Sweet Nectar of Validation - NV08 wrap up, reviews and podcast

Really truly pleased to read all the kind words from folks who rolled by my Northern Voice presentation F*** Stats, Make Art - sorry for messing up your SEO mojo with the inappropriate title ;-). To all who showed up, thanks! Really a treat to see so many friends, heros, colleagues and new friends smiling back - makes doing my “Dave O Show” a blast.

I really dumped my guts into my spiel about making art with the mighty tools at our disposal. With a group of opinionated, smart and savvy folks, I wasn’t sure if my message would be redundant or met with indifference or confusion. The resultant cavalcade of positive remarks suggests I articulated much of what i set out to share.

Hmm … what do I come up with for next year? As per the convo percolating at Nancy White’s post, perhaps a creative arts track of some kind is in order. As for me, I’d very much to learn about the other part of the publishing business which i know very little about - agents, distribution, editors and all that. Remember tis important to know much fu!

As for creativity, no one expresses artistic passion at NV like Rachel Ashe, three years back we shared a Barefoot-hosted panel with Capn’ Ajax and a Ms. Yarnageddon, last year she snapped very thoughtful diptychs of photos of artists and their tools. This year was light painting - she rallied up some helpers and armed with a bushel of gadgets created some positively psychedelic works. Spiral Godess is my NV hero!

Also a lovely treat to riff with my Crazy Canucks colleagues in the Sports Blogging and Podcasting panel. This rag-tag group grew into a team over the past 61 shows and the panel was as easy and intuitive as the podcasts. We know each others strengths and are “giving” to one another in the conversation. The questions in the session were great and show a real understanding of the weird tension we have with the “official”ness of the Canucks and the trade off of objectivity and creative control vs selling out.

Alanah and JJ live outside the Vangorrvy tech industry bubble and run the two most popular Canucks blogs out there. Alanah’s is famous for drunken live blogging which is no surprise why she ranks #1 for drunken canucks fan. JJ is the people’s ambassador to GM Place - walking the concourse with him is a task as he’s stopped more often than Mike Weaver would. And of course my good buddies the Bollwitts - the Vancouver blog and podsafe music podcast darlings.

Digression: The day following NV, the Crazy Canucks met up at the rink for concourse podcasting at the Open practice. We hung out with the Ultimate Canucks Search guys and Kent from We are all Canucklehads podcast, enjoyed many laughs, coffees and interviews. More in the The Pressure Cooker! - Canucks Outsider #61 and TCC#61 - Searching for Ultimate Canucks at the 2008 Open Practice.

Mighty Thanks to the kinds people who organized the event. I’ve becomes great friends with some of these diligent inclusive and inspiring peeps and truly enjoy learning more about their many skills and noble dedication to knowledge sharing. I encourage others to step up and help out driving the vision of the event going forward. Special thanks to KK, Boris and Roland who (unbeknownst to them) served as sounding boards for bits and pieces of my presentation in progress. Their reaction, diatribes and riffs helped my schtick for the better.

So if you’ll pardon me, … for the self-indulgence file, here’s an annotated NV08 roundup for personal archeology (in no particular order):

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F*ck Stats, Make Art (daveo) - AUDIO!!! Recorded, Levelated, and added by Cosmo

{Note: Last year’s podcast presentation induced the creation of yet another podcast feed which features all my odds and ends which don’t fit elsewhere from marketing lectures to sound seeing strolls. This is now a series i guess.}

Subscribe Ephemeral Feasthouse podcast feed

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More pimping of the Northern Voice posted by Carol Browne at 1:59 PM on February 23, 2008

After Matt’s talk, I sat in Dave Olson’s session called “F&*% Stats, Make Art. He’s clever and funny. Dave’s big into the podcast side as well. I also spoke to him briefly after he spoke - very gracious.

