Fresh Tracks

Soundcloud is my new best friend

2011-09-30T15:47:00.000-07:00

The name had drifted through my crowd for awhile, but I'd never really taken the time to find out how cool Soundcloud really is. After working from home for a few weeks I discovered hanging out with Soundcloud is way cooler than putting together silly little playlists from tracks I'd bought off iTunes. When I really needed a pal Soundcloud was there for me, and still is, whether it's while I'm sitting at my computer feeling uninspired or need a boost as I cruise through VanCity...I can always get Soundcloud on the phone.

It's like this whole new scene opened up for me, and all of a sudden I realized I'm not alone, that people in this scene like the same kinda beats as me.

I've never been a top 40 girl, never will. In grade 6, I was listening to RunDMC and the Beastie Boys. By grade 9, the hip hop got heavier, hanging with TooShort, IceT and Brand Nubian. Me and my buddy would sit at the Ravina bleachers belting out lyrics that no 14-year-old should know. It was at the same time I also found house, when another friend would wanna wile away the hours on the dancefloor of all-ages club Focus hidden behind Toronto city hall.

My love for house has stayed true but has also gotten deeper and more complex. Seems I'm not the only one. Here are my a few favs for the week, and if you want a deeper dose of my reality, check out more tracks I heart

JUNIOR BOYS - FM (Tensnake Remix) by Tensnake

Moby - I Love To Move In Here (Holy Ghost! Remix) by future classic

I had absolutely no idea who this guy was either, but find myself missing him like family when I'm away too long:

29 min mix 2011 - GUIDO by guido productions

Sookie's Song of the Week: Niggas In Paris

2011-08-16T11:54:00.000-07:00

Kanye West x HOV = WATCH THE THRONE / Niggas In Paris. from JM.TREFLE on Vimeo.

So Kanye West and Jay-Z launched their new album Watch the Throne this week, and I surprisingly can't stop listening to it. I'm happy Kanye moved away from the all too ubiquitous auto-tune treatment to his tracks and went for something bassy and glitchy like this. I almost feel like he and Jay have their finger on the pulse of us Northwest coast bass junkies. My fav is the pulsating Niggas In Paris, I know the lyrics are typical hip hop hype but I'm still down...knowing sometimes you gotta throw it down so hard and dirty like this muthafuckers will fine you.

Sookie's Song of the Week: Tell Me - Jacques Greene

2011-06-09T13:53:00.000-07:00

Somewhere in my social media web I found a little news nugget about Jacques Greene, a 21-year-old Canadian house music producer, soon to unleash an official remix for Radiohead's King of Limbs. Digging deeper revealed that Jacques had just spun here in Montreal for Mutek but i missed it! Fortunately I can probably catch up with him on the west coast where he's bound to spin some silky tracks for fans at Bass Coast project, my favorite music festival last summer.

Amazing Alien Toad on Discovery Channel

2010-07-20T12:30:00.000-07:00

Here's a story I produced on the pipa pipa ( Surinam Toad) for Discovery Channel's show Is It Possible? It was filmed at the Vancouver Aquarium where they had a "pregnant" and camera-shy Pipa Pipa:

Best Olympic Moment from Torino 2006

2009-06-06T13:02:00.000-07:00

I woke up at 10AM, when Olympic tickets were to go back on sale today, and quietly sat biding my time for a couple hours in the virtual waiting room of www.vancouver2010.com. The page refreshed automatically, every 30 seconds, allowing users random access to the ticket site. When I finally got my chance I made my picks of available tickets but they seemed to disappear under my nose. Fortunately I did nail the one ticket I wanted above all else, the Olympic Ladies' Snowboard Cross. I doubt it'll be anything like my favourite Olympic moment from Torino in 2006 but I'm ecstatic that I got a chance like the rest of the world to be part of 2010.

Eminem the Rapper Was Prepared for the Bruno Ass Cracker.

2009-06-02T10:25:00.000-07:00

So the MTV movie award stunt with "Bruno" landing in Eminem's lap was a stunt, according to my sources at Dose.ca (: . I knew Cohen's wires hadn't just had a Janet Jackson-style malfunction, he definitely knew what he was doing. The comedian recently had to stop filming his new Bruno flick because of an anal bleaching gone wrong - if that hasn't enough [press] to foreshadow the flying ass cracker manouvre I figured it had to be a stunt considering the Samberg sandwich with Timberlake in the limo. It was an obvious prelude of what was to come. What I can't figure out is, what benefit was it for Eminem? I think it would've been better if they kissed, a la, Britney and Madonna. It would've got all the mainstream press involved too, or at least CNN.

How to party like a 16 year old

2009-02-21T12:51:00.000-08:00

I did have some great parties in High School but nothing like this!

Self-defense for Beginners

2008-07-14T13:47:00.001-07:00

It's important to know self-defense I think. Here John Cleese demonstrates a proven method of protecting yourself against an attacker.

Spook in the City - Colborne Lodge

2008-06-12T17:12:00.000-07:00

Travel with John and Sookie to all the spooky places in the city like historic High Park where we reveal the ghastly hauntings of Colborne Lodge.

Spook in the City - Grenadier Pond

2008-06-12T17:11:00.001-07:00

It's said that a group of soldiers called the Grenadiers fell through the ice of High Park's Grenadier Pond during battle in the 1800's. Many did not make it out alive.

Spook in the City - Royal York Ballroom

2008-06-12T17:10:00.001-07:00

The Spook in the City series continues with the haunting tale of what’s been referred to as the Crystal Ballroom, the once vibrant then vacant top floor of the Royal York Hotel in Toronto.

Spook in the City - Royal York Hallway

2008-06-12T16:58:00.001-07:00

In this series John and Sookie take viewers to the scene of a high-profile haunting in Toronto. Follow us through the empty halls for a chilling tale.

Spook in the City - Royal York stairwell

2008-06-12T16:55:00.000-07:00

Delve into the scene of a high-profile haunting in Toronto with John and Sookie. Watch and you'll learn the dangers awaiting in the Royal York stairwell.

Hot Docs Festival Brings the Best of Documentary to Toronto

2008-04-20T16:22:00.000-07:00

The Hot Docs festival kicked off in Toronto last Thursday with a moving documentary, Air India 182, bringing to life the stories of families touched by the worst act of terror Canadians have ever encountered.

After this opening weekend the festival buzz is heating up, giving high honours to Football Undercover, a film profiling a Muslim women’s soccer team, as well as Carny, a colourful doc that explores the strong and unusual bonds of one girl on the road.

Cuban Song could be given a miss I’m told. The documentary follows in the tracks of other Cuban docs that show how life and music mesh in Havana, however it lacks the depth and tone set by its cinematic predecessors. Tiger Spirit failed to engage audiences in the story of divided Koreans reuniting for the first time in decades, while Club Native hit home showing the difficult side of life for Mohawk Indians uniting with partners off their reserve. (Thanks for the tips & reviews John, Lana & Diego).

I’ve got my festival pass – 10 films for $90 – but have been caught up preparing for a BBC micro-session on how to approach research for forensics documentaries. I’ll be presenting a Cold Blood case study Wednesday at 2:30PM. Those with an industry pass are welcome to swing by and see what you can learn about the field of archive and visual research from our experienced panel.

You Ain't Artsier Than Me

2008-03-24T20:10:00.000-07:00

Knew nothing about The Grouch when I found his video Artsy on YouTube - best video I've seen in awhile. Of course he follows some of the breakthough, now mainstream, animation style Apple did for itunes (think Eminem), but he wraps it up in the last minute with a style so fresh it makes me wanna learn how to illustrate and make hip hip videos too.

Spook in the City: The Distillery District

2008-03-08T12:31:00.000-08:00

Spook in the City takes viewers on a tour of the dark side of Toronto to the scene of a high-profile haunting, because no one is too old for a chilling ghost story.

In this first of the series from Haloween 2006, John and I visited the Distillery District. It's the largest example of Victorian industrial architecture in North America and a top destination for shoppers, gallery lovers and foodies. Some seriously spooky stories lie behind its cold stone walls.

Women On Mars?

2008-01-24T08:09:00.000-08:00

NASA distributed recent pictures, taken by Mars explorer Spirit, on the red planet which news reports are speculating could be a sign of life on the planet. The photo, they say, depicts a female figure walking down a mountain swinging her arm. How they know the figure is female beats me, and without a sequence of images it's really difficult to believe that there's any movement of the figure. For all I know it could be a bizarre geological feature of the planet that creates such sculpted figures. Perhaps Henry Moore left something behind in a recent visit.

2008 Weblog Awards

2008-01-04T14:16:00.000-08:00

If you take your blogging to heart now's the time to stand up and nominate your favourite blogs for the 2008 Bloggies and get a little recoginition for your efforts and the efforts of those blogs you love. While entries can come from around the globe, finalists will be announced in Texas and on the web January 22.

Gmail Licenses My Fav Family Pic

2007-12-24T14:33:00.000-08:00

Seems Gmail scours flickr for free pictures too. In this case they came across my favourite family photo, one of my father and me as a small child in a Rocky Mountain snowfall. About a week ago they asked to license the rights for its use and tomorrow evening (the 25th) the shot goes live on their logout page for US users only.

