Jon Middleton House Concert

[caption id="attachment_95" align="alignnone" width="300" caption="Jon Middleton playing a house concert in Victoria BC, Saturday December 3"][/caption]

November music releases I'm looking forward to via @Storify

I decided to spend the afternoon checking out the new updates to Storify and simultaneously drafting up my Christmas wish list ;)

My Favourite Places on Vancouver Island: Mount Finlayson, Goldstream Provincial Park

The summit of Mount Finlayson

Hike length: Approximately 4km
Hike duration: 2-3 hours

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If you like your outdoor experiences to include an blood pumping workout, then this trail should be right up your alley.

The hike up Mount Finlayson in Goldstream Provincial Park just outside Victoria was one of the first trails we hiked after moving to Victoria.  It's among the select must-do day hikes locals dependably recommend to newcomers - a collection of world-class gems that includes East Sooke Regional Park's Coastal trail, for it's gorgeous vistas, and Botanical Beach at Juan De Fuca Provincial Park, for marine life viewing.

The Mount Finlayson trail can be accessed a short distance from the parking lot at Goldstream's main entrance on Highway 1, just west of Victoria (map).  From the main entrance, follow the side road from the parking lot across the bridge and into the park to the trailhead.  Just past the bridge, look for a large sign and an intimidating-at-first-glance flight of stairs.  If stairs aren't your thing, or if you're looking to ease into the hike, take the alternate, slightly less steep trail to your left.  The two routes meet a short way up the mountain.

After the two trails merge, the path continues climbing through beautiful, mossy, green forest until levelling out for a short stretch near the Bear Mountain subdivision.

The trees change from soaring pines to scraggly arbutus, then disappear all together as the trail turns into a steeper scramble up the remaining distance to the rocky summit.  I believe most hikers familiar with this trail see this as being the fun part of the hike, though I have had a handful of hiking companions suggest this section can challenge the reserve of anyone with a fear of heights.

The summit is a nice spot to enjoy a meal or snack before you make your way back down the mountain.  From the top you can enjoy views of the Olympic Mountains and the Straight of Juan De Fuca.

Planning tips:

• Sections of this trail are a bit technically challenging.  Wear shoes with good support and rubber soles that will grip rocky surfaces, especially important in slippery, wet weather.
• It's also possible to approach or descend from the summit of Mount Finlayson via the north side of the mountain from an access point a little over a kilometre down Finlayson Arm Road from Goldstream's main entrance. This is a gentler route that doubles the distance of the hike.
• As an added bonus, if you head out to Goldstream over the next month or so (mid-October to early December) you should also be able to catch the park's yearly salmon run.

How to make a pumpkin pie

 My first (successful) pumpkin pie

I felt ambitious enough to try my hand at making another pumpkin pie this year.  My last attempt, which had a disastrous outcome, took place when I made a somewhat less-than-stellar Thanksgiving dinner for my German hosts when I was traveling in Europe a number of years back. Gladly, I was very happy with the results this time around.  In celebration of the coming Thanksgiving weekend, and to atone for my sins of Thanksgivings past, here's the recipe. Guten Appetit!

What you'll need:

4 large eggs
3 cups fresh pumpkin puree
3/4 cup evaporated milk
1/2 cup brown sugar
2 teaspoons pumpkin spice
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 unbaked, 9 inch pie shell

To prepare the pumpkin, remove the seeds, cut into chunks and remove the skin.  Boil, roast or steam the pumpkin until tender then puree.  Cool to room temperature and drain off any standing liquid that forms.

Mix the pumpkin puree with the remaining ingredients until well blended and pour into an unbaked pie shell.  When it comes to pie shells, I usually use whatever pastry recipe comes on the box of the shortening I've bought. Read my blog post, Things I’ve learned about making pies, for more on how to make pie pastry.

Bake the pie at 350 degrees for 55-65 minutes.  The top of the pie will be slightly browned and the middle of the pie will still look slightly wet when it's done.

More tips:

- Use a small pumpkin.  I chose one that was a little bit smaller than a basketball and ended up with enough pumpkin puree to make two pies.

- If you don't have pumpkin pie spice, you can also use a mix of spices (1 1/2 teaspoons cinnamon, 1 teaspoon cloves, and 1/2 teaspoon ginger).

- This is the kind of pie that needs to bake a while for the filling to cook.  If your pie crust starts to darken too quickly around the edges, cover the rim of your pie with a strip of tin foil (shiny side out).

- Save the seeds and roast them in a pan with a little oil and a sprinkling of salt.  Yum!

While your pumpkin is stewing you can roast the seeds in a pan with a little oil and salt.

Aidan Knight and Snailhouse, live and in concert! ...in my neighbour's living room

Aidan Knight and some of his Friendly Friends performing at a house concert in Victoria, BC.

About this time last year, I wrote a blog entry about my first house concert experience.  Over the past year I've had the pleasure of attending a number of these events, every one of them fantastic.  When it comes to live performances, the intimacy of watching a musician play to a small crowd in a private residence cannot be beat. 

The Aidan Knight concert I recently attended was no exception. Opening act, Snailhouse (Mike Feuerstack of the Wooden Stars) started off the night with a short - sadly, I felt, a little too short - set of emotion packed songs.  After a quick break, Knight took to the stage/living room floor while some of his backing musicians, the Friendly Friends, wandered through the rest of the house playing their instruments.  From the introspective and melancholy, Lambics, to the feel-good, Jasper, it was a captivating experience made all the more personal and charming in a home setting.  Knight's music is a carefully tuned harmony of contrasts (despite all the trouble he experienced with a faulty tuner during his performance).  Familiar sounding melodies with unusual orchestration; sometimes dynamic and filled with texture, sometimes sparse; and lyrics that reflect his youthful perspective balanced with just the right amount of world-weary wisdom. 