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IndieScribe - Liveblogging Northern Voice blogger con, part deux »

Dave Olsen rules. He is swearing too. He is swearing so much his talk is called “f— stats, make art”. He stresses that we should put our hearts into our work, otherwise what we are doing is just bullshit. And that we need to start really caring about what we are creating. On and control your transparency; because he doesn’t really want to know all that shit about you. All humor aside it was an inspiring talk, Olsen stressed that we should get back to ourselves “people say that if you want to be an artist you need to go to art school - bullshit - study yourself” states Olsen. Find your craft and take it seriously he states, and there is a big difference between typing and writing. (Dave Olsen)

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dave olson: blogging and creativity Isabella Mori change therapy

today i want to tell you about the session that touched me the deepest. it was dave olson’s “f**k stats, make art”. miss 604 has a great synopsis of it, and you can find my notes at the end of this post.

one of the things that became very obvious for me after dave’s presentation was sadness/frustration/disappointment that i had abandoned my practice of doing at least one piece of “artful writing” a day, no matter how short, kitschy or silly. dave may just have just stirred me enough to go back to that.

so i ended up writing two poems and would like to dedicate them both to dave.

thanks to dave olson, no. 1

a concussion of the most
mindful sort
comes over me as i indulge in these
northern voices.
poems must be written,
suns must be risen,
earths must be quaked
in this pyramid of
gentle thoughts
– not just yours,
not just mine –
that shake up this world.

{note: Thanks so much for the lovely work! }

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raincoaster - Northern Voice Blogging Conference stream of consciousness debrief part 1: Moosecamp

I did one last year on Stats: The Forbidden Love, and given that this year there was a talk on “Fuck Stats: Make Art” maybe it’s time for another one. After all, they are independent principles, not antagonistic. And Oscar Wilde cared passionately about his stats, you just know it.

{Note: This is a sweet piece of prose!}

But I must admit, even as an Egalitarian of long standing, that there is something wrong with a world in which grown men are not ashamed to admit they’re too scared to go into neighborhoods that don’t frighten a woman. They looked me in the eye, one after another (the men, not the eyes; mine are virtually on top of one another, except the ones I keep in the freezer) and told me that the Gallery Gachet wasn’t in Gastown, it was (horror of horrors!) in the Downtown EastSide (although the out-of-towners called it the Lower East Side, presumably thinking it was a wormhole to Manhattan or something). As if Gastown were an idyll of upper-middleclassdom, which it is not and never has been. The people who work in Gastown are convinced it’s a postcard and that the bums and junkies they see on the street each day are “spillover” from the Downtown EastSide, just on the other side of Maple Tree Square. That the junkies, streetwalkers, and bums have been there since 1860 never seems to occur to them and, day in and day out, they remain convinced that it is the down and outs who are the anomaly, not the chino-clad technologists and graphic designers.

{my comment}

Dave O Posted February 26, 2008 at 8:19 pm | Permalink

After catching yuppie cooties at the Lame-lighter, i led a rag-tag gang (past the endlessly sprouting fancy furniture stores) on a late-night foray to the Gachet where we imbibed and roasted til the last Seabus sailed. Dig what they are brewing up there for sure.

PS My spiel about the fucking of the stats and so on … was more about inspiring folks to step it up and reap validation from producing quality work which evokes passionate responses rather than settling for the saccharine pleasure of statistics. There is some audio of my pontifying somewhere.

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Northern Voice: Fuck Stats, Make Art

Have I mentioned before that our pal Dave Olson is awesome? He’s here to talk about how Art Makes the Future. History may have been forged by popes and generals but the only reason we KNOW about it is because someone took the time to write and paint about it.

{Note: My pal Miss604 took attentive notes which resemble my own scribblings - which i’ll post once i recall where i stashed the bits}

Comments from Miss604’s post:

Tod Maffin Best talk so far. Totally inspiring.

Stephen Rees I had three pages of scribbled notes in my moleskin to transcribe. It seems to me that you got the spirit if his - very impressive - presentation.

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Full Circle Associates connections for a changing world, online and offline…What I missed at Northern Voice Nancy White

There were two sesssions I really wish I had not missed. One was Dave Olson’s F*ck Stats, Make Art Dossier.

Apparently, Dave was on the same stream as our “Writing on Walls” session - tapping into our creativity. I’m glad the session was recorded and blogged. It was interesting to see that there were quite a few sessions that pinged on a central core of creativity.

{my comment:}

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Facebook Wall round-up (used without permission with my pardons):

Keith Bao wrote at 5:19pm
“Know Much Fu”I f*@!k’n dig this!!!!!!

Refreshing and honest, down to the core.
It was an honour to be there listening.

Kris Krüg wrote at 10:23am

fuck stats make art rocked.
upgrading heros in progress.

Ariane Khachatourians wrote at 4:56pm yesterday

I’m home sick today and have been listening to back episodes of Postcards from GB for the last hour or so…listened to the most recent one twice cause I liked it so much :-)Ditto on the session motivation. Totally inspiring.