Happy Hallowe'en Toronto!

2007-10-30T16:34:00.001-07:00

Five short episodes of Spook in the City are online at blogTO including the latest, the hauntings of Colborne Lodge.

Follow John and I as we reveal the dark secrets of some of Toronto's most historic places, and prepare to be spooked!

Colborne Lodge

The Distillery District

The Royal York's Haunted Stairwell

The Royal York's Haunted Hallway

The Royal York's Crystal Ballroom

Microstock Means Cheaper Stock Photography

2007-10-04T10:59:00.000-07:00

I've had a fair amount of success getting my photographs published using Flickr, but so far I've made only about $100, for one shot that hangs in a Yorkville hotel. Now I've begun selling my photos through microstock manager Fotolia.

Microstock sites are popping up frequently, challenging old licensing models and the expensive stills rates of traditional photographic agencies. Microstock sites, now used with more frequency by online and print media designers, can deliver high-quality photographs for super cheap rates, often starting at only a dollar. So far, I've only posted a few shots in my stills portfolio, but with my new Canon S5IS in hand, I intend to add dozens more and hopefully reap the rewards of my snap-happy hobby.

If you've got a bunch of snaps you think could sell commercially, click this link to Fotolia and sign up. I'll get a credit for the referral and you'll make some extra bucks doing something you enjoy.

BlogTV Fails to Engage

2007-09-20T12:53:00.000-07:00

It wasn't long ago blogTV.ca (no relation) announced its TV portal of the future by cruising the city in obnoxious Hummers screaming out for attention, and 'viewers'. Initially business was good for the social networking slash video site, owned and operated by Alliance Atlantis. However, since the launch in March, traffic had dropped steadily and sales never really got off the ground. Today, a memo explaining this and declaring that the end is in sight was circulated to employees in the interactive department. There's no future for these kids. Playback speculates several execs may go down with the ship too.

I can't say I'm upset about this. My first experience with the site was one of disgust. I'd attended Ron Jeremy's book launch at The Gladstone and suffered some audio issues with my camera. I needed some video fast. Since I knew the crew from blogTV had been there I scoped their site for some video of the event. The first I came across was a pre-Jeremy interview with two lovely ladies in the back of the blogTV limo, er, Hummer. The backseat sleazeball from the site kept zooming in on the girl's boobs then began asking them to take their tops off for the camera. It didn't seem like these girls had expected the 'interview' to take this direction. They politely declined, and then it just got gross. The 'interviewer' was fixated on getting his money shot and wouldn't take no for an answer. He kept repeating his proposal. They held firm, surely hoping Jeremy would soon arrive and break-up the routine. It was uncomfortable for me, so I can only imagine how these ladies felt. Next time I saw the blogTV Hummer parked on College Street I made a point of telling them how horrible I thought they were and never visited their site again. Adios sleazeballs.

According to the memo the site will cease operating on the 28th. As of yet no plans are in place to maintain or move user-generated content. Read what people think about the demise of blogTV on blogTO.

HBO's Flight of the Conchords

2007-09-12T09:39:00.000-07:00

I've got a favourite new show - Flight of the Conchords produced by HBO. I've been watching them on TMN on Demand. Problem is I've watched the whole first season over a week or two and now I'm hungry for more. I find myself cruising through YouTube to get a fix of the Conchords.

If I pitch it to you you may not be sold, you're gonna have to watch the video. It's just that the concept doesn't sound all that original, at first. I used to get similar pitches a fair bit when I worked in development.

Here it is anyway: A couple guys in a band struggle to make something of themselves in the big city. Difference is these are a couple of idiots from New Zealand living in New York City, they've got one fan and they're not actually any good when they perform - unless you're into hearing the lyrics "I Like to Rock The Party" repeated endlessly. Yet, when they break into lyrical reverie mid-conversation these guys are brilliant, and hilarious. Their musical paradoies rival anything Andy Samberg and Justin Timberlake could dream up. Hopefully the show's duo, Jemaine and Bret, will one day have their big breakthrough too.

Trapped Premiers on History Canada 8PM Saturday Night

2007-09-07T18:10:00.000-07:00

On the 13th of October 1972 a turboprop plane carrying a rugby team from Uruguay crashed deep in the Andes mountains. Those who’d managed to make it out alive were stranded in one of the harshest places on earth. In the months that followed these men lived out one of the greatest survival stories of our time. Tomorrow night at 8PM, in the premier episode of the series Trapped, you can hear the stories of those that survived first hand. Nando Parrado will share details of his grueling trek across the mountains to find help, while Carlos Paez will reveal how he never gave up looking for his son, Carlitos, who’d also been a passenger on the plane.

Like many of you, I'd seen the movie Alive with Ethan Hawke years ago, but it came nowhere near in inspiring me as much as the real accounts of these men have. Working on the show as visual researcher I confronted the story daily, sourcing long forgotten footage of the rescue and the reunion with loved ones. I found photos of the survivors struggling to survive in such a desperate climate, living within a fuselage they’d made their home. Every bit I saw revealed an incredible strength of spirit, the kind of spirit that has now led each one of the survivors to positions of wealth and great personal success.

In a bizarre bit of irony, the film crew who was shooting dramatic reenactments at a rock quarry north of Toronto found themselves trapped by a severe snowstorm. Dangerous conditions such as white-outs had closed all roads in the area. Location Manager, Craig Williams took on the task of arranging a police escort for all film crew and their vehicles. Fortunately for them, this time help was close at hand.

Trapped will air on History Channel in Canada Saturday, September 8 at 8PM, Monday the 10th and Tuesday the 11th at 2AM and again next Saturday the 15th at 8PM.

National Geographic Channel will broadcast the series in most other countries in the world.

The UK premier on National Geographic is Monday, October 1 at 9PM.

All photos above borrowed from the DOP's flickr site.

The Simpsons Speak to America

2007-07-27T08:19:00.000-07:00

The Simpsons TV show has been running for years and had yet to really tackle the issue of homophobia. Wikipedia's main article today talks of a recent episode revolving entirely around this. In the episode Homer's Phobia, Homer meets a gay man but then distances himself when he finds out because he thinks the man's sexuality could negatively impact his son Bart.

I could care less that The Simpsons are doing a gay episode, in fact I think they're somewhat behind the times if it's taken this long to speak to America on issues of homosexuality. What's fascinating to me is that the Fox Network originally didn't want to air the episode because it was considered too racy. Fortunately there was a shake up with production executives and new execs at Fox released the show. Homer's Phobia went on to win four awards, including an Emmy for Outstanding Animated Program (For Programming One Hour or Less) and a GLAAD Media Award for "Outstanding TV - Individual Episode".

I can't believe Americans still live in a society where network executives are afraid of anti-gay backlash. TV has an enormous influence on Americans and can help them, even through satire, realize that being gay and hanging out with people who are is the same as hanging out with straight people. It's astonishing really that there are still many many Americans who haven't yet realized this themselves. If Homer's cool with it, maybe they can be too.

Lindsay Lohan A Postive Role Model for Young Women

2007-07-24T08:22:00.000-07:00

So Lindsay Lohan is getting busted again, this time for chasing someone in another car while driving in a Santa Monica parking lot. She was wasted at the time and in possession of cocaine. Her arrest makes me happy for a few reasons.

1) It used to be just the bad boys of Hollywood that showed their devilish side and got arrested. So Lohan and her brat pack are showing that women too can be as equally dubious as their male counterparts. You've come a long way Baby.
2) It might make parents of spoiled American kids like those on My Super Sweet Sixteen think twice about giving their kids keys to a luxury sports car at such a young age, so Lohan is helping women of the world by keeping them out of trouble.
3) Mostly I'm just pleased to know that Hollywood is keeping it real, and showing us that being an A-hole is not just an act for the sake of all us suckers who feed off the cult of celebrity. Lohan and her brat pack's good old days are over, and that means spoiled girls who think it's okay to act like A-holes too should now be warned they’ll get their just dessert too.

Dove's Evolution Ad Takes Home Cannes Prize

2007-07-10T12:38:00.000-07:00

It's the first time in the history of the Cannes Lions Prize that an ad has taken home awards for both the Cyber and Film categories furthering convergence of these two mediums. I first saw Dove's Evolution ad on YouTube last fall and immediately added it to my favorites list, it's brilliant. Since it was uploaded it's been viewed over 3.5 million times, that's a huge audience that sought out the ad and gave it their 1 minute and 15 seconds.

The ad, produced by the Toronto office of advertising empire Ogilvy & Mather, continues to demonstrate the authenticity the Dove brand is known for. I'm continually impressed at their use of media. Two summers ago Dove presented a photo exhibit featuring real and diverse women taken by well-known female photographers (Lieibovitz for example). In tandem they were working on a documentary with Telefactory and the W Network called Beauty Quest which followed a female fashion photogrpaher in Toronto as she confronted her own ideals of beauty. At the end of the day we all want to feel good about ourselves and know there's more to it than buying the perfect product.

Will Earthle Save the Earth?