From time to time I get asked how to find out about scheduled house concerts.  As these shows are usually organized by home owners, promotional marketing is commonly limited to grassroots channels. If you live in Victoria, BC, my best recommendation is simply to sign up for the Victoria House Concert B Facebook Group.  If you live anywhere else, I'd suggest searching the web, or you can try asking friends who might be connected to your local music scene if they know of any upcoming shows.


Video shot by Dfinlan.

Rifflandia 2011 and the art of the singer songwriter, three ways

If there's one thing that sets the Rifflandia Festival apart from other music festivals I've attended, I'd have to say it's variety. Not only from venue to venue, but more definitively, from year to year. Each year I've attended, I've come away with an experience completely different from the last. In 2009, my Rifflandia experience was all about rock, last year, it was big on alt-country. This year, my favourite shows of the festival all featured talented singer songwriters, albeit in three very different veins.

The troubadour: Royal Wood

Royal Wood at the Rifflandia Festival 2011

In another world, the ideal venue for watching a Royal Wood show would be a smoke-filled club with shadowy corners, a bartender named Atticus, and a well tuned piano that's seen plenty of action every night since the dawn of time. Wood Hall, despite having none of those attributes, might be a fair contender for second place. I'll submit that observation based solely on the captivating performance Wood put on the Saturday night of the festival. The intimate recital space/former chapel was, perhaps unexpectedly, a fitting compliment to the subtle poetry of Woods' lyrics, smooth-as-butter vocals and rich melodies. Highlights of the performance included the sweet and lovely, I'm So Glad and Wood's pop-infused hit, A Mirror Without. Wood also performed a haunting, sparse version of Foster the People's Pumped Up Kicks. Unforgettable.

The traditionalist: Old Man Luedecke

Old Man Luedecke at the Rifflandia Festival 2011

Well, if we're going to continue on the theme of ideal venues, I'd suggest an Old Man Luedecke show would be best viewed at a barn dance, your neighbour's kitchen, or, as proposed by Luedecke himself, a farmers' market. Likewise, the mood of the moment at Luedecke's concert on Saturday was one of simple pleasures and good times. Unlike most other performances at the festival, Luedecke didn't fuss about waiting around for the official start time. Immediately after his short sound check he sat down with his banjo and began playing, choosing songs as they seemed to strike his fancy, or at times the fancy of the audience. The Joy of Cooking and I Quit My Job were particular crowd pleasers. And, oh yes, there was plenty of dancing and hand clapping enjoyed by all throughout the show.

The enigma: Damien Jurado

I'm not even going to try to suggest an ideal setting for a Damien Jurado show. In my books, I suppose any place where you can watch him perform, it'll most likely be an extraordinary experience. I took in Jurado's show at Rifflandia with a friend who was only planning to stick around for a couple of songs and he ended up staying for the entire set. That's the kind of musician Jurado is. His songs have the ability to capture and draw in every audience member, no matter how large, or unfamiliar, the crowd. Mesmerizing in a disarming combination of deep introversion and unguarded openness.

There's really no picking favourites with Jurdado's songs, but if I had to choose, I guess I'd say Sheets and Cloudy Shoes were amoungst the most memorable moments of the night. Jurado mentioned the show would be his last before taking a well deserved six-month hiatus, so if you're interested, you may have to be patient in waiting a little while to catch his next performance. That said, I'd urge everyone to go see Damien Jurado in concert at the earliest opportunity.



View more of my pics from the festival in my Rifflandia flickr set.

What's in my backpack?: Packing for a long distance hiking trip on the west coast

The beach near Laura Creek on the North Coast Trail, a photo by theotherlondon on Flickr.

Everyone packs for a backcountry camping trip differently.  Some are minimalists, some pack as much gear they can manage to carry just in case. I think I fall somewhere in the middle.

At the moment, I'm getting ready for a 4 day, 47km hiking trip on the Juan De Fuca.  The last time I did this hike was in April of 2009 and as wonderful as it was, it was also the wettest backcountry trek I've ever experienced.  This time around I'll be going with a few friends, two of whom will be doing an overnight backpacking trip for the first time, and I've been getting some info together to help them prepare.  Below is a list of items I'm planning to take along, which is a pretty much a run down of what I generally pack on backcountry camping trips (my pack usually weighs about 40lbs).

What's in my backpack on a 4-day, west coast hiking trip in autumn:

Waterproof backpack cover
Eureka 3-season tent
Pine Ridge 3-season sleeping bag
Thermarest air mattress
Petzl headlamp
Victorinox Swiss Army knife
First aid kit
Waterproof matches and a lighter
Rope
Bear spray*
Trail guidebook*
Notebook and pen
Point and shoot camera

Food and water
PUR water filter*
Collapsible bucket*
MSR backpacking stove
1L camping fuel
2 water bottles
Cascade Designs ultralight aluminum backpacking pot with lid 1.5 L + potholder
MSR stainless steel bowl
Set of Lexan utensils (knife, fork and spoon)
Can opener
Breakfasts and lunches - oatmeal, cheese, bagels, nuts, gorp, chocolate, jerky
Dinners - Pasta with pesto and pepperoni, instant mashed potatoes with flakes of ham, soup with dumplings, mac and cheese with tuna
Small mickey of scotch
Tea
Spare Ziploc bags
Cloth for cleaning up

Clothing
1 spare tights quick dry/moisture wicking
1 spare top, quick dry/moisture wicking
4 pairs socks
1 pair waterproof socks
Underwear
Gaitors
Water repellant soft shell jacket
Fleece jacket
Warm hat
2 pairs gloves
Comfy shoes to wear around the campsite (sandals)

Toiletries
Camp soap
Tooth brush and tooth paste
Brush and hair elastics
Toilet paper

*In my experience, I've found only one person in the group needs to pack these items.

Most of the questions my friends have asked have been about what food to pack, and rightly so!  I'll be posting info on what I'm bringing to eat and how I'll prepare it soon.  Of course the easiest solution where meals is concerned is to buy dehydrated meals from your local camping store.  I know there are many people who find dehydrated meals to be acceptable fare, but I'm not among them.

