dry heat, which makes the upkeep of traditional Kentucky bluegrass landscapes difficult without excessive watering.

Read the full post on the Grid

Music Monday: Another Girl from Ipanema

This was my last weekend in the Okanagan, and the weather gods saw it fit to bless Kelowna with an absolute scorcher: 35 degrees Celsius most days, and the rest of the week looks the same. I've got it in my mind to bask in the heat as much as possible before heading into the mountains of Alberta, where I'll be subjected to a winter like I've never experienced.

Sad panda.

In the meantime, I've been doing such summery activities as beach volleyball, naps in the sun with Favourite Cat, and enjoying drinks on rooftop patios. Of course, I've also had a summer playlist on almost non stop, and I've become absolutely addicted to one of the recent additions to my music library: Amy Winehouse's posthumous album, Lioness: Hidden Treasures. I've got a few favourites on the album, but her cover of "The Girl from Ipanema" stands out. It just screams summer, and is such a different take on the classic made famous by Astrud Gilberto. Judging by the comments on YouTube it's a little controversial, but when is Amy ever not? I particularly love the drum bits, but I've always been addicted to bass.

Enjoy!

Favourite Cat is my Favourite

Wow, it's been a while since I've posted anything, eh? To tell the truth I haven't really done much of note in the last while, aside from all this getting ready to move stuff. Basically, my downtime is spent in the backyard with Favourite Cat. Yup, that's about it!

 photos by me

on the Grid - Is Human Scale Important to Cities Without Skyscrapers?

Cities are built for a variety of reasons, but are ultimately places for people to live, work, and play. As such, architects and urban planners need to keep in mind the concept of human scale, or designing buildings and spaces for human use. This impacts everything from the height of buildings to the size of street furniture.

Read the full post on the Grid

Music Monday: Little Talks

This blog post is a bit of a dump and run, sorry to say. Lots on my plate right now, such as packing and cleaning the place in Kelowna in preparation for moving and open houses, finding a place to live in Banff, training for my new job, and then that whole Poetry Tournament thing. Aieah.

So yah, lots to say, not much time to say it. So here's a song instead!

It's called "Little Talks," and is by Icelandic band Of Monsters and Men. Apparently I can't stay away from anything Icelandic. Guess I better make my next adventure to Reykjavik, eh? Without further ado, here's "Little Talks!"

I be Moving, Again!

Big news! Sometime next month I'll be moving to Banff, Alberta for an unknown period of time. I announced it on my Facebook and on Twitter earlier, but here's a bit more info.

For those of you who aren't familiar with Banff, it's a resort town located within Banff National Park in Canada's Rocky Mountains. The service population is largely transient, like other resort towns in Canada, with a large number of Aussies and Kiwis on work visas.

I'll be there a little more long term, at least a full year. I've decided to take a gap year and work at the Gap (HAH), which has hired me on as the new logistics manager. Basically that means I'll be in charge of receiving shipments, keeping a clean and organized stockroom, and getting new merchandise onto the sales floor. Behind the scenes stuff.

Suffice to say, I'm stoked!

Banff will be an interesting change of pace for me, as it's a much smaller town than Victoria or Kelowna. I'm talking less than 8000 people. That, and it's located inside the national park. I have to get special permission from the federal government to live there. It's serious business.

Anyway, just wanted to keep people updated!

photos by MarilynJane, afagen, and letsgoeverywhere

on the Grid - Smart Growth Incorporated in Rutland Town Centre’s Community Plan: Kelowna, Canada

With one of the fastest growing populations in Canada, Kelowna has been investing considerable time and effort into long-range planning. The city’s most recent Official Community Plan (OCP), revised in 2011, imagines Kelowna in 2030. Key aspects of this plan include social, environmental, cultural, and economic sustainability. Smart growth is the driving ideology in many of the policies.

 Read the full post on the Grid

photo (c) by South Pandosy BIA

Music Monday: This Circle of Life

On July 23rd, 2011, I did a lot of sitting. I sat in cars, I sat on the ferry between Victoria and Vancouver, I sat in the international departures terminal at Vancouver International Airport, and I sat in a China Eastern flight to Singapore.

It's hard to believe I've now come full circle.

A lot has happened in those 365 days. I've moved to and from Singapore, visited seven different countries, finished my undergraduate degree, moved out of home a little more permanently, and met many, many new people.

There's not really too much I want to say right now, or even have to say, so I'll just skip to the music.

Disney's The Lion King was probably the first film I ever saw in theatres. I loved it then, and love it to this day. The song it made famous came on randomly today, and it pulled on something inside me. I thought it only fitting to choose "The Circle of Life" as my Music Monday track.

a Photoblog - Victoria, a Bit of Old England

photos by me

on the Grid - What is the Purpose of a Park?

Summer has arrived in Canada’s Okanagan valley, and with the warmer weather, people are venturing outside to enjoy the many parks in Kelowna. Among these is Mission Creek Regional Park and Greenway, arguably the most visited park in the city. It includes an educational centre, salmon spawning channel, picnic areas, and a playground. The greenway offers a lengthy trail system that traverses through several of Kelowna’s iconic landscapes.  

 Read the full post on the Grid

photo by jamica1 (c) All Rights Reserved

Ten Thousand Views? Sure, why not!