2007-06-02T10:25:00.000-07:00

I made a cool find on facebook this morning. Earthle, a new search engine using Google results, uses an all black screen so we can all save (computer) energy and save the world. It sounds so easy. Just switch your google homepage to Earthle and you will save yourself 15 watts per page. It says on the facebook group page that if we all make this change - all of us around the world - we can save enough energy to run 6000 televisions for a year. I might be a bit hungover this morning but this logic is losing me. How about just turning the TV off in the first place? How often do people just leave their TV running? Or lights? Or other household appliances that aren't in use? You want to save the world? Start there.

Feist Rolls through Toronto's Terminal One

2007-04-30T00:01:00.000-07:00

It's not often Toronto's Terminal One at Pearson inspires me to break into song and dance. That might be different after watching Feist's new video My Moon My Man. Next time I find myself strolling down the moving sidewalks looking at our sparkling city under a full moon I don't know if I'll be able to hold back. I just hope there'll be a few others that join in.

The jetsetting Canadian singer songwriter has been away for awhile. I'm happy to hear she's just moved back to Toronto where she's filmed a few videos for her upcoming album The Reminder, scheduled for release in Canada and the US tomorrow. For now Feist is working solo but her past musical collaborations led her to work with with Broken Social Scene and former Toronto roommate Peaches.

My man Craig, who did locations for this Feist video over several nights at the airport, said it was a ton of fun to work on. It's a catchy song too.

In Search of ... Divine Styler at The Drake

2007-04-06T16:32:00.000-07:00

Divine Styler, part of Ice-T's Rhyme Syndicate, made big waves when he played Toronto back in the day. Now he's got Ryan Somers, aka Fritz tha Cat, to thank for a zine named after him, and a book, In Search of ... Divine Styler, to be launched at The Drake Underground tomorrow night. Vice magazine - at one time as Canadian and underground as they come - said of Somers $40 start-up: "As far as underground mags in Canada goes, this is the shit".

Somers tells us the book is a loaded with all the zines best gems: "phone sex interviews with horny rappers and ouija board interviews with dead rappers, and candy rappers and..." well, it's definitely about rappers. Mark McKay breaks down the details of the story of the man behind Divine Styler in this video. Tomorrow's romp at The Drake will feature the talent of rapper Fritz tha Cat, Buck 65, Druncnes Monster, Mindbender and Mackenzie.

Apple Fires Canadian Poet

2007-02-28T18:59:00.000-08:00

Are Canadians nicer than Americans? This Canadian thinks so - I mean the one in the video. He was asked to write a poem for an Apple talent show and his bashing may have got him fired. He did have some nice things to say about Toronto though, and Canada too. Maybe Apple Canada's Markham HQ will hire him. I would, he's hilarious.

NFB Joins the Oscar Race

2007-02-24T12:37:00.000-08:00

It's the same old story - Canadians don't seem to recognize talent at home until someone recognizes it abroad. This time it's a charming tale of luck and love called The Danish Poet, nominated for an Oscar in the animated shorts category. For the National Film Board here in Canada it's the 69th nomination. Others included the touching documentary Hardwood and the incredible achievement of animated short Ryan, which brought home the Oscar in 2005 for its portrayal of animator turned panhandler Ryan Larkin.

I wonder though how many have taken it upon themselves to watch these brilliant Canadian works - if not, here's the opportunity. The NFB has posted The Danish Poet online for everyone to see and waived their $2 viewing fee at their John Street location too. Though the animation style might not be as compelling as Ryan the story it weaves is just as complex, told through the eyes of one conceived by parents who met in Copenhagen (just like me) whose destiny could just as easily not have been fulfilled. Luck can play a big part in love and life.

Last year luck brought me to Sao Paulo, Brazil for an event showcasing the work of the NFB. The Brazilians I spoke to were amazed and all the films shown were very well received. It made me extremely proud of the industry we've built in Canada. Knowing that the NFB has now garnered the most Oscar nominations for an independent outside LA doesn't hurt either.

Fully Loaded at the Auto Show

2007-02-21T10:47:00.000-08:00

Last year my friend, actor and indie filmmaker Brett Reason, shot and cut a short video which followed four car junkies (including himself) getting wasted and heading to the auto show. Their goal? See how long they could sit in the Mercedes S550 before someone kicked them out. After he showed me the piece, we debated what the name of it should be. He thought Loaded at the Auto Show would be good, I figured Fully Loaded would be more slick. It was his bit, so he won.

Brett called a couple days ago to tell me what the slogan is for this year's show - it's Fully Loaded. I'm not sure if he was more excited that we nailed their ad slogan before they did or just because the show would be starting this week, either way he got me hyped to go and I'm no car buff.

While him and his buddies cruise the fast car corner I might see what's new in hybrids. If you're still driving an old jalopy maybe you should check it out too - Metro recently reported that the biggest emissions (up to 37 times the normal amount) can come from cars 20 years old and up.

Scrap watching the auto show's promotional vid on their site, there's nothing innovative about it. Instead, amuse yourself with a little dark humour at theigloo, where you too can get Fully Loaded at the Auto Show.

photo: Richard Tamayo

The Shocking Life and Death of Anna Nicole Smith

2007-02-08T13:56:00.000-08:00

Anna Nicole Smith
Originally uploaded by Rootje.

Anna Nicole Smith rose to superstardom quickly and seemed to want to stay there, moving from Guess model to Playboy playmate to trophy wife to failing Reality Star with ease. She often mimicked and was found to resemble the late, and also fragile, Marilyn Monroe. For the most part though Anna had a hard time handling life with the same grace. Booze and drugs helped her cope, but also made her out of control - not in a funny Courtney Love way - but rather as a shocking starlet always tripping over her own feet, and often her words too. She made little sense and was sadly mocked by many. I often thought that Anna Nicole Smith and Hustler magazine founder Larry Flynt would make the perfect couple, but that day will never be. Rest in Peace Anna. Just goes to show that even a sexy centerfold worth hundreds of millions of dollars can't necessarily find true happiness.

Golden Globes Miss the Point

2007-01-15T18:33:00.000-08:00

I just tuned into the Golden Globe Awards to catch Alec Baldwin win an award - good on him. I've thought he was funny, albeit smarmy, ever since he hit on my friend and I as he exited the Sutton Place In Toronto.

Next up, Best Comedy Series. The list of nominess was incredible. How can you pick a winner between Entourage, Weeds, The Office, Desperate Housewives and, oh wait they did... it's Ugly Betty. Is that a joke? Did they miss the point? Ugly Betty is a ridiculous little show which plays up ridiculously overdone stereotypes...the rest all have characters who, each alone, have more depth and comedic talent than Ugly Betty's whole cast. I thought CityTV had made a huge mistake buying the show when I'd first seen ads for it. When I watched the show I was completely bored. Next thing you know The Devil Wears Prada will win and award for something too.

Explore 416style Photography on Flickr

2007-01-06T09:16:00.000-08:00

1. breath from another, 2. follow me, 3. chachi's sunday bath, 4. untitled, 5. listen carefully, 6. deep space - cielo nyc, 7. good morning america, 8. cityscape,

9. hark the herald, 10. idle, 11. parliament hall, 12. CMC, 13. swing sookie, 14. humber bay, 15. reids killer whale, 16. kabuki theatre,

17. pop, 18. giraffe head, 19. colourful toronto, 20. sky at city hall, 21. osaka neon, 22. bongo drummers, 23. toronto island airport ferry

Film Fest Call for Entries

2007-01-03T18:11:00.000-08:00

The Canadian Filmmakers Festival has this hot little commercial to entice filmmakers to submit their short or long format films. It's cheap - ten to twenty bucks gets you in the door - and seems like it might be a little twisted - in a funny, sexy way. The festival runs March 22 - 25.

Beeker's Comeback

2006-12-19T20:27:00.000-08:00

It's been years but Beeker has finally made a comeback. Here, for your eyes only is the exclusive YouTube music video of his first number one hit since Stayin Alive. Watch out Justin Timberlake. This time he's back and he's hardcore.

Sole Survivor

2006-12-17T19:20:00.000-08:00

Watching Survivor always makes me a little jealous. I'd love nothing more than to be out there on the beach, living it up and keeping an eye on the million dollar prize. However, I'm more of a behind-the scenes girl. Six years ago, before I'd ever heard of Survivor I followed a news clip in a Cairns newspaper which talked about the making of a documentary in nearby Mission Beach, Australia. I was only 200km away and hoped on the bus for a shot to help make it happen. I was told then that it had wrapped, but months later, I found out they were filming Survivor. Since then I've been hooked. My interest has wanned from time to time but this season the Burnett team kept it fresh and delivered some great tension and twists on Cook Islands. Beyond that they chose some hardworking and deserving competitors. All along though my hope was that Yul would win and (SPOILER ALERT!) he did! I was touched to hear what he said he'd planned to do with the big win - become a spokesperson and he hoped that his status could help make him a role model for Asian men and minorities in the media. I hope with all his fame he does put it to good use and maintain his integrity too. If it were me out there I would've done my best to play it just like this champ.