Other resources on how to pack for a backcountry camping trip:

• Backpacking Lightweight
• Backpacker Magazine
• The Backpacker

The Magic of Theatre in the Age of the Internet

According to Klout, I'm influential on the subject of robots.  Snicker.  I'm going to guess this is because I recently attended some shows at the Victoria Fringe Theatre Festival and did a bit of posting about Jayson MacDonald's play, 'Giant Invisible Robot'.  I know you're going to hate that I check up on my Klout score, which is why I'm a little loathe to explain what Klout is. 

Oh, very well then!  Klout is an online reporting tool that measures people's level of influence online.  Now, lower that eyebrow, and let's get on with it already.

For a long time I've wanted to write a post about theatre in the age of the Internet.  You remember theatre?  That's where you pay a lot of money to watch actors you might vaguely recognize perform a play your mother, or grandmother, recommended.  Or, more likely, where one of your friends paid a lot of money to watch actors you've never heard of perform a play you might feign interest in, but in all likelihood you will never see.  Ah yes, that theatre.

I don't think it's much of a stretch to suggest live theatre doesn't quite have the 'klout' it once did.  And unlike other arts industries that are struggling to adapt in our changing times (music, film, and television for example), where live theatre is concerned, there's no need to go pointing a finger at the Internet.  No, the demise of live theatre was written in the stars with the advent of talkies and black and white home television sets back in the olden days.

Which might explain why, relatively speaking, there is so little evidence of it's existence to be found on the World Wide Web.  Oh yes, there is the odd review, a few theatre sites that might have a similar vibe to the site for your local museum, but really now, this is comparatively trivial gewgaw.  Add to the mix my apparent expertise in the field of 'robots' and I'd suggest the fact of the matter is, theatre and the Internet just don't play well together.  Excuse the pun.

So what gives?  Why am I, a huge fan of the Interweb, forking over more money than I can realistically afford for theatre tickets?  What's enticing me away from the wealth of entertainment and information I can access from the phone I carry around in my pocket to go sit in a theatre to experience a performance I can't look up on IMDB?

Plainly put, what lures me away is the promise of something unique.  I know from personal experience, which truthfully may not be as limited as I've professed, that every show is, from production to production, and from night to night, different.  Different in as many ways as the number of people who have contributed to the performance, and as many ways as there are seats in the house.  Different depending on the weather and the time of year, and how much the lead actor did or did not drink at the bar the night before.

The result is a priceless kind of magic we get so little of in our binary world, and why, I might offer, live theatre is more worthwhile today than it ever has been before.  Turn off your cell phone and go check it out.

More on the discussion:

• TED Conversations: 'With the advent of amazing online videos, why are we still so compelled to experience live performance (music, sports games, dance)?'  moderated by Robert Gupta
• New York Times: Did YouTube Kill Performance Art

Review: Jeff Culbert's The Donnelly Sideshow at the Victoria Fringe Theatre Festival 2011

Every location on the planet has a family whose notorious history becomes steeped in local culture as well-told legend.  In the cities and countryside of Southwestern Ontario that family is the Donnelly family of Biddulph township.  Growing up in London, Ontario I became familiar with the Donnellys, commonly referred to as the Black Donnellys, through plays, museum visits, books and articles.  Throughout much of my formative years, local punk rock band, The Black Donnellys were regular headliners on the stages of local clubs and dance halls.  A good friend of mine played lead guitar in one of the later incarnations of the band, The Black Donnellys 5.

The Donnelly story has all the necessary ingredients of a riveting yarn and then some.  Immigrants from Ireland who lived in Biddulph township in the late 1800s, the clan included parents James and Joanna, seven sons, one daughter and a cousin. Their wild ways culminated in a feud which eventually saw five members violently murdered by a vigilante mob in the middle of the night, February 4, 1880.

The most unassumingly earnest version of the story I've encountered is told by playwright, director and actor, Jeff Culbert in his new play, The Donnelly Sideshow, which Culbert performed at the recent 2011 Victoria Fringe Theatre Festival.  Culbert brings new life to the story by going back to it's unembellished roots, recounting the tale in a straightforward manner from the perspective of the only surviving witness of the massacre, farm hand Johnny O’Connor. 

The result is a performance that transports the audience back to the Donnelly homestead in the days of their dark demise.  A matter-of-fact point of view that allows no opportunity to turn away from the pulse pounding, heart-wrenching horror, drama, and romance (yes, romance) of the Donnelly story.  Culbert peppers his recounting of the tale with occasional humour, some new insights uncovered through his research, and a smattering of original, toe-tapping folk-songs.

The Donnelly Sideshow is a rewarding and captivating story-telling experience, even and especially for those who may already be familiar with the tale.

For information on Jeff Culbert's plays and upcoming performances visit www.jeffculbert.ca

Jeff Culbert Interview at the 2011 Victoria Fringe Festival by theotherlondon

My Favourite Places on Vancouver Island: Ridge Trail to Jocelyn Hill, Gowlland Tod Provincial Park

Ridge Trail outlook at Gowlland Tod. Stunning views even on a foggy day.

Trailhead location: Gowlland Tod, Caleb Pike trailhead on Caleb Pike Road about a half hour drive west of Victoria

Note: It's also possible to approach Jocelyn Hill from the McKenzie Bight access point at the north end of the park. This section of the trail has longer inland stretches.

Hike length: 8km

Hike duration: 3-4 hours

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Whenever I've mentioned Gowlland Tod  to locals on Vancouver Island, I've noticed there's about a 50/50 chance the name of this hidden gem of a park will be recognized.  Considering the beautiful views to be seen from it's hiking trails it's a mystery to me why it isn't more popular.  If I had to take a stab at the cause of it's lack of renown, I would guess it might have something to do with poorly marked trails.  When I first began visiting the park, it took numerous false starts before I could confidently navigate the series of looped paths near the Caleb Pike trailhead to successfully reach Jocelyn Hill. Happily, I noticed on my most recent visit that numerous new sign posts have been added.