Alexa Booth wrote at 2:18pm yesterday

yeah agree with @victoria, I feel teh motivations too

Victoria Potter wrote at 1:10pm yesterday

hey man. I really enjoyed your NV talk. consider me officially motivated.

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Victoria Potter Northern Voice 2008: Done Like Dinner February 25, 2008

I had expected something bordering on more technical, but still had a good [and informative] time listening to all the speakers; including my friend Stephanie’s talk on design, and Dave Olson (aka. uncleweed) and his Fuck Stats Make Art motivator.

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Bob’s Blog Get there faster. Am I too old for Northern Voice?

There were two more sessions that were seminal. First, Dave Olson producer, writer and visionary gave a great talk about the need to make art, not stats. Truly great rant that put a number of things in perspective for me. We get so caught up in the techno, the art suffers. It shouldn’t. And if Dave has anything to do with it it won’t. When everyone seems bent on promoting wikis, blogs, 3rd Life and all the other accoutrements, Dave was extremely refreshing. I would suggest you follow his work. This guy is truly unique.

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Blog the Fire Alicia Northern Voice 2008

After looking at the schedule the first thing I saw was the Sports Blogging and Pod Casting. Which I am very excited about because that is the Industry I want to have a career in. I have heard about the speaker Rebecca Bollwitt from many people and with not a lot of women on the panel, I am quite excited!I think another session with Dave Olson will be interesting F*** Stats,Make Art which seems like my sort of thing and will be a good discussion.

{note: kudos on the fine taste to get the Daveo double-hitter ;-0}

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Northern Voice 2008 Wrap Up John Biehler

Dave Olson also had an outstanding session about making art instead of worrying about “fucking stats”. Looking forward to hanging more with these guys in Austin real soon.

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Northern Voice Stephen Rees Yet another blog for me

If you missed it, plan to go next year and book early. Maybe next time they will have decent coffee, enough food for lunch and somewhere to hang your coat up. But these are minor quibbles. Excellent presentations today from Matt Mullenweg, Marc Canter, Dave Olson and Alex Waterhouse Hayward.

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My dear amigo Chris Heuer rocked some photos

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At the tiki party, I read 4 pieces of freeverse findable at Mountain Highway:

Waiting Only Twice a Day

standing up already

Pulling to the strait

All the secrets just vanished

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{Note: After an appearance at the pre-party, sadly K-A wasn’t able to roll to the learning-fest}

NO NV08 FOR THIS CHICA

I was really looking forward to meeting a lot of bloggers whom I’d only read or heard about, as well as picking up a few tricks of the trade for myself.Hope to catch up with her at the Green Living show for happyfrog’s frogblog - IT’S ALL GREEN, IT’S ALL GOOD

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Northern Voices 2008 Dana Oshiro meme.ca

Dave Olson’s podcast features a rousing rendition of the Canadian national anthem, his antics in Amsterdam and an impromptu longboard hockey game at the University of British Columbia’s Chan Centre.

{note: the Canadian anthem referenced is a humorously lackluster rendition from the Canadian Little League championship in Whalley, Surrey BC - fortunately i keep better versions in the feed too ;-))

I’m spoiled because new product demos are a dime a dozen in SF. I’m less interested in the technology available than I am in the way it is used. For this reason, my favorite presenter was a fellow I’d never heard of, Dave Olson.Dave Olson is a bit of hoser. He produces the Canucks Outsider Podcast, published a grade school punk zine featuring D.O.A and publishes Uncle Weed- a marijuana lifestyle blog and podcast. Olson’s lecture, entitled, “Fuck Stats, Make Art” was a welcome change from the widget wankery preached at most conferences. Olson entertained with embarrassing childhood anecdotes while still managing to deliver a great message.

He argues that somewhere in the process of monetizing and analyzing the web, content producers have sacrificed their need to create art and have fun. In essence, they’ve become meta-douches. It seems Dave Olson is putting the passion back into publishing and as long as this hoser keeps giving ‘er, I’m behind him 100%.

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TechVibes Greg Andrews Dave Olson on art, blogs, self expression, and redefining success

Dave Olson commanded a pre-lunch time slot with his rousing, bullet-point-free presentation entitled “F*ck Stats, Make Art” at Northern Voice 2008. “Art makes the future” Dave states. What we know about history is based on art, because someone chose to record it. Technology changes our focus on what art is. Oil paints were a technology revolution that allowed post-impressionist painting. The Internet has lowered the bar immensly for the distribution of art, but the most popular content seems to be the least meaningful, most simpleminded things like “some guy dancing around the world“.