A Million Bucks and an E-ZPass

2006-12-10T17:54:00.000-08:00

Spoiler Alert!
This season of The Amazing Race comes to a close with male models Tyler and James bringing home the million dollar prize. Best part is that it all came down to a cab driver with an E-ZPass, who zipped them through the toll booth and lost competitors Rob and Kim who were hot on their tail and depending on them for directions. Second best part is, the models seemed like decent guys, unlike the fighting couple behind them and thankfully nothing like the beauty queen contestants who acted like bratty 10 year-old princesses for most of the race. In the end it's the good guys who won, makes it worth watching this latest season.

Paris the Publicist

2006-11-28T19:22:00.000-08:00

The latest celeb trash talk is that Britney Spears can't find a publicist, that no one will hire her because she's such a mess. I've also heard she travels with a couple therapists. But instead of trying to clean herself up and build a better image Spears seems to have teamed up with party queen Paris Hilton and has been spotted all over town painting the town trash...oh i mean red. All that being said Britney does have a thing or two to learn from the scenster queen. Paris easily propelled herself into superstardom and it wasn't because of talent. Paris built her persona on intrigue, something that Britney is really lacking. And they say all publicity is good publicity, but Britney has even proved that wrong.

She's had a bumpy ride ever since her first video "Hit Me Baby One More Time" perfectly positioned her as an innocent schoolgirl with sex appeal. She became every man's fantasy. It was a dichotomy even Madonna couldn't nail. Problem is Britney, as much as they tried to sex her up, was still this silly little school girl doing interviews in rooms full of dolls and teddy bears - and now she's still the same immature girl giving off more of a wannabe vibe than - what worked for her in her video - the eternally appealing good girl gone to the bad side (ala Kate Moss).

Paris has never been a good girl and doesn't apologize for it. She knows trash sells - and I don't mean Britney's trailer trash style (can someone get her a stylist?). It might be too late for Britney - no one wants to see a mom of 2 kids out on the town every night - but if anyone can show Britney the ins and outs of how to get somewhere from nowhere it's Paris. Look at this silly picture of them together - Paris even looks like she's dotting on her. Paris, help her, please. No one else will.

The Cult of US Celebrity

2006-11-27T19:15:00.000-08:00

What a funny world we live in... unless you're Michael Richards that is. Had to share this funny graphic I found on LAist with y'all. Poor guy, lost his head and now there's no going back. It's one of the funnier things about the States - they love to put people up on pedestals (honestly how did Jessica Simpson get up there?) but even more they love to rip them right off and shove dirt in their face. Case in point: Tom Cruise, Mel Gibson, Mariah Carey, Britney Spears, Kanye West... With a media circus like they have in the US, and now with citizen journalists faithfully roaming the country's dirty back alleys, celebs better watch their back, or hire someone to do it for them. Mel Gibson is damn lucky there were no cameras filming his recent tirade, but our dear Kramer is not so fortunate. If you're one of the few who missed the video catch it on TMZ. Just press play.

Steve Jobs on Bill Gates

2006-11-03T11:57:00.000-08:00

Steve Jobs and Bill Gates 01
Originally uploaded by Liam Daly.

Though Steve Jobs and Bill Gates look like the best of friends in this rare picture, I found a few good quotes at BrainyQuote.com which reveal just what Jobs thinks of his competition.

"I wish him the best, I really do. I just think he and Microsoft are a bit narrow. He'd be a broader guy if he had dropped acid once or gone off to an ashram when he was younger."

"Pretty much, Apple and Dell are the only ones in this industry making money. They make it by being Wal-Mart. We make it by innovation."

So the debate continues....

Spook in the City

2006-11-02T13:38:00.000-08:00

Four short episodes of Spook in the City are now online at blogTO. Follow John and I as we take you to the sites of high-profile hauntings in the city of Toronto. Prepare to be spooked!

The Distillery District

The Royal York's Haunted Stairwell

The Royal York's Haunted Hallway

The Royal York's Crystal Ballroom

Getting Published in Variety

2006-10-21T12:55:00.000-07:00

TIFF Variety
Originally uploaded by 416style.

Before the Toronto film festival I was asked to come up with a piece on nightlife hotspots for Variety's Daily - Gotham edition. That meant doing some serious research and took me to new places like Ultra and Sonic while also catching up on the scene at old favourites like Footwork. Sitting down with the manager of Czehoski's was eye-opening. The converted butcher shop and former mob-hangout has now become one of my favourite after-work hangouts.

The experience of getting published was exhilarating but also at times very trying. My first write-up was my best I still think but didn't fall in line with what blogTO wanted and since they'd hooked up the special Toronto section in the Daily mag I had to follow suit. I was told my writing was too Toronto Life so I had to change it into first person and drop some of the glam spots I was covering. Not all places I covered were my choice and that's fine, but it can be hard to profile and promote somewhere I wouldn't necessarily hangout.

When I finally got my edition by chasing around film fest HQ - The Sutton Place - and nearby restos, I wasn't thrilled to see my name spelled wrong and my nickname turned into a cutsey nickname I wouldn't even let my boyfriend call me. However, it's still an honour and a valuable experience toward my goal of freelance writing. I'd do it again - even if they do call me Snookie.

Consuming Black Culture

2006-10-13T14:19:00.000-07:00

A friend sent this funny rap by a bunch of preppy white guys in the style of a hip hop video. Was surprised by one of the comments by missbizzybody that said: "Not to kill everybody's high, but has anyone considered the consumption of Black culture by White folks and how this perpetuates that? This is not to cause an argument; I only hope to raise people's awareness." I found it such a bizarre thing to post. Does she suggest that if white people didn't listen to hip hop and try to emulate it it would stop? That would be a sad day.

Where's My Entourage?

2006-10-09T18:47:00.000-07:00

CityTV knows how to push a new show and their latest baby, Entourage, premiering on cable in Toronto tonight at 10PM, is no different. If you've seen the commercials you're probably not impressed. Somehow CityTV has managed to take the best parts of the show out, inserted some T&A and call it advertising. While the show, shot in LA, will reveal a world of fast cars and beautiful women, it's the relatable characters and sharp comedic dialogue that will capture audience attention.

In the lead is budding star Vince Chase, whose story is loosely-based on Exec Producer Mark Wahlberg's foray into fortune and fame. Vince is no underwear model though, just a down-to-earth guy from Queens making some tough decisions with the help of three hometown friends who follow his every move. Vince's high-powered agent Ari - the real star of the show - has no time for the boys' slow learning-curve, but in the end their east-coast values often triumph over Ari's shallow ones.

Fans of the HBO show who have been watching it on TMN for the past three seasons will have to be patient as no new shows are offered on the schedule as of yet. Instead we'll have to see if CityTV can produce as successful a following, since much of the racy dialogue which defines the show will have to be removed, Sex And The City style.

(image: CityTV)

YouTube is the New Flickr

2006-09-24T20:38:00.000-07:00

YouTube is the New Flickr

I think I've found a new obsession: YouTube. I'd been playing on it for awhile, digging up SNL videos (no longer on the site), AliG segments, breakdance competitions and any MTV Award show pop culture moments I might have missed. But it wasn't until now that I started to post video, you can find it at YouTube.com/416style. Thankfully my little Canon PowerShot A75 can take video for me to post - however the light and sound aren't so hot. The piece above I'd shot in Tokyo on my DV camera and had my first shot editing it using Final Cut Pro Express. Now that I realize how easy it is to do with my little digital camera, I think I'll be playing on YouTube far more than flickr. There's even an emerging group site for my other online obsession: blogTO.

Dog Arrested

2006-09-15T11:54:00.000-07:00

WOW...
Originally uploaded by Carrie Taylor.

TV star, Dog The Bounty Hunter, was arrested for failing to show up at a trial related to an arrested he'd made 3 years prior. The claim is he'd wrongly detained convicted rapist and Max Factor family heir Andrew Luster. Sounds like a case of one rich cry-baby with a little bit of power trying to get back at Dog. Dog will stay in Mexico to resolve these issues and then can hopefully get back to work bringing down fellons like Luster who shouldn't be allowed out on the streets.

Funkyzeit Mit Bruno

2006-09-08T22:10:00.000-07:00

Borat may be lapping up the limelight in Toronto during the Film Festival but it's Bruno who is my fav. Can't wait for the Funkyzeit Mit Bruno movie.

On the Decks

2006-08-29T20:24:00.000-07:00

DJ Small On the Decks.

It's Never Too Early to Get Them Edumacated!

Third Time's A Charm

2006-08-29T08:59:00.000-07:00

sky high
Originally uploaded by 416style.

I'm still a little peeved that our Apple stores in Toronto are nothing like Tokyo or New York, but I'm certainly happy that Apple's popularity in TO is growing from its original one store core. That store, which opened in Yorkdale about 16 months ago was followed with one in the Eaton Centre, shown, and now one opening September 2nd at Sherway Gardens. Perhaps there's still hope we'll get our flagship store one day after all.

itunes free single of the week

2006-08-19T13:15:00.000-07:00

The weekend's here and I wanted to let you know that the itunes canada free download of the week is K-OS' new Electrik HeaT - the Seek - wiLL, the music video that my man just finished working on last week. If you were a fan of Rob Base in HS you'll dig the funky base line. The pic attached is a little peak onto the set, and the video to come.

Canada's Next Top Metropolis

2006-06-20T13:44:00.000-07:00

cntm_intro
Originally uploaded by DracoRed.