The Ridge Trail hike from Caleb Pike to Jocelyn Hill overlooks one of the area's most impressive fjords, Finlayson Arm.  The 8km trek (4km to the the summit of Jocelyn Hill and 4km back) includes a few strenuous sections, but numerous scenic outlooks provide plenty of  opportunities to stop for a rest along the way.  Of course, the struggle is more than worth it.  Once you reach the summit of Jocelyn Hill, with it's stunning views of Saanich Inlet and the Gulf Islands, you'll know what I mean.

Exploring New Technologies at SIGGRAPH 2011

Emerging Technologies displays at SIGGRAPH 2011

I've been lucky enough to attend past SIGGRAPH conferences in Boston and Los Angeles, and having traveled a fair distance from my home base on both counts, I thought it was wonderful this year's host city was nearby Vancouver. A fantastic opportunity to rub elbows with an amazing array of world class digital researchers, artists and developers right in our own back yard.

Anyone would jump at the chance to go to SIGGRAPH. Right?

I especially appreciated having the opportunity to share the experience with many SIGGRAPH newbies, though admittedly, enticing friends to join me in attending the conference was more of a struggle than I had anticipated.

SIGGRAPH stands for Special Interest Group on GRAPHics and Interactive Techniques, and the subjects covered in the presentations highlight the mind-boggling scientific methods and theories developed by leading thinkers in the field. In past years I've mainly stuck to taking in the layman-friendly presentations but I've also made it a point to try to struggle through a few advanced level sessions. Memorable  moments include the MIT Lab's Ramesh Raskar and Jack Tumblin's 2006 course on computational photography, and Mine Özkar and Sotirios Kotsopoulos's 2008 course on spacial grammars.

What SIGGRAPH offers everyday folks (with an interest in technology), like me

But I digress, or rather, perhaps I should digress! The reason I love attending SIGGRAPH is, when it comes to exploring forward thinking concepts in technology, in my books this event is the bomb!  I've repeatedly observed those seemingly abstract new developments eventually mature into more mainstream interfaces, tools and services. It was at SIGGRAPH that I first encountered early examples of micro-blogging systems (like Twitter), augmented reality gaming interaction (like Wii), and new ways of interacting with devices (like your new smart phone). Along with discussions on the science of these technologies I've also heard early rumblings on the social and legal implications that go along with these developments.  Questions on privacy, morality and ownership that might surface down the road.  Then of course there are the artists who use the technologies to comment on current issues in society.  Much food for thought.

SIGGRAPH 2011 did not disappoint.  Some of my favourite offerings included Jack Stenner and Patrick LeMieux's augmented reality installation, Open House, an exploration of the results of the U.S. housing collapse; and the PocoPoco musical interface developed by Tokyo Metropolitan University and IDEEA Lab.

Hope to see you at SIGGRAPH 2012!

Trying out new gaming interfaces in The Sandbox at SIGGRAPH 2011

My Favourite Places on Vancouver Island: East Sooke Park, Coastal Trail

View from the Coastal Trail, East Sooke Park

Location: East Sooke Road, East Sooke, BC, 1 hour drive west of Victoria (download a map on the Capitol Regional District, East Sooke Park webpage)

Hike duration: 5-8 hours

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For my two cents, of the trails to be found on Vancouver Island, the most spectacular day hike by far is the 10km Coastal Trail at East Sooke Park.

You can access the trail from numerous spots along East Sooke Road but if you want to hike the entire trail, you’ll need to park either at the east end at the Aylard Farm entrance off Becher Bay Road, or at the west end at the Pike Bay entrance at the west end of East Sooke Road. Whichever end you choose to start at you’ll need to make arrangements to drop a vehicle off at the far side (expect this to add about half an hour to your trip).

I’ve encountered various views on which side of the park is best to start at and why. Whether you start at Aylard Farm or Pike Bay, you’re in for amazing vistas complete with views of the Olympic Mountain Range across the Strait of Juan de Fuca, wildlife viewing, rest stops at quiet pocket beaches, and a long, challenging hike. Heaven on earth!

By the way, for sake of reference, my favourite multi-day hike is the North Coast/Cape Scott Trail, but that’s another story :)

Coastal Trail, East Sooke Park

Beach at the Aylard Farm entrance

The Olympic Mountain Range across the Strait of Juan de Fuca

Back Alley Jams finale show: Why I heart local campus radio

Versa performing on Back Alley Jams, Jan 23, 2011

This week marks the last official episode of Back Alley Jams which has been broadcasting from The University of Victoria’s campus radio station, CFUV 101.9 FM for little over a year. The show, created and hosted by Ali Lopez in support of the local music scene, features live performances from local bands and musicians every week and was affiliated with the University of Victoria New Music Club.
Since BAJ’s pilot broadcast in May of 2010, I’ve had the pleasure of participating as one of the show’s volunteer techs on a number of live concert broadcasts. To commemorate the show’s finale, below is a list of my favourite BAJ performances (this is in no way meant to be a list of best performances by the way, just a few that for one reason or another I found to be personally memorable).

• Live On-air Jam 1 (May-16-10)
  First one!
• Live On-air Jam 4 (Aug-8-10)
  At the end of this jam I was a little taken aback when I noticed the musicians introducing themselves to each other. Listening to this show again, it’s hard to believe many of these songs were made up on the spot. Magic!
• The Loose Cannons (Dec-5-10)
  I didn’t work the board on this one, but I tuned in. Glad I got to join in on the fun along with the rest of CFUV’s listeners.
• Quoia/ Mindil Beach Markets/ David Ross McDonald – Rifflandia Jam (Sep-12-10)
  One of the numerous shows where an impractically large number of musicians crammed onto CFUV’s little closet of a studio floor (which has a grand total of six inputs). Everyone made the best of the less than ideal conditions and the result was this great show.
• Vital Hands (Feb-6-11)
  Really enjoyed the performance put on by these friendly and talented musicians.

For a full listing of Back Alley Jams episodes visit the BAJ website.

Tune into Back Alley Jams' finale episode on CFUV's website at 5pm PT, Sunday, June 12, 2011.