Dave goes through a brief history of things he has created over the years: from a photocopied punk rock fanzine, through paintings, poetry, photography, writings, and now podcasting. He contrasts craft vs. art: you can take pride and enjoyment in your craft, your day job, but the meaningful personal expression comes through in art. Embracing translucency, instead of transparency, is his policy. No one cares to hear minor details of your life, and there should be things you don’t want to share, but you do want to put your whole self in the work. “Declare your story” and talk about what you create; “put the log back in blog”.

A slide with Google’s Larry Page and Sergey Brin pops up, and Dave goes into redefining success. Validation can be found from things other than stats, such as reader/listener mail and feedback. Success is for each person to define for themselves. Hold yourself to high standards and maintain your reputation. Hunter S. Thompson is referenced, in that he could write anything because he was very good at it. Rewards will come, possibly when you’re dead, but good art will have longevity. The presentation concluded with a standing ovation.

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I’m Taking the Northern Voice Challenge! Richard Eriksson Who Challenged Me At Northern Voice

Whether they knew it or not, intended it or not, the following people challenged me to think a little harder about creativity and craft. People close to me wonder why I don’t identify as being creative. The following Northern Voice speakers have me wondering too.

Dave Olson challenged me to step it up a notch, and to consider another media form if I’m struggling at the one I think I’m good at (writing). Podcasting, maybe? I don’t like the sound of my own voice, so that strikes video out as well. Photography is the medium I sunk the most into already, so I will try to bring the SLR to more places, make the same mistakes everybody makes when they start out, and document the process better. I’d like to learn how to draw. And sing. Outside of the conference, he remarked that he likes to find a third place, away from work and away from home to be creative. This has me thinking of the ideal place to work somewhere (and on something) not domestic and not commercial, but somewhere in between.

(I know that my desire to learn how to sing directly conflicts with the angst about hearing my voice, so don’t bother pointing that out.)

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Marketer deluxe Jordan Behan of Strutta (who just unveiled their secret powers) My Northern Voice Wrap-up

My favorite presentation of the weekend wasn’t about blogging at all, but rather a homage to making art; a visually stunning and clever rant by my good friend Dave Olson entitled “F*ck Stats, Make Art.” A standing ovation followed his talk, and I think I was first on my feet.

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Who’d I miss? Post a link to join the muster roll. Thanks again to all for the kind words - i look forward to seeing what you brew up! Keep an eye and i’ll post my notes or slides or something, sometime, maybe …

Here are some of your favorite DaveO NV08 photos from other Flickr members.

Background notes on Letters from Russia

In prep for a chat on “Write Now! The Art & Action of Letter Writing w/ DJ Snail Mail” on Free Radio Santa Cruz’s about my Letters from Russia project, i jotted down some a bit of backstory which i’m posting here lest i misplace and to share with others with interest.  So, … here ya go …
I started writing LfR while at an Evergreen College week long course “Poets and Philosophers Discuss Love and War” at Lake Crescent, WA. I had prepared with much reading about the historical context so i could make the story accurate. I then charted out the philosophical topics to address during Herni’s political transformation and personal journey.

I wrote each letter separately, handwritten on different papers and different writing instruments and only taking a piece or two to keep the letters brief and intense. Each letter was written while out on a walk/hike (so i could be in character a bit i suppose) and i didn’t edit from the original letters at all.

I also sketched/painted that summer to fill out the story and help me visualize his world and support the letters by replacing some visual narrative - and finally bound the original letters and paintings in a wood/hemp book. (a few are at:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/uncleweed/tags/lettersfromrussia/)

I lived overseas (Japan, Micronesia) quite a bit pre-Internet so am an enthusiast of printed letters and papercraft (I collect paper ephemera from trips).

I’d very much like to find someone with some deeper historical knowledge to give a read to see if there are glaring historical
inaccuracies - though i am sure on the dates and locations - before distributing it more.

Huge Slacker on Miss 604’s Contest

I guess i sorta excluded myself from my friend Miss 604’s contest since i would feel like i was cheating but really she had great prizes - a trip to see the Vancouver Giants, Vancouver’s WHL Junior hockey team and a fun night out (and much thriftier than the Canucks).