A couple things weirded me out about Canada's newest borrowed TV format Canada's Next Top Model, which debuted a couple weeks back. First, CityTV couldn't seem to find a level for the audio, it was jumping all over the board. The worst thing however, was the location of the show. Fashion in the forest? I just don't see it. The model's retreat is a gorgeous spot on the lake outside of Victoria, B.C. where "Supermodel" Tricia Helfer flies in to meet the young models on a float plane. Sure, great shot, great scenery, but where's the context? Canada's Next Top Model comes across as "Super" amateur because of this bad decision. The show should be pushing this country's fashion-focused metropoli, Toronto, Vancouver or Montreal. That's where the talent, the passion and the energy are, which sadly seem to be missing from the Canadian version of this show.

American Air

2006-06-20T13:09:00.000-07:00

Permanent Monday
Originally uploaded by Bukutgirl.

The cost of saying FUCK over American airwaves just jumped in price a whole shitload. There had been a lot of dirty talk on the streets of raising the FCC's fines from about $32,500 to $325,000 per violation of the broadcast indecency rules, and now President Bush has made it official.

How does the FCC define indecent? If "in context [it] depicts or describes sexual or excretory activities or organs in a patently offensive manner as measured by contemporary community standards for the broadcast medium", but for indecent speech the FCC has determined we can let it loose after 10pm and before 6am.

This makes rules much more lax in Canada, but difficult for Canadian TV producers who want to sell their shows to the states.

Keep It Cool

2006-06-19T08:04:00.000-07:00

Hot laptops
Originally uploaded by tjriley82.

After a night of partying on Saturday I wound up at the after-party’s after party and ended up talking geek talk with the son of the creator/business-mind behind Maya/Alias Wavefront (I’m better at fact-checking when sober). I’m not a girl who gets excited talking about what Angelina’s new baby is wearing or if Britany Spears will follow Jolie’s steps to paparazzi-free delivery in Namibia, but I do get hyper hearing about Apple and their latest product innovations. So my friend was saying he’d heard that Apple was offering liquid cooled computers, potentially to eradicate the problem of noisy cooling fans in some systems, certainly a problem my father could attest to, he’s brought his imac G5 in several times to get the noisy fan fixed.

I’d be thrilled if my powerbook had had an innovative approach to cooling. I looked forward to chilling on my rooftop deck in the summer sun with my pride & joy in my lap, but find that I just can’t stand the heat transfer it radiates to my thighs.

So far liquid cooling is offered only in the Power mac G5 2.5GHz model, manufactured by Tawain’s Hon Hai, where Apple, Dell and a third PC are said to be outsourcing CPU-related production.

Howard Stern On Demand

2006-06-08T08:19:00.000-07:00

Howard Stern On Demand
Originally uploaded by thedigitalbitch.

Howard's back in action, this time on TV. Let's hope it lasts this time. Canadians can find him on Rogers On Demand where they'll be 30 new hours of uncensored Howard TV a month.

It's been a long time since I've listened to Howard Stern's radio show, and to be honest I'm not sure if I've grown out of it or not, but I figure if it's on On Demand I can just forward through any silly bits and get to the juicy stuff I love him for.

I Owe It All To....

2006-06-01T21:29:00.000-07:00

blogger step1 blogger
Originally uploaded by andykaufman.

Eleven months into my blogging hobby I now have 5 blogs, I’ve created 114 posts and -here’s the BIG NEWS- today I reached 10,000 hits. Thank you all for stopping by, leaving comments (that’s what blogging’s all about) and showing your support for my writing habit.

Feel like going for a spin? FourONEsixSTYLE will take you for a ride around Toronto. Need to know what’s hot in technology and media? Freshtracks will give you the latest news, reviews and breakthroughs. Don’t want to travel the bumpy road anymore? Travel in style when you visit bumpmedia’s travel blog.

Burgeoning blogs include one for my Theta friends from University to stay in touch, and another blog building up to the 2010 Whistler Olympics (I can’t wait).

Highlights of my blog career include getting posted on CBC’s The Hour homepage (thanks for noticing) and getting one of my flickr photos published on a book cover.

Now that I’m feeling like an old time blog pro I’ve also started contributing to an addictive urban blog called blogTO. You’ll catch me posting there at least 3 times a week.

“Where do you find the time?” my friends ask. It's not so much a matter of time - it's therapy -if I wasn’t writing I’d go mad. So please, drop by and read my blogs now and then and help contribute to my sanity.

Where Fashion Meets Function

2006-06-01T09:27:00.000-07:00

Browsing the web today i came across this awesome gizmo that holds your ipod nano in your belt buckle, then you can run the earphones right up your shirt, like being mic'ed up for a live TV shoot. That's some serious functionality. Of course it looks great here with the nearly naked model, and it does look better in black (I've got the white ipod nano). As a big sci-fi fan who wishes people dressed more like the characters in The Fifth Element or Gattaca, I've gotta say, I wish there were more products on the market that blended fashion and functionality in a futuristic way.

A Wannabe Publicist's Libre Confessional

2006-05-25T14:47:00.000-07:00

My boss has been dangling the carrot, or should I say title, "Director of New Media", in front of my face ever since the word mobisode was first heard (it’s a mobile episode for those media newbies out there). Working in television, one constantly hears how mobile technology is going to a) change the world b) make us rich, or c) inundate us with more crap content. Take your pick. So far, it's only the broadcasters and rap stars who sell their ring tones that are making money from this technology, not the independent producers like the one I work for. Doesn't mean I'll stop trying to make it happen for them, it's just that my current belief is that mobisodes and podcasts work best as a promotional tool, not as stand-alone content. Frequently I visit the itunes music store's podcast section to see what's new and exciting. In hotspot number 6 this week is Jack Black's Nacho Libre Confessionals. "Exciting!" I thought, as I bypassed everything else and started downloading Jack's podcast, essentially proving my theory that it'll be blockbuster entertainment that will continue to drive demand for mobile entertainment. I watched a few spots of Mr. Black in his photo-booth-like set staring in his rather strange way at the camera as he told us nothing we'd never heard before. Kinda lame, I confess. I love Jack Black, so am I missing something? Am I not getting the joke? Something tells me the studios don't care if it's funny - it's Jack - off-the-cuff - making people relate to him - see a new side of him - feel engaged in the creation of the film. It's cheaper than a publicity tour, it gets people's attention and drives the branding home. So why would they care that it's really just more crap content? They'll make their $100 podcast production budget back a thousand times over. Amazing! Even though the podcast made me want to fall asleep, as a wannabe publicist, I think it's marketing genius.

Survivor Panama: No More Exile

2006-05-14T21:22:00.000-07:00

Sunset in Pearl Islands
Originally uploaded by PanamaJack.

Does anyone watch Survivor anymore?

I've always felt an affinity for the show since chasing a classified ad seeking TV crew to a remote town in Queensland, Australia, and finding out better timing may have landed me a gig with the popular CBS show.

We all loved in when it began, and it's continued to impact the type of programming we catch on the tube everyday.

However, I wasn't sure when I started watching this season that I'd get into this 12th season. Somehow I did get sucked in. Exec Producer Mark Burnett brought something new to the game, stranding contestants to Exile Island, effectively changing the dynamics of the game.

Yet, I think the reason I got drawn back into the show had most to do with the casting. I liked almost all the players. This can't be underestimated. I stopped watching last season when in the final few there was no one I wished to win, no one I cheered for.

In the final four of Survivor Panama: Exile Island were Cirie, Danielle, Terry and Aras, all extremely likable and capable characters. It was Aras, my pick for first place, who took home the million dollar prize.

Jeff Probst, our dimply host, makes the show worth watching too, but I have to ask, don't you think he looked like Spock from Star Trek in the final episode?

Of course, it's the stunning scenery that brings the show alive as well, and I don't think we'll be disappointed when CBS takes it to the scene of the historical "Mutiny on the Bounty", Cook Islands, for unlucky season number 13.

Public Broadcasting - From Eh to Zed

2006-05-13T18:20:00.000-07:00

almost better than a mokey butler
Originally uploaded by yeahboone.

Canada's public broadcaster, CBC, always seems to take a lot of flack, mostly because the public realize it's their tax dollars supporting the organization. Some think they should spend their funds to support more regional programming, or more Canadian drama, while others think it's just important to be a commercially viable station.

CBC produces some great shows: Rick Mercer's Report, The Hour and until recently, Zed TV. Sadly, this innovative program, which gave the opportunity to any regular Joe or Jill to submit short programming, has now been cancelled. No reason given. I was proud of ZedTV, and have been following CurrentTV, an interactive US channel that Al Gore modeled on the CBC's Zed. If others are emulating ZED, surely it's got potential for great success.

However, there have been some recent changes at CBC, one is the hiring of Hollywood Exec Producer Fred Fuchs (credits include The Virgin Suicides and The Godfather), but it was VP Richard Stursberg in Playback magazine who summarized the CBC's strategy by saying "While CBC is a Crown corporation and therefore not operating for profit, our programming still must reach Canadians in large numbers to be viable creatively and financially. It makes no sense for us to commit hundreds of thousands of dollars in licence fees and promotional expenditures on programs that are not appealing to a significant numbers of Canadians."