Being a somewhat recent transplant to this area of the country, BAJ has offered me a unique way of getting acquainted with Vancouver Island’s fabulous local music scene. It’s also been a rewarding counterpart to the other hat I wear at UVic as a member of the university’s web team, allowing me to work closely with some of UVic’s amazing students. For these reasons and many more, I’m sad to see this amazing show come to and end. So long, BAJ. I miss you already!

Support your local campus radio station!!

Sasquatch 2011: Memorable moments

I trust you won’t be too surprised to hear that our recent Sasquatch weekend didn’t quite go as planned. By no fault of our own, of course. This year, we even went as far to draw up a concert wish list.

Of course we missed out on a few concerts, happened upon a few shows unexpectedly, and generally wandered off course repeatedly. And thank goodness we did! Otherwise we would have seriously missed out on those special, unexpected moments and revelations…

We're definitely doing this again next year moment

We reached the gates half way through Friday night’s lineup and finished setting up camp as that night's closing act, the Foo Fighters, were wrapping up their set on the main stage.  As a consolation prize we discovered there’s more to arriving late to this party than just being fashionable. In the interest of not letting the cat completely out of the bag on this well kept secret I’m going to (overflow camping!) stop here.

WTF moment
   
We left the City and Colour concert early hoping to catch an artist signing at the Easy Street Records booth and wandered into this…

In case you can’t figure out what’s happening in this picture, this is a sky full of toilet paper and Black Joe Lewis & the Honeybears performing a rocking cover of Surfin’ Bird.

What music festivals are all about moment

I believe everyone who had the privilege of witnessing the Other Lives concert on the Yeti stage on Sunday afternoon will understand what I’m talking about when I say this concert was the epitome of what music concerts are all about.  Hands down my favourite musical performance of the entire festival.  The five piece band, each member playing multiple instruments, sometimes simultaneously, put on one of the tightest, richest sounding shows I’ve heard in a while.  I’d originally planned to leave a little early to try and claim a good spot at a following concert on another stage.  Once they started up though, I just couldn't tear myself away.
   
What was I thinking?! moment
   
Having caught Local Natives in a small club at SXSW earlier this year I had assumed I didn’t need to see them play again at Sasquatch.  As luck would have it, I ended up at their show anyway. Boy, was I wrong!
   
Double rainbow moment
   
A colleague of mine asked about The Flaming Lips show on Sunday night. My description went something like this: At the start of the show, the band members emerged one by one from the centre of a giant eye projected into the middle of the stage. Then Wayen Coyne appeared in a giant plastic ball and walked on the crowd.  The sky was filled with streamers, coloured confetti and giant balloons.  Then the Teletubbies appeared. Oh yes, it was AMAZING!

Giant eye

Wayne Coyne walks on the crowd in a giant plastic ball

Streamers, coloured confetti and giant balloons

Teletubbies

 See more pics in my Sasquatch Festival 2011 Flickr set.

My Favourite Places on Vancouver Island: Cathedral Grove

Cathedral Grove, Vancouver Island

Living Forest Trail, MacMillan Provincial Park

Location: Vancouver Island, Hwy 4 between Qualicum Beach and Port Alberni (map)

Parking along either side of Highway 4

Time: About two (leisurely) hours, could be shorter if you’re in a rush

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Cathedral Grove!  A pretty, lyrical name that I think suits this little gem of a spot very well. True, not everyone loves Cathedral Grove. To placate the naysayers and to keep everything on the level, I thought it might be apropos to start things off with a quick run down of what Cathedral Grove is not:

1. While hiking is listed as one of the activities to be enjoyed in MacMillan Provincial Park page on the BC Parks site, I believe it’s fair to suggest this is based on a somewhat broad interpretation of the concept of hiking. I expect most will see this as more of a ‘stretch your legs’ kind of experience and not a hiking destination.
   
2. A visit to Cathedral Grove isn’t a ‘get away from it all’ kind of experience, unless your interpretation of getting away from it all includes encountering people.  Possibly lots of people.  To be more precise, possibly lots of tourists. Depending on the time of year you visit the grove, the parking lot and trails will likely be moderately busy to crawling with people.  Furthermore, you should be aware that at most points along the trails winding their way through the grove you’ll be within eyeshot and/or earshot of Highway 4.
   
3. Cathedral Grove is not the only spot on Vancouver Island to view stands of tall Douglas Fir…though it is one of the most accessible spots. I believe taller samples of Douglas Fir can be found in the Nimpkish River Ecological Reserve

Cathedral Grove, Vancouver Island

 Per aspera ad astra

Now, let’s cut the doddling and get down to the nitty-gritty with the stellar details! These trees are massive and they’re 800 years old!!! 800 years old!!! To us colonials, 800 years is virtually ancient.  Practically before the universe began. Nay, for intensive purposes, truly before the universe began! America had yet to be discovered, after all.

Beyond being massive and ancient, the trees of Cathedral Grove are beautiful. In my books beautiful enough to warrant the two hour plus trip up Island from Victoria to spend a couple of hours checking them out.  If you’re going to make the trip I’d recommend stopping at the Old Country Market in Coombs, BC (a.k.a ‘Goats on the Roof’) to pick up some snacks and/or taking a side trip a little ways off the highway to the best pub on the Island, The Crow and Gate Pub in Cedar, BC. Order the Cheddar Ploughman. YUM!

Sasquatch checklist: A few music festival packing tips for my friends

Crowd shot of the terrace at the Gorge during the National concert at Sasquatch 2010, a photo by theotherlondon on Flickr.

One week to go to the Sasquatch 2011 music festival and the excitement is almost too much to bear! While the big draw at Sasquatch is, of course, the stellar line-up, a close second is the opportunity to take it all in whilst surrounded by the majestic glory of the Columbia River Gorge. Gobsmacked I tell you!! As with all experiences in the great outdoors, one must be prepared.