The game was the ‘teddy bear toss’ no less which i attended last year and recorded a Canucks Outsider (Festive Night at the Giants - Canucks Outsider #46) and the year before for that matter (Giants Junior Hockey and Coliseum Flashbacks - Canucks Outsider #17).

The other prizes included passes to Mount Seymour which is one of the three lift serviced mountains here on the North Shore. Located on BC Prov Park land, Seymour has many free and cheap-ish activities around too (tobaggoning, hiking, tubing) and a freestyle terrain park for getting all tricky on your snowboard.

Of course, Miss 604 is true to her altruistic roots with a donation campaign to BC Food Bank along with other causes.

Once i get caught up on another project or two, i gotta figure out what she’s doing with this Skate for a Cure deal whilst planning activities via her Christmas in Vancouver.

What i am saying is, this chick gets it done (and i know yet another cool project she is working on!) and i totally dig her citizen activism about Stanley Park (Stanley Park Tree Planting and the Humbug Hike) and a m very pleased for opportunities to collaborate with her.

Other excuses include all the time i spend rocking projects including the effervescent Rebecca and the other renegades we roll with.

In just the last week or two, we:

• hung out together at Transit Camp (Successful First TransitCamp Vancouver)
• recorded another episode of the Crazy Canucks (TCC#53 - Pittsburgh night in Vancouver)
• brewed up Blogging frog shoppers seeking green gifts in BC quest for happyfrog which she is already rocking out (happyfrog testing team: the reusable bag) along with the oozingly hip Keira-Anne (HAPPYFROG PURCHASE NO. 1)
• attended a super secret lodge meeting of specialness which i cannot link to or speak of at this juncture

Working the Snowy Festivus Tree Lot

While a snowstorm dumps on Vancouver, Dave checks in while doing volunteer work at a holiday tree lot at Ikea in Coquitlam. He explains aesthetic and practicial tree tips and reviews safety hints to do with highlighters, scissors and orange vests.

Formats available: Microsoft Video (.avi), Flash Video (.flv)

Tags: vancouver, christmas, tree, christmas tree, ikea, volunteer

Oh Brother - this printer is mighty

Along with some other local blogger/indie media/creative types, I am testing one of Brother’s new laser printers. I am someone who loves making stuff since ditto machines to working at K!nko’s for three months so i could scam the colour copier after hours. Thusly i am stoked to be testing a 65lb., full duplex(!), full colour(!), laser printer.

Among other projects, I’ll be making some photo wall collages (mounted on black museum board) me and the sweetie have been meaning to make for years.

Then (excitedly) make some bound and fully realized versions of my Letters from Russia (.pdf) war & love epistletory discourse book (which, incidentally, i’ll be discussing on Santa Cruz public radio soon) which included some drawings, painting and such which never made it to the digital version.

If i get really productive, I’ll finally create a printed, illustrated version of the Uncle Weed’s Red rock Adventure (.pdf) - eco-minded edu-tainment for all ages.

Yes there is a book with pictures written in 1988 or so which is Uncle Weed’s adventure in the desert explaining tips and tricks for development sabotage with outstanding illustrations by the talented Mr. B.G. Kiggins of NYC.

Next step is to gather a killer stash of quality paper to ensure the finest results. Thanks to DB eh.

Social media bonanza update

Rolling out podcasts at a usual epic pace including a few new series and guest appearances of sorts - so, in case you missed any these new and old series, here you go:

The Crazy Canucks - TCC#42 - Special Report: DaveO on the 2007 Super Series - a bit stale now but John added some beats while make my historical spiel worth a listen if you weren’t paying attention see also: TCC#49 - It’s still early in the season

Postcards from Gravelly Beach - Part second to last of the White Poppies for Remembrance series with an essay about why not to wear a poppy (respect by avoiding war) and some more hand-selected tunes paired like a pinot noir and gorgonzola - Peace to Soldiers and Strangers - Postcard #48

Raincity Radio - i’ve resurrected an old series, previously shepherded by Mark Yuasa, Robert scales, Megan Cole and others .. so far busted out a healthy batch about web community building in Vancouver and elsewhere with guests including Jordan Behan, Marc Laporte, Boris Mann, Robert, Francis, Erik, Mark, etc.