A ZedTV exec once told me they pay about $400/minute for licensing material for the show, that's some of the cheapest programming one can buy. Given the niche audience they were reaching, and the attention Zed garnered from international broadcasters for its innovative approach, it seems to me like an extremely viable endeavour. I'd like a much better explanation for destroying the bridge between public content creators and this public broadcaster, when it seems demand for short form content is on the rise worldwide.

A Passionate Earthling's View of Home

2006-05-12T14:36:00.000-07:00

canadian shield
Originally uploaded by 416style.

Former astronaut Roberta Bondar calls herself a passionate earthling, something you might expect from a woman who has seen the world from space. Some of us talk about how traveling to a unique place in the world can or has changed our outlook on the world, so you can only imagine how it's changed for Roberta Bondar.

I met her once, when I was sitting in the basement of the University of Western's Kinesiology building helping conduct a student election. It was just she and I in the desolate space. Looking up at her in awe as she came down the narrow hall, she smiled at me and said "What a stark existence it is in here". She seemed to sum up so much in those words. Secretly always wishing to be an astronaut myself, I took them with the profundity they offered.

Seems Bondar has a fascination with places stark in existence, she's been photographing barren Canadian landscapes recently. She's exhibited them at the ROM and now coinciding with the Contact photography festival, has some of her extreme landscapes on display (until June 30th) at the First Canadian Place gallery in Toronto, open 11am - 2pm.

Picture at right is mine. I'd say it's not quite her style. Not so much barren, either. The little tree sprouting up in front of a blue sky seems more hopeful than any of her works, sadly Bondar’s press releases don’t offer up any enticing landscape shots for photo enthusiasts. You’ll just have to trust me that she’s got an eye for this sort of thing.

Creative Commons: The Future Is Friendly

2006-05-09T12:27:00.000-07:00

Looking to the future I realize that what would make me happiest is writing and practicing photography. I've made some minor gains in the writing field, getting published in some technical and local papers and magazines, and today I feel I've made some in-roads into photography. Though I've been playing on FLICKR for some time and can find my pictures all over the web, borrowed by travel sites, commercial websites and more, somehow it is once one gets into print that one feels ultimately more satisfied. The great thing about FLICKR is that the user can not only share photos with the world, but also decide how (and with whom) photos are shared. Beyond that, FLICKR has teamed up with not-for-profit organization CREATIVE COMMONS, which allows users to connect a few different licenses to their work. I've given mine an Attribution 2.0 license, which means that others may copy, distribute or display the work, make derivative works and make commercial use of the work as long as they attribute the work in the manner specified by me, the licensor. Seems like a fair option. We are living in a world that will continue to be defined and shaped by how willing people are to share with one another.

CREATIVE COMMONS' founders understood, when they developed the site, that clear and concise communication is key. For content creators there are several licenses to choose from, and for content acquirers, you can search for works to be used for commercial purposes or works that allow for modification. We're all familiar with the battle begun by music sharing, but what about giving props to pioneers like the Beastie Boys, who offer CD's of their music in Wired magazine for others to adapt and play with, or who send out 50 video cameras into the crowd for concert-goers to document their own experiences, and then create an "open-source" documentary. Brilliant! CREATIVE COMMONS licenses apply to all sorts of media: video, music, photography and text. So when a young Hungarian writer named Istvan contacted me today about how to credit me for the photography he'll be using on the cover of a book he's publishing about electronic music, I realized I'd chosen to do the right thing by sharing my work with others. I sent him a friendly email back suggesting the credit and he said he'd send me a copy of the book. Quick and simple, all thanks to CREATIVE COMMONS, where the future is friendly.

from this (image by sookie):

to this (image by Istvan):

The Truth About The Sexes

2006-05-08T13:35:00.000-07:00

timmy thought he was hot shit
Originally uploaded by fubuki.

Canada's W Network is airing a great half-hour tv series produced by Telefactory called The Truth About The Sexes. Want to know a little more about the rules of attraction? Why we are attracting to some and repulsed by others? Brain chemistry offers up some pretty interesting answers. You'll surely be surprised. Catch The Truth About The Sexes Wednesdays at 10pm and Saturdays at 6pm throughout May.

From Turtles to Troubled Times: Hot Docs Festival Wraps in Toronto

2006-05-08T12:06:00.000-07:00

deep in thought
Originally uploaded by 416style.

Hot Docs wrapped its festival yesterday, handing out a slew of awards to filmmakers from around the globe. The last documentary I checked out, The Chances of The World Changing, didn't garner any recognition but there was tough competition with industry veterans like Werner Herzog submitting to the festival.

The Chances of the World Changing was a melancholy look through the eyes of troubled NYC writer Richard Ogust, who, years ago, rescued a turtle from an Asian food market. His passion for saving turtles grew until he ended up with over 1600 turtles in his Manhattan apartment, many of them on the endangered species list. His life and ability to help the creatures spiraled downward, facing eviction, charges from wildlife authorities and declining resources to finance the $100,000+ a year venture.

The documentary takes us along for the ride, leading us all to hope that this man's dream of opening a herpetology institution on a farm in New Jersey would make all his struggles eventually seem worthwhile. We’re always told we can make our dreams come true, so can’t we? In fact, the filmmakers reveal at the screening that they had pictured Richard’s final narrative on the grounds of the turtles' new conservation area in NJ.

However, Richard makes his final remarks from Coney Island after some devastating realizations about this life's work and dreams. It left me with the feeling that the filmmakers had seemed intent to take us on the hard road from the very start, deciding to leave out every spark of life, every new egg hatched, every glory that Richard achieved along the way. In the end, it's Richard who reveals the narrative we’ve clung to all along, ”It's not the process he admits, it's the end goal”, and without achieving your dreams it makes the whole process worthless. I can’t say I agree, Richard made some amazing headway and I think he should be recognized for that alone. However where he failed, or where others failed him, was in raising the funds necessary to make the Herpetology Institution a reality.

As a turtle lover myself (see my 13-year-old turtle pictured above) I found it extremely hard to digest the lack of attention given to species who are falling into extinction, mostly because no institution exists that cares enough. The Turtle Survival Alliance does offer some hope but has very little funding to work with. If there is anything you can do to help, please visit: www.turtlesurvival.org

These Docs are Hot

2006-04-23T12:01:00.000-07:00

hotdocs_2006_003
Originally uploaded by blamb.

hotdocs_2006_001
Originally uploaded by blamb. The Hot Docs festival in Toronto has grown at a fantastic pace since its inception in 1993 and now it's attracting increased international attention too, as it well should. The documentaries I have seen at the festival over the past several years still resonate with me today. The premises are varied, I have seen well-captured docs that portray everything from a ship stranded by the Canadian government on the shores of Vancouver in the 1910s becuase of rascist attitudes, to a daring filmmaker who smuggled the first ever video message of the Dalai Lama into Tibet since he left the country decades ago. Powerful stuff, uncovered for eager eyes. Pick up your guide or go online, Hot Docs is not to be missed. Runs April 28 - May 7th in downtown Toronto.

Are you catching on?

2006-04-19T14:38:00.000-07:00

IMG_4007
Originally uploaded by jwbai.

Wikipedia, the online world's first free and user-editable encyclopedia, has recently exploded throughout the world. With limited success in the past I'd used Google.com, Bartleby.com and Dictionary.com when doing research. It was on a recent research project where I'd needed the use of a translator (freetranslation.com) and an encyclopedia that I was thrilled to find that Wikipedia can, to some degree, perform both functions and get me faster results.

Wikipedia is expanding around the globe, people are entering information in English, German, Japanese, Portuguese, French and Polish. Even the tiny country of Denmark can get their information in Danish if they want it.

I was turned onto Wikipedia last winter when I was doing my election research and was very pleased when all Canadian federal candidates were listed on the site. However the candidate for whom I was working as a Media Advisor had a dead link (no more information available). Quickly, I pulled together Rob's bio and did a wikipedia tutorial on formatting. Within hours I felt I'd solidified the candidate's message, given him online presense (the majority of people now do their election research online) and most importantly, increased access to him for those looking online.

Throughout the candidate page I entered my own links - since that is the beauty of Wiki - and hope that someday all my links will turn from dead end red to boundless blue. I'd encourage you all to jump on board if you have some specific expertise worth sharing. Keep in mind, one important value, Wikipedia is an encyclopedia, it is not meant for editorial or the expression of beliefs, just the facts. A site is only as good as its weakest link.

Is Denmark Really Rotten?

2006-03-18T09:58:00.000-08:00

I've been following the Danish cartoon debate very closely. For me it's very close to home. I'm a Danish Canadian, working in media, who believes strongly in freedom of speech. As a child I was taken to places like East Germany to show how people live under governnments who have taken away basic rights to information. I'm still moved by these expereinces today. I also live in Toronto and love learning about new cultures and do believe cultural sensitivity is important. But do I believe a whole country and its people should be punished because it believes in freedom of the press? No, it just seems so backward. Boycotts are something the US applies to countries with a record of repression, not something repressed nations do to fight western freedoms.

