Considering that the bulk of Canadians voters are (as usual) back East, and that I was the only blog from BC nominated in this category, I find this a great feat and extend my sincerest thanks to everyone who voted for me!
Thanks again to everyone who voted, Saskboy and his team for producing on the awards, and also to Paul Hillsdon who I believe originally nominated me. I hope I can continue to serve, inform, and represent Vancouverites (or at least chicks who come from Surrey) in the coming year and beyond.
As stated when I first started making my site open for advertisements, I will always disclose when a blog post is a part of a paid advertisement. As I choose my advertisers probably as carefully as they choose me, I make sure to proudly support local business.
The first ever meetup of any kind that John and I attended was the Podcaster Meetup in February of 2006. Ever since John moved to Vancouver, and brought his podcast with him, I’ve enjoyed being a part of RadioZoom and meeting the people around town that make these productions happen.
John started RadioZoom in 2004 before I knew what podcasting was. He’s grown it into something pretty great and over the last few years we’ve celebrated milestones (like the 100th episode), and interviewed many great bands (like Aberdeen City and Jim Ward of