If you're wondering what to bring, here's a few things I'd suggest:

• Sunscreen
• Warm clothes for chilly evenings
• A small backpack to bring your stuff to the festival grounds in
• A blanket to sit on...no chairs allowed
• A point and shoot camera...no pro cameras allowed
• Snacks
• Rain gear (just in case)
• Earplugs (if you’re planning on sleeping in the campground)
• Hand sanitizer and wipes

Sasquatch 2010 photos by theotherlondon on Flickr.

Things I learned at SXSWi 2011, part 4: Optimizing content for mobile

Things I’ve learned about making pies

My first strawberry rhubarb pie.

A while back my friend Andrea came up with the awesome idea to get a group of our friends together  on a regular basis so we could teach each other things.  It’s of course also an excuse for us to meet up to enjoy a few beverages and some conversation, but that’s not the main point (at least that’s our story and we’re sticking to it).

Anyway, Andrea started us off with a flower arranging party (if this perks your interest and you live in the Victoria, BC area, check out the workshops at the floral shop Andrea co-owns with her mom, Poppies Floral Art). Next, our friend Carole introduced us to the art of making wontons. Yum!!  We’ve also gotten together to decorate mirrors and dye Easter eggs.  For my contribution, I promised everyone I would organize an evening of group pie baking.

That was over a year ago.

An explanation in my defense

I most recently proposed holding my pie baking soirée in June, but I don’t think anyone, least of all me, is overly serious about the idea that this will actually happen. 2 months ago, I proposed a spring date that has since come and gone.  Yes, this is a recurring pattern. Now before you go passing judgment and blaming me for being a serial friend-disappointer, I want to point out, in my defense, that it has proved extremely difficult to coordinate a night that works for everyone during a week when I have time to make enough pastry dough for 10-15 pies. 10-15 pies!!

Anyway, I fear the time has come for me to rethink my skill-swap strategy.  That said, in the interest of not completely dropping the friendship ball where passing on pie making skills are concerned, I thought I’d offer this post:

How to make pies

Notice I’ve titled this section, ‘how to make pies’, not ‘how to make A pie’.  If you’ve resigned yourself to being a one-off pie baker, I can tell you right now, your pie will probably suck.  How can I be so certain? Well, one of the innate qualities of pie pastry is it’s ability to recognize undedicated novices. Seriously.

Choosing a pastry recipe

I don't believe it really matters which pastry recipe you choose. I’ve tried a few different ones with fairly consistent levels of satisfaction – in the beginning, every recipe I tried produced somewhat miserable results and, with those false starts behind me, every recipe I’ve since come across has been pretty all right. As of late, I most often use the recipe printed on the label of whichever brand of shortening I’ve purchased. The only additional recipe-related comment I would offer is that, despite any claims you might come across, ‘no-fail’ pastry is a pipedream.

Tips for making pies:

• Keep your shortening in the freezer and when you’re ready to use it, cut it into sugar-cube sized cubes before adding it to the flour.
  
  
• When cutting the shortening into the flour, don’t worry about making sure the ingredients are well and uniformly mixed. The less you fiddle with the mixture the better. As outlined in most recipes, stop when the mixture begins to resemble crumbs and small peas. I’ve learned that stopping a little sooner- when the mixture begins to resemble flour with crumbs and peas of various sizes - works too.
  
  
• Wrap your pastry dough in plastic wrap and allow it to rest in the fridge before rolling it out. I usually let dough rest a 1/2 day or overnight.
  
  
• Wrap your rolled out pastry dough around your rolling pin and unroll it into the pie pan.
  
  
• Unless the fruit you’re using is super tart, use 1/2 to 3/4 the amount of sugar the recipe calls for.
  
  
• For fruit pies, assemble the ingredients for your pie filing and let the mixture sit for a bit (at least 15 minutes), then drain off the juice before placing it in the crust.
  
  
• Add a little additional flour, corn starch or tapioca to your pie filling. I usually put in an extra teaspoon or two if the fruit seems very juicy.
  
  
• In my experience, the easiest kind of pie to make is apple.  If you’re trying to decide what type of filling to put in your first pie, go for apple.  Strawberry rhubarb is pretty easy too, but don’t forget to drain the juice before placing the fruit in the crust.

Links to pie filling recipes I've tried and liked:

• Apple pie 
• Apple berry pie
• Strawberry rhubarb
• Strawberry
• Peach
• Lemon meringue pie
• Chicken pot pie

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With thanks always to pie baking superstar, Corrie Huys and her son Baasje who gets the first slice of every pie I make.

Things I learned at SXSWi 2011, part 3: The game layer

I really enjoyed attending Josh Williams’, CEO of Gowalla, game-mechanics themed presentation, Chasing Virtual Good in the Real World at SXSWi 2010. That said, I was pleased when Seth Priebatsch’s, Chief Ninja of scvngr, SXSWi 2011 keynote, The Game Layer on Top of the World, was announced. I was keen to see how the inside conversation on game mechanics in the real world had progressed over the past year.

SXSWi 2010: Chasing Virtual Good in the Real World, Josh Williams:
Through discussing his experiences developing PackRat and Gowalla, and sharing some of his observations on user behaviour, Williams provided great insight into what compels people to participate in game type activities online. Williams went on to point out that game play mechanics were not just limited to location based services, but were becoming more and more prevalent in behaviour all over the web, and in the real world, too.

Some of the info Williams' included in his presentation at SXSWi 2010 is covered in this blog post by Andrew Mager on zdnet.com.

SXSWi 2011: The Game Layer on Top of the World, Seth Priebatsch:
I expect this is a bit of a moot point but, what a difference a year makes! Over the past year, it seems game mechanics have gone well beyond ‘creeping into real world behaviour’. In his keynote at SXSW 2011, Priebatsch proposed the game layer might provide solutions for 5 pretty large problems facing our world today, including issues with education systems and global warming.