I was downtown the day Muslims were peacefully protesting in Toronto and asked some of them questions like "Will you be boycotting Denmark and its products?" No one was sure. "That's what I'm here to decide", one person told me. Strange place to decide I thought. Where's the balance in an anti-Dane protest taking place outside Toronto's Danish embassy? I should've asked "What happens now?"

I think it's the same question everyone's been thinking and it's the same one George Stroumboulopoulos asks on The Hour, which you can catch by quicktime on The Hour's site. You'll need to scroll down the video clips in their right column and find one dated 07/02 called "Why the protests over cartoons?"

The The Hour's 8 minute piece I watched via web delved into the political culture of Denmark and showed the context of what was happening. No news I had seen had covered it like this, and I learned from The Hour a few things about Denmark I previously hadn't known. I did know that Denmark is a country that prides itself on building world peace, and has shown the world by example how that can be done, but also know that immigration in Denmark is a touchy thing. George's well researched piece showed the reality of the situation there and, with expert Jeffrey Kopstein, at least somwhat answered "What happens next?"

One thing certain to change is that Salman Rushie, who when in hiding was frequenting my aunt's "local" in Copenhagen, and others like him (Neils Bohr) won't be seeking peaceful refuge in the protective bosom of mother Denmark. I feel like we all must go out into the world now a little more fearsome, a little less protected, but hopefully we can continue to watch and learn from media like that of The Hour which didn't sensationalize the story but delivered a way to understand the world a little better. Understanding is key.

flickr freak

2006-02-18T18:07:00.000-08:00

untitled
Originally uploaded by 416style.

I used to play a fair bit on trekshare until I found flickr. I liked how trekshare really focuses on travel related photography, though I've found flickr's interface much more sophisticated and easy to use to organize and uploading photos. It's a big pain when friends send their travel photos and slideshows from a website that requires signing in, confirmation emails and then tons of spam down the road. Ophoto is like this, as are many others.

Take A Lesson From Gandhi

2006-02-09T11:32:00.000-08:00

I am a Canadian and a Dane living in Canada. I have friends in the Muslim community. However, I am still no closer in understanding why the cartoons in the Danish newspaper offended Muslim's and why extremists must turn to violence to demonstrate their frustration. It appears the prophet Muhammed was illustrated as a terrorist. It really doesn't help the Muslim cause of defending the intrigrity of their prophet and the cause of disproving western people's beliefs that there are ties between the Muslim world and terrorism when those who saw these cartoons decided to demonstrate their anger through killing and violence. There is some great irony here.

Instead there should be a dialogue between nations and religions. This can only be achieved through freedom of speech, a value intregral to a free society. The country of Denmark should not be punished because they support freedom of speech. Most of the world supports this cause. No one is going to budge and what is expected anyway? We CANNOT undo the past but we CAN show respect moving forward, from BOTH SIDES.

People have offended me in the past. I do not burn their homes or cars. I simply tell them, and I try to open a bridge so there will be understanding between our different points of view.

Gandhi should be an example for us all. Love your neighbours. Spread compassion. Support Freedom of Speech and non-violence.

For kicks, see what Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert have to say on the Danish cartoon fiasco

Wow, Rick You're Great

2006-01-24T23:50:00.000-08:00

With the Canadian election this week I'm feeling very patriotic, even despite the Conservative win.

I was watching Rick Mercer's Report today and he was all like "Wow, remember the good old days" and i'm thinking yeah "wasn't it cool" but then I'm thinking "wow, I wish Rick Mercer was on ifilm, or maybe, like, Canada could have it's own version of the cool site so we could see funny Canadian content video on an all Canadian owned website." "Wow. That would be cool", Rick said.

But then Rick Mercer went and put up video on his own site and I'm thinking. "Yeah, That's cool, who needs ifilm".
So now I can check out Pierre Berton's "How To Roll A Joint" piece any time I want and feel like nothing's changed in this country at all; there's still Canadian content on the airwaves and a man over 80 will still not get busted for wanting to smoke a little pot. (See October 18, 2004 episode). But we can talk in a couple months and see if Canadian content is still the same.

Ps. The vids are in Quicktime, Windows and Real Media Player, but not for every piece.

Lazy Sunday

2006-01-14T23:04:00.000-08:00

This rap is the funniest thing I've seen and heard in a long time. Check out this skit on Saturday Night Live called Lazy Sunday featuring newcomer Andy Samberg and old school comedian Chris Parnell on You Tube.

I'm pissed.

2006-01-10T11:55:00.000-08:00

ahora como manzana
Originally uploaded by elultimoheroe.

Just before Christmas I realized I had some expenses to build up so I wouldn't be nailed for a huge tax bill. The one thing I wanted more than anything was a 15" mac G4 powerbook. I weighed other options like the ibook but I'm gearing up to be a tv producer who should know editing and graphics as well so I went for the super power, the one with greatest connectivity and the one I knew would last.

Well it'll last I suppose, but less than 2 weeks after my major purchase ($2400 + warranty, RAM upgrade and taxes) at Carbon Computing I don't even have something top of the line anymore. I would've loved to have just some of the features now available on the just released macbook pro - front row, built-in isight and a dual processor, never mind it's 4x faster and cost $100 less!!!!! I'm pissed!

Maybe the new intel chips will suck or need tweaking for the first year or so. What crap. Apple never has christmas or boxing day sales and now they'll likley drop the price $800. Jerks!

I knew there would be new releases with the new chip but no one I talked to suspected it would be the laptops that they revamped. Well, rumours were out on my RSS feed from CNet yesterday and I was hoping it wasn't true. For those of you who haven't picked up your Apple laptop yet, congratulations! You have something to look forward to. Though I'll still be proud to tell you that I use a powerbook, if only because it sounds so much better than the new moniker: macbook pro.

RazR RingtoneZ

2005-12-19T10:03:00.000-08:00

Razr and Powerbook 15
Originally uploaded by ultramookie.

My girl Wendy just got herself a sweet little Motorola Razr this weekend and already had some great ringtones. I'd had mine for about a month but hadn't really customized it to my liking yet. I was pretty impressed that I could go on the phone's browser and pull up available ringtones and search for songs as well. I looked up the first thing I thought of: Gwen Stafani's song Bananas. A message told me it would cost $3.00. Kinda steep but fine, whatever. Then another message pops up, they'll be a 50cent charge for something else. Sure, ding me again.

For a $3.50 total (though I haven't seen the browser charges for surfing in the first place) I get my one song. Kinda wish I'd bought the itunes mobile phone at this point. Surely it only cost 99cents a song, no? When I get my song changed and downloaded I realize that for $3.50 I got a crappy 8 seconds of Gwen's song that doesn't even loop properly when it rings. Come on! No wonder mobile content (esp. ringtones) is one of the faster growing industries worldwide. It's a worse scam than bank fees.

Move Over Alicia Keys?

2005-12-14T08:19:00.000-08:00

Alicia Keys with glowing Apple
Originally uploaded by marzipanguy.

Microsoft said they wouldn't try to compete with Apple's itunes but news broke today (source: Cynthia Turner's Cynopsis) that the corp is working with MTV Networks to launch Urge, a joint digital music service. Similar to how iTunes works in conjunction with Quicktime, Urge will work with Windows Media Player, offering downloadable music and a subscription service. The new service will also provide exclusive MTV Networks programming as well as original content designed specifically for the new service. I would've said "move over Alicia Keys" if they'd thought of doing this a couple years ago, but Microsoft will have to work hard at this stage to win back all the PC users who've come over to the light side because of apple's slick design and cool and friendly apps.

More Fun and Games

2005-12-09T10:10:00.000-08:00

It's called Guess the Google. Random images are shown to you and you have twenty seconds to guess what google seach keywords may have generated those images. Give it a try!

I got skillz! Do you?

2005-12-09T09:27:00.000-08:00

You Passed 8th Grade Science

Congratulations, you got 8/8 correct!

Could You Pass 8th Grade Science?

CSI: Sales Pitch

2005-12-07T11:35:00.000-08:00

Crime scene
Originally uploaded by Daveybot.

As far as the mobile content market goes the hottest items are still games and ring tones. So perhaps it was wise of Coldplay to catch the wave and give some momentum to sales of their latest single Talk by integrating the single/ring tone into a recent episode of CSI: NY. I couldn't find any record of whether this "trick" worked for Coldplay's ring tone sales but I was kinda grossed out at how poorly the product was integrated into the script.

Officer Danny Messer's phone rings and his colleague says "Hey! Is that Coldplay?" "Yeah" he answers, as they move to a lengthy close-up shot of his mobile screen with text that says "Cindy calling". Messer continues, "It's their new single, Talk, something my girlfriend does too much".

Is that supposed to be witty? Am I just offended because I'm a girl, or because the advertising was too blatantly thrown in my face when I was least expecting it? I'm sure most people watching were thrown off by this, which means the show isn't doing its job of engaging its audience and loses some integrity along the way. The product does as well.

Consumers are smart and want to be entertained (all the way through) while they are being sold too. Advertising that is funny or witty goes much further. Interrupting the program with a cheap sales pitch is just an insult.

DIY - Laser Etched Powerbook

2005-11-25T13:00:00.000-08:00

my laser etched powerbook
Originally uploaded by pt.