Choogle on! a whole heap of these:

Thanksgiving with Absinthe and Fungi Tea - Choogle on #54

Hemp for Victory with Author Kenyon Gibson - Choogle on #52

Tasty Asian Night Market Joint - Choogle on #53

Midnight Riverside Joint with the Dopefiend - Choogle on #51

Dopecast95: LIVE from Vancouver and Seattle!
My UK counterpart came to visit and we talked and toked and recorded it all for your listening pleasure. I offer half-asses analysis about the urban mileiu of Vancouver, forests, transportation, planning, politics, weed …

Canucks Outsider - third season is three episodes in with Shifting into Gear, Sorta - Canucks Outsider #58

Out ‘n About with Uncle Weed - This travelin’ man chronicles is growing quick as i make new personal docu-diaries and find other clips needing a home Blip.tv Show - Feed - iTunes

Noteworthy - my personal podfather, Cosmo Goodbud Spacely of Clubside Breakfast Time Podcast started a new series Spacely’s Sprockets being a short literary snippet, a song or two and his most curious thoughts so Subscribe!

Canadian Podcast Buffet - In #74: Cross-country audio and portable recorders, podcast diplomat Mark Blevis came to visit Vancouver and recorded some snippets of me, the charming Bollwits Radio John, Miss 604 and the hilarious dudes from Suburban Transpondency & Foreskin Radio begging the question “why so many fine podcasters come from Surrey?”

Forthcoming:

Roland’s Rabble
discussion about the open soft/hard OpenMoko and other phones seeking to shake up the mobile industry (iPhone, rumoured Google phone) with Bryght’s Mr. Furley and PhP guru Audrey F.

Postcards from Gravelly Beach
Final chapter of the White Poppies for Remembrance series - out in time for Remembrance day - this “back cover” of the series features me spieling on about the remnants and artifacts of war and the folks pointing the troops to conflict and their motivations while wandering around London

Postcards from Radio Zoom
Radio Zoom John and I are planning a plan to bring the music i used in the WPfR series to his music-focused show.
This includes:
World of Hurt - Drive by Truckers
White Daisy Passing - Rocky Votolato
Mercy -
Refresh -
Providence - Chris Jacobsen
Brokedown Palace - Grateful Dead
First Vietnam War/Snipers at the Gates of Heave - The Black Angels
Gone Beyond - Akron/Family
Be Joyful! -
ahh,… the i’ll jsut looka the White Poppies archive

another PfGB- more with Wm Lenker at the Woodshed this time a sort of John Sinclair inspired reading - seeking the right JS tracks to combo it with, Comso, you got some Sinclair beat tracks for me?

Choogle on!’s section of the Podcast Queue clean-out bonanza is nearing an end, next up (in no particular order):

- Numbskulz grow up - the third installment of these rocksters

- London last wander, maybe a bonus show about getting to London from vancouver with thoughts on NYC and elsewhere - might go under the Feasthouse label if not Choogley enough

- Herby’s tales of ganja growing and swinging at Wreck beach recorded in a grow room with Dopefiend

- with the leftovers, mix up a “big psychedelic mop-up tray” of all that’s left including a drunken (well me anyhow) discussion on the role of union in modern economy, some clips of the Dalai Lama’s Canadian citizenship ceremony, hanging out watching Seattle planes land with Cosmo, etc.

So this winter, move on to:

- Clayoquot recordings, water shortage, first nations reservation, skateboard comp, sitting in the woods with eagles perched overhead, wandering along trails, reading poetry and essays on clearcuts …

and record (possibly “instudio”) discourse on:

• War resistance - seeking refuge in Canada
• Marc Emery - extradition hearing status
• Immigrating to Canada - ways and means
• Growing weed in a small space - safe and personal

Another Urban Vancouver:

• HempC soda pop taste test

Next on Raincity Radio:

• Scales’ international business exploits to China, Blogworld and more
• Michael Fergusson about web communities for families and Facebook marketing Kinzin
• Boris and Francis about best practices for Drupal debuggin process management
• Dmitri, William, Colin at BAD Camp

Upcoming Olympic Outsider:

• a couple interviews which still need edited, release and all that with Duff Gibson and Crispin Lipscomb

All for now - Enjoy!

documenting pleasing mundanity of Vancouver commuting

Tis oft remarked that a what constitutes a commute in Vancouver may be considered a pleasure sightseeing adventure in other cities. My treks starting from the North Shore and heading across Burrard inlet via Seabus or Lions Gate bridge are certainly visually inspiring albeit a wee bit crowded at busy times (which are almost always in transit-hungry Vancouver). As such, i often join the tourists in snapping pics along the way. Heck, i film Seabus voyages and Skytrain rides when i can score that very front seat.

Anyhow, along with a rabble of techies, I tested a Nokia N95 phone for 8 days and used it to create a group project so to speak in which Roland, Richard, Rebecca, Kris and I all documented part of the Vancouver commute experience in order to try out different features and engage with one another using mobile technology. The quest: Return and report both the phone’s functionality/usability as well as the mobile presence-ness mojo conjured up during the experiment.

Of course, Canada’s absurd mobile data plans really limit the usefulness but the wi-fi ability and 5MP camera (with solid video) made for some fun times documenting and getting up quick. I connected to the freethenet.ca connections but having to go through the web screen caused an extra clumsy step.

I also extended the phone’s ability with Shozu which allows direct photo upload to Flickr. I found the tool useful but set-up painful and wouldn’t have pulled it off without the help of Shozu warrior Roland Tanglao. I wish there was a direct upload of video as connecting via usb and then dragging the vid files to the ‘puter and then ftp upload was more steps then i’d like. I also didn’t pre-tag in Shozu but did later in Flickr (typing tricky with small keys).

Really, the phone’s user interface lacks massaged usability polish which remove the intimidation for all but the geekiest users. We all provided frank opinions to Jean Hebert (great hockey name eh) who was research project dude for SFU at Harbour Centre. We also commented on what we’d like to have in a portable communications device. I want flexibility, versatility, ruggedness, ease of use, big buttons, quick response - not too much to ask right? {Gonna test an OpenMoko phone next.}

My artifacts from the test are the a stretch of 5 vidcasts on Out ‘N About with Uncle Weed vidcast - now tuned-up and ready for subscribing baked into a feed and/or available on iTunes (along with a bunch of other video odds and ends) both from my commute from North Van to Gastown and also a roadtrip to Olympia WA where i saw The Dirty Birds rock out at McCoy’s and connected to Zhonka Broadband’s free wi-fi hotspots. There are also a solid batch of photos snapped from the office roof to the Trans Canada trail park by my house in Vancouver Commute set.

144 Punk Rock Photos show by Bev Davies

Opening night reception of classic Vancouver punk photos by Bev Davies exhibited at the Jem Gallery in Vancouver, January 2007.

Formats available: Microsoft Video (.avi), Flash Video (.flv)

Tags: punk, vancouver, bevdavies, doa, joeshithead, art, photographypunk, vancouver, bevdavies, doa, joeshithead, art, photography

This video was originally shared on blip.tv by uncleweed with a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs license.

Japanese Garden Respite in North Van

In between gigs visit to a hidden and somewhat serene Japanese garden in North Van loaded with maples and the occasional transient seeking shelter.

Formats available: MPEG4 Video (.mp4), Flash Video (.flv)

Tags: north vancouver, japanese garden, maples, northvan, nokian96test

Mosquito Creek, North Vancouver

Heading out towards downtown Vancouver starting from Mosquito Creek along the Trans Canada trail bound for the 240 busstop.

Formats available: MPEG4 Video (.mp4), Flash Video (.flv)

Tags: vancouver, transit, nokian95test, northvancouver, mosquito creek, uncleweed

Cannabis Cup and Nederlander Strolls

Scenes of life at the 2002 Cannabis Cup in Amsterdam plus trips to Deventer, Madurodam, Haarlem and just strolling the streets en route to coffeeshops. Featuring Uncle Weed, Cosmo G. Spacely and Gazoo.

Formats available: Quicktime (.mov), Quicktime (.mov), Flash Video (.flv)

Tags: cannabis, marijuana, hemp, amsterdam, nederlands, holland, netherlands, cosmo, uncleweed, gazoo, coffesshops, madurodam, deventer

Noise to Signal cartoon makes fun of web biz goofiness

Rob (day job = Social Signal) Cottingham brews up some witty and well executed cartoon about web culture, the biz grind, work life, geekiness, corporate shillery etc.  Somewhere between Dilbert, Farside and Family Circus ;-) and less self-referential to the “web 2.0 community” as Blaugh.

Check out a few samples (served up via Social Signal’s site) and subscribe to Noise to Signal RSS feed

Note: the original posts are accessible with written description for page readers - very nice.  Oh yeah, he does political stand-up - hire him for your fundraiser ;-).