Things I learned at SXSWi 2011, part 2: Rey Junco's Twitter research

Things I learned at SXSWi 2011, part 1: Updates from Google's Marissa Mayer

Food friends cook for friends when they’re feeling under the weather

Since moving from the east to the west coast a few years back, I’ve observed a few notable cultural differences. Attitudes toward eating, for one. As you might expect on the ‘left’ coast, food choices are generally lighter and healthier than those you’d find out east, though I’ve recently learned there are exceptions to this rule. When I fell ill a short while back, my amazing friends dropped by with dishes that it appears are tried and true standbys no matter what part of the country you live in. Soups and casseroles that make for great stick-to-your-ribs dinners and also reheat well for lunch the next day. As a little thank you, I promised to post links to a few of the recipes for others to try out and share. Call me sentimental (or perhaps, a sentimental little piglet) but in my books, nothing makes a person feel as loved as a gift of food.

Maclaren's Imperial Cheese and Macaroni (thanks, Carole)
This is like mac and cheese turned up to 11 especially if you’re a fan of Maclaren’s Imperial Cheese, the crumbly cheese spread in the red container with the black lid. If that’s not enough to perk your interest, perhaps the addition of mushrooms and bacon will up the drool factor. Where has this recipe been all my life (minus the years I was vegetarian, of course)? Maclaren's Imperial Cheese and Macaroni recipe.

Mom’s Shepherd’s Pie (thanks, Steve)
This dish made frequent appearances on the supper table of my childhood, so I was extra pleased to savour it’s yummy goodness while I was convalescing. A pretty standard recipe with all the usual suspects – potatoes, ground meat and a few additional ingredients for flavour. To me, shepherd’s pie is all about the condiments, so you really want to keep it simple. In addition to gravy, I like to apply a sprinkling of mint sauce AND Heinz 57. Mmmmm! Mom's Shepherd's Pie recipe.

Cocoa Chili (thanks, Cara)
I had no idea you could put cocoa in chili, but apparently a lot of people do and you know what? It makes for pretty fantastic tasting chili. Cocoa Chili recipe.

Chicken Noodle Soup (thanks, Baasje)
Of course. Chicken soup recipe.

Hot Cocoa
One of my favourite rainy day treats. You might be as surprised as I was to hear that hot cocoa is exceptionally good for you. Add a little chili and cinnamon to make it exceptionally delicious. Hot Cocoa recipe.

Great treats and boredom tools (thanks Andrea, Bob and Terra!)

My Top 5 Fave Digital Media/Social Media Researchers

Inspired by an experience I had at SXSW Interactive a few weeks back, below is a list of my top 5 fave digital media/social media researchers – scientists, artists and teachers whose ideas and theories have made the biggest impact on my professional values, changed my life, and oh yes, rocked my world.

Michael Wesch
Associate Professor of Cultural Anthropology, Kansas State University

Why I think Michael Wesch is awesome: From my point of view, if digital media research has a pop superstar, it’s Michael Wesch. Wesch conducts cutting edge studies on the effects of new media and then, to leave no doubt he’s got his finger on the pulse, he produces viral content about his research. Having started out on my career path in the mid-nineties, my knowledge and understanding of the Internet was, at first, pretty much limited to pure mechanics. Wesch was one of the first researchers I encountered whose work made me consider what was happening beyond the tools and code.

Research interests: The effects of new media on society and culture

Big accomplishment(s): Several major awards for his work, including a Wired Magazine Rave Award; recently named an Emerging Explorer by National Geographic

I recommend: Michael Wesch’s Digital Ethnography YouTube Channel; don't miss Wesch’s 2007 classic, The Machine is Us/ing Us

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Tim Berners-Lee
Director, World Wide Web Consortium
Senior researcher at MIT's Computer Science and AI Lab

Why I think Tim Berners-Lee is awesome: I don’t think I’d be alone in suggesting the world would be a very different place if Tim Berners-Lee wasn’t one of the good guys. As the inventor of the web, Berners-Lee was/is uniquely positioned to influence the user experience. Where others might have focused on leveraging potential business opportunities, Berners-Lee has concentrated  his attention on championing the protection of human rights and spearheading initiatives related to accessibility, standardization, open access data, and net neutrality.

Research interests: Continued development of the web

Big accomplishment(s): Inventing the World Wide Web

I recommend:

• Follow recommendations laid out by the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C), founded and headed by Tim Berners-Lee
• Read Weaving the Web: The Original Design and Ultimate Destiny of the World Wide Web by its inventor, Tim Berners-Lee, ISBN 0-06-251587-X. Though many things have changed since this book was published in 1999, I’d still suggest it as a necessary read for everyone who works with or on the web (which, these days, could be just about everyone, I guess)

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Florian Thalhofer
Guest Professor and Lecturer University of Leipzig
Inventor of the Korsakow System (software for creating database narratives)

Why I think Florian Thalfhofer is awesome: I expect it might be easy to assume German artist/scientist/inventor Florian Thalhofer to be a token wild card entry on this list, but that isn't the case. I attended a workshop on Thalhofer’s database cinema software, the Korsakow System at a SIGGRAPH Conference in 2006. As you know, at the time the web was as bit of a different place, static content was king, web 2.0 was in pre-explosion mode, the popularity of personal blogs and podcasts were starting to gain steam, YouTube was just coming out of it’s infancy. In this environment, the Korsakow System was, and still is to some extent, a precursory exploration of non-linear, user driven narrative taken to the extreme. A tool designed to deliver all the necessary components of a narrative with minimal structure, where the user can navigate a story in whatever random way preferred. My introduction to the Korsakow System was the first time I considered how much and how little influence the content creator truly has on the audience - an audience with the ability to control their own experience…or so it would seem. As a little additional tit for tat, Thalhofer chose to name his system, invented way back when in 2000 by the way, after Korsakoff’s Syndrome, an affect of extreme alcoholism characterized by apathy, an inability to maintain focus, memory loss and invented memories. How’s that for visionary?

Research interests: Non-linear, interactive narration

Big accomplishment(s): Inventor of the Korsakow System; numerous international awards and exhibitions

I recommend: Download the open source Korsakow System software and give it a try

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Rey Junco
Associate Professor, Lock Haven University

Why I think Rey Junco is awesome: I’ve repeatedly experienced first hand the difficulties associated with introducing social media tools and services in a higher education environment. In fact, it’s been the bane of my existence for the past six or seven years. I am indebted to Junco whose research appeared as a light at the end of a long, dreary tunnel when I had the pleasure of attending his presentation at SXSW Interactive 2011. Junco uses quantitative methods to assess the effects of social media on student development, engagement, and success. His revealing studies are the first I’ve encountered to reliably bridge the gap between the rigid ideals and expectations of academia and the pragmatic, laissez-faire attitudes that permeate online culture. Not an easy feat.

Research interests: Social media in higher education

Big accomplishment(s): The best higher ed related presentation I’ve ever attended at a digital media conference; numerous awards and publications

I recommend:

• Check out Rey Junco’s blog, Social Media in Higher Education
• Follow @reyjunco
  

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Tim Blackmore
Professor, Faculty of Information and Media Studies

Why I think Tim Blackmore is awesome: For many current and former Faculty of Information and Media Studies (FIMS) students at The University of Western Ontario, Tim Blackmore is that memorable professor who wakens enthusiasm and kindles interest enough to make all the years of struggle and hardship worthwhile. When I decided to return to school in 2004, I’d already worked in the web industry for almost a decade and I felt I had a pretty good grip on how things were put together on the web. It was a huge eye opener for me when I began the 3-year MIT program in FIMS. Blackmore’s introductory course, then titled MIT025, was the first course I took. The material we covered helped me gain a much broader perspective of the web and other digital technologies, a stronger understanding of why and how the web had evolved to it’s present state, and a better idea of where things were going.

Research interests: Ways that culture and cultural products revolve around each other

Big accomplishment(s): In my books, Blackmore is the most awesome professor ever; numerous awards and publications

I recommend: Blackmore’s introductory Media, Information and Technoculture course offered at The University of Western Ontario.

While composing this list, I realized it would probably be appropriate to put together a corporate counterpart ‘My Top 5 Fave Digital Media/Social Media Business Leaders’. Stay tuned…

Fast, Cheap and Out of Control: An Errol Morris Inspired Take on Hot Topics at SXSWi 2011

SXSWi Display Screen. Photo originally
posted in my SXSWi 2011 Flickr set.

South by Southwest (SXSW) is a set of film, interactive and music festivals and conferences that take place every spring in Austin, Texas. In 2011, SXSW commemorated it’s 25th year and was held  March 11 to the 20th.

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Hot Topics at SXSWi 2011

There were three main ideas I took away from SXSWi this year. Themes which are coincidentally paralleled in the title of my favourite Errol Morris documentary, Fast, Cheap and Out of Control:

1. Fast: Publishing content to multiple platforms
   
   Many sessions this year focused on methods and best practices for designing for multiple platforms and devices. Of the talks I attended, the folks who seemed to have the best grip on the situation were the technology design team at NPR, their basic approach summed up in a handy acronym for their content publishing strategy: C.O.P.E., Create Once Publish Everywhere
   
   
2. Cheap: The benefits of giving it away for free
   
   From Julie Cohen's polished and info packed presentation, Radical Openness: Growing TED by Giving it Away to Blake Mycoskie’s keynote address to the many discussions regarding new models of education, it seemed everyone was up for promoting 'free' as a worthy business strategy this year.
   
   
3. Out of Control (kind of): Curating content
   
   A fair portion of the sessions at SXSWi 2011 focused on the ins and outs of curating online content. Notable sessions I attended included:
   

• NYT reporters, Brian Stelter and Jennifer Preston's core conversation on social media and the Middle East
• Margo Bloomstein's presentation, Creation, Curation, and the Ethics of Content Strategy
• Social Ranking: Finding Interesting User-Generated Content

I’d be remiss not to mention what appeared to be this year’s catch phrase du jour, ‘The Game Layer’, huge in the spotlight of hot topics at SXSWi this year and subject of Seth Priebatsch's March 12th keynote address . That said, I can’t realistically list it as one of my take away highlights as I work in an industry where we’ll probably guffaw over this one until the 11th hour is upon us.

As a surface summary, I'll also offer that my second year at SXSW Interactive was way less overwhelming, and subsequently a bit more illuminating, than my deer-in-the-headlights initiation last year. I should point out that I’m still every bit as worn out - any energy I saved through planning and foresight was quickly folded into a ramped up social schedule centered around reconnecting with people I’d met last year.  Well, I've got plenty of time to recover before SXSW2012. Can't wait!

The Pains of Being Pure at Heart performed a set so smokin' hot at Sapient Nitro's Mix at Six, SXSWi 2011, one of the stage monitors caught fire during the finale. Photo originally posted in my SXSWi 2011 Flickr set.

My Favourite Places on Vancouver Island: McKenzie Bight, Mount Work Regional Park

McKenzie Bight, Mount Work Regional Park
Originally uploaded by theotherlondon

Location: Mount Work Regional Park. Trail head for the McKenzie Bight trail can be accessed near the Mount Work parking lot

Distance: About 3km

Time: 1 - 1.5 hour(s)

Parking: Parking lot/street parking Mount Work Provincial Park

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If you've only got time for a quick outing close to the city, I'd say this is an excellent choice. All the usual suspects are here, gorgeous dense green vegetation, a breathtaking seaside vista (a bit on the brief side), bubbling brooks, pretty waterfalls plunging over cliffs steps from the trail, a grind of a climb (mercifully on the brief side), etc., etc. It's also a great walk to enjoy with a group of friends as most sections of the trail are fairly wide.

The trip is actually comprised of two trails - the McKenzie Bight Trail and the Cascades Trail. And, as you may now be suspecting, old friend, the Cascades Trail is the reason I've included this spot as one of my favourite places on Vancouver Island. Not just because of 'the cascades', which are beautiful, of course! We are such sentimental creatures...




Yann Tiersen-live aux eurock rue des cascades, Eurockéennes de Belfort, 2001