And another milestone has been reached!

If you're a regular, thanks for caring enough to read my ramblings! And those of you just popping in, thanks for stopping by.

Because my top posts are pretty much exactly the same as when I hit 5K, let's take a look at how people are finding my little space on the internet.

Search terms for those top five posts obviously rank high:

• molly millions, 152 hits
• various combinations of russian firebird tattoo, 178 hits
• true colors personality test, 139 hits
• jonathan rhys meyers tudors, 34 hits

There are also some strange search terms that have led a couple people here. Terms like:

• doing a research paper hours before its due, 2 hits
• hide guns on body, 2 hits
• english things tattoo, 2 hits

Curious.

Well, here's to another ten thousand page views! Thanks again!

photo by Leo Reynolds

Chillin' with the Ogopogo

It's summer! And, oddly enough, summer always tends to be a busy time of year for me. True, I do have plenty of time to fall asleep on the beach and become sunburnt, but I never fail to fill my schedule with other things. This time around? Work, beach volleyball league, blogging for the Grid, scoping out jobs for the fall and winter, and then whatever it is I do over on Protagonize. That will include the Summer Poetry Tournament, and then if I can get the Prose Competition off the ground that will be yet another hat to wear.

Definitely not complaining, though. I enjoy being busy, and being busy with work means the bills will get paid. Whoo! This whole "being an adult" thing isn't too different than what I was doing before, really. The only major difference I can identify so far is that I can't claim student benefits on anything. No student bus pass, no student price rate, no student bank account, no student internships. I'm just a regular person now. Whoo?

One thing will never change, though: I'll still ride any noble steeds I come across in my travels. Such as my buddy the Ogopogo up there. We talk on Twitter sometimes, we're cool like that.

a Photoblog - Peacocks in the Park

photos by me

Happy Canada Day!

It's Canada Day! Happy birthday to my favourite country, the true north strong and free. I'll be spending much of the day in downtown Victoria, watching the live music, sampling all the food, and then settling down for the evening fireworks. A great way to end my holiday weekend at home.


That's all I've got for this post. I may or may not have a Music Monday for you tomorrow, as I'll be on the road most of the day. One might appear in the evening, possibly a sample of the roadtrip soundtrack. Wish me safe travels!

photo by BrittneyBush

Birthday Blog

Sorry about the lack of posts in the last while (Music Mondays aside). I've been on the busy side, researching for my blog posts on the Grid, working lots, and then travelling to Vancouver and Victoria. It's been a busy couple of weeks.

Victoria has been rad, suffice to say. Brought a friend over who had never been to the Island before, so I got to play the part of tour guide for a day or two. Went to a Janelle Monae concert (again), and she was simply astounding (again)! Covered "You Only Live Twice" and "Goldfinger," among others. And then it was my birthday, so I went to see the peacocks and we chased ladies together. I'll have picture later, I promise.

Now I'm taking a quiet day off, sitting at my laptop and writing one of those aforementioned Grid blog posts. One down, one to go: due date is tomorrow! After that comes a week for reviews and edits, then it'll go live... uhm... July 11th, I believe. I'll have that link here on my personal blog, don't you worry.

So with that, I better get going! Tomorrow is Canada Day, so I already know I won't get anything done at all. Cheers!

Photo by Will Clayton

Music Monday - The Musical Stylings of Janelle Monae

I first mentioned Janelle Monae a year and a half ago, introducing her video for "Many Moons" with this phrase:

"In the meantime, please enjoy the musical stylings and rad dance moves of Janelle Monae."

For this Music Monday, I'd like to share more of these "musical stylings," though the rad dance move will be absent. Not unfortunately absent, as she replaces those slick movements with an emotional passion for her lyrics that is sure to leave you taken aback. And in a good way.

The song in question? "Cold War." It's arguably my favourite track from her most recent album, The Archandroid. At first I loved it for the song itself. The music, the vocals, the lyrics. And then I saw the music video. Immediately, I knew this was something to be shared. Odd, though, that I've waited this long to do so on my blog.

So please, take a moment to bask in the audiovisual experience that is Janelle Monae's "Cold War."It is probably the most honest portrayal of a musician I have ever seen. Enjoy.

Music Monday - Who else is nutty over Metric's "Synthetica?"

There's absolutely no way to properly introduce this post, I just have to state the facts.

Guys. Metric's new album, Synthetica is everything I ever wanted and more.

To those of you unfamiliar with Canadian indie rock icons Metric, you have some serious catching up to do. Synthetica comes on the heels of two perfect in every way albums: Fantasies, their 2009 release, and Grow Up and Blow Away, a re-release of the band's very first recording. Suffice to say, Synthetica had extremely big shoes to fill.

And it delivers.

As tends to be the case with Metric albums, the first few tracks are my absolute favourites. Emily Haines' vocals are spot on, as usual, and the rest of the band performs expertly on drums, guitars, and synth. There are also a few horns at one point, in the climax of the title track.

But you really shouldn't be listening to what I have to say. Metric has been kind enough to upload the entire album to Soundcloud, where you can stream each and every song for free. I would highly suggest nabbing yourself a hard copy, though, as the cover booklet is an innovative piece of artwork in itself. I won't spoil any surprises, you'll have to find out for yourself!