I'm in the market for a new toy and was looking through Apple's site all morning comparing Powerbooks to iBooks when I came across this awesome do-it-yourself laser etched powerbook featured in Make magazine. Everyone keeps telling me the iBook is a better value but I just don't think you can beat the coolness factor of the mac Powerbook. When I see editors and graphic designers bring them to work I can't help but “oooo” and “ahhh”. They look fantastic, and now knowing I can personalize the mac with my own etched design makes it all the more desirable. Sure I'd be blowing at least CDN$3000 (all in) but won't it be worth it?

When I came across Make magazine recently I was impressed with a number of other DIY toys and projects, particularly some which feature iPods and Altoids tins, and there was a great link to useful information on getting video from your ipod onto your TV. Check it out for yourself.

Bad Vibes Can Be Hazardous to Computers

2005-08-29T14:25:00.000-07:00

PowerBook
Originally uploaded by rstovall.

A funny article in the Toronto Star today reported findings of a Princeton University study which reveals that some computer problems could be the result of people sending out bad vibes toward their system. So, next time you find you have a computer problem at hand, whether it be viruses attacking your hard drive or software conflicts, maybe you should consider changing your attitude. It could simply be that your consciousness is wishing that bad things happen to your computer. Unbelievable!!! The Princeton lab had studied this apparent phenomenon for 26 years!!!

Android's Are Human Too

2005-08-04T17:10:00.000-07:00

Since catching the movie The Stepford Wives, I've joked with my bf about how he'd probably like it if he had a remote control to regulate what I do and say. "Off. Off! Off!!! Damn, why isn't this thing working?" Would be convenient at times I'm sure. Well, that could soon become a reality.

Japanese scientists have created the most life-like robot I've ever seen. With silicone for skin and fluttering eyelids, this robot's creator has picked up the nuances of being human and built it into a gorgeous little Japanese android. But, she won't be stealing our boyfriends just yet. The creator of the Repliee Q1Expo hasn't yet incorporated walking into the modern geisha's repertoire, though she can gesture and sense when she is being touched. Sake anyone?

Skate Video

2005-07-28T15:38:00.000-07:00

Tony Skating Shit Ditch
Originally uploaded by headphonerecord.

So I finally got my "editing career" underway. I have tons of footage now: hippy camping in the river, electronic music and graffiti festivals, Japanese kids sticking toothpicks up their noses...great stuff.

My current project was slicing together video from a friends bday at a skate park. I downloaded the Pharrell tracks from itunes, converted them to AAC and then was halted by the window that says music purchased in itunes isn't available for use in final cut pro. What's up with that? I thought I had the world at my finger tips.

I complained a bit and someone told me to try Soulseek. I'm not fond of music sharing programs, both Limewire and Kazaa have had some serious effect on my flow. Any word on what works best for mac? Anybody tried Soulseek?

Space Shuttle Back in Action

2005-07-26T19:16:00.000-07:00

launch + 5 secs
Originally uploaded by 416style.

I was extremely lucky 3 years ago to find myself in Titusville, Florida on the eve of the launch of the Space Shuttle Endeavour. On our way from Miami to Toronto we needed a spot to pull over and camp for the night since it was already 1:30am. We rolled up to a quiet campground and found a great little spot on plush crab grass to set up for the night.

In the morning we realized we were right across the river from the launch pad at Kennedy Space Center, and in the spot beside the river where the alligator's like to have their breakfast! Later, at a greasy spoon, we met a wonderful man who worked for NASA. He invited us to his condo that night, in Titusville across from the launch pad and the Indian River. I got a few decent shots on my cheap throwaway camera (see better one below). This one was taken from 5 km away. It was the closest anyone besides relatives of the astronauts could get to the launch pad. It was phenomenal experience. The shuttle blast lit up the sky and the sound wave rumbled right through us on a 30 second delay.

I've been watching the shuttle lift off since I was just a kid and I'm thrilled the space program is back in action, probably because I've always been inspired by astronauts like Roberta Bondar, John Glenn and Jim Lovell. Now that the Canada Arm has become a successful part of the space program too I feel all the more proud each time we blast into space.

Score: Mac 1 PC 0

2005-07-19T12:13:00.000-07:00

popups
Originally uploaded by DanMelinger.

Was listening to 680 News this morning (Toronto radio) and was shocked to hear that Microsoft quietly reconfigured their anti-spyware applications so that one spyware maker, Claria, isn't blocked by their program any longer. While there is a justification for it on their site, I think anyone who has heard the news - that Miscrosoft is rumoured to be in acquisitions talk with the ill-thought of Claria - can read between the lines.

So Microsoft is working on both ends of this problem. Trying to help users by selling anti-spyware applications, then possibly investing in the very company that creates the ubiquitous spyware programs that run in Microsoft's OS and severely disrupts the activities of approximately 2% of PC users wordwide. As if there weren't enough distrust for Microsoft already.

I know the battle between Mac users and PC users will rage on. Sure PCs are cheaper (that's about the only argument in favour of PC), but for both novice and seasoned computer users it's just one more argument I have in favour of purchasing an Apple computer over a Windows-based PC.

Google Earth Rocks My World

2005-07-15T19:28:00.000-07:00

toronto skyline
Originally uploaded by 416style.

Wow! What I saw on a friend's PC yesterday was amazing. Google Earth's interface made me feel like I'd advanced 20 years into future technology. The application, available for PC's from Google, lets you look up any address on Earth and get a bird's eye view of the location. From far or from close, Google Earth is amazingly detailed. It's satellite imagery.

Check out downtown Toronto for example, or Manhattan, and you'll float over the silhouette of each skyscraper, each street (named for your convenience) and any landmark viewed from an aerial position. Switch the view and all of a sudden you're standing in front of the skyline. Put in another address half way across the country and you'll get a driving tour.

This is the bomb. Forget mapquest or yahoo maps, forget atlas' and Perly's. The future is here and now. The future is Google Earth.

Chopsticks and Video Blogging - An Adventure in Tokyo

2005-07-04T19:32:00.000-07:00

See video below - needs Ant or Quicktime and about a minute of your patience to load.

Took a great course tonight at LIFT (Liaison of Independant Filmmakers of Toronto) which showed the ropes of video blogging, a relatively new phenomenon. Straight forward and fun, it's a great way to get your DV showed to an audience. I learned about the many resources for hosting video like ourmedia and internetarchive and then was able to post something I cut in final cut pro just yesterday. It's my first piece, so be easy on me.

Below is "Chopsticks", a piece I shot while travelling from Kobe to Tokyo, Japan on the Bullet Train. On the train we debate the art of chopstick eating, then we visit the Tokyo Fish Market where I get a humbling lesson on proper sushi eating technique.

Please click on image to start viewing video.

I want to show you the original here, and point out that I used the suggested FCP Express codec or compression: mpeg4. In the class, the instructor Lukas Blakk showed us a downloadable compression tool that works much better: 3ivx. Mpeg4 actually distorted the shape of the video, making our heads a bit elongated, and the pixelation was so much that the great Mount Fuji is barely discernable. So in the next video installment I'll show you the difference, a video compressed with 3ivx. The quicktime file with 3ivx may take longer to start but the quality of visual will be worth it.

free ipods for real?

2005-07-02T20:09:00.000-07:00

anno 2005
Originally uploaded by jorb.

Sometimes I can't believe my dad is way more hip than me when it comes to technology and gadgetry. He had the first slick G5 that rolled off the shelf and the first ipod, was the first to talk about itunes too.
So I'm jealous I guess. I work at home off a G3 laptop (hand me down) or G3 imac (also a hand me down), and when I'm learning video editing I head to my mum's to work on her G4 emac. In the next year, I've promised myself, I'll get the titanium powerbook I always wanted and an ipod. I've got to save the dough first, so when I came across one of these free ipod ads for the hundredth time today I caved. I signed up. I bought 5 DVD's from Columbia House, some good titles too (Collateral and Harold and Kumar Go to White Castle) even though I have Movie Network on Demand and see everything I want to anyway. I couldn't resist though.
About a month ago I came across a US paper's technology column where the author explained that he wasn't sure the free ipod thing seen all over the net was the real deal either, but he too signed up, picked an offer and told some friends. About a month later he got his ipod. Now he's got some weight to throw around...and I've only got this blog. I just couldn't resist the temptation of a shiny new 20Gig ipod to test out itunes latest podcasts. It still won't be as cool as my dad's 40Gig ipod, or as cute as the ipod minis but I'm really jamming up my poor little 9Gig imac at home, half of which is my itunes library.
If this ipod thing is for real I'll be thrilled, if not I'll console myself knowing that in a year I'll have a fantastic DVD collection and great presents for every occasion.

launching freshtracks...

2005-06-30T22:47:00.000-07:00

launch + 10 secs
Originally uploaded by 416style.

Fresh Tracks is a blog created to track, review and explore fresh technology and new media launches.

Here's a sample of what's to come shortly:
- DVD standards and compatibility issues
- podcasting and itunes canada reviews
- mobile EDGE technology disscussion
- the best of photography blogs
- lessons in vblogging
- google video and earth launch
- free ipods, for real?

Please come back and read all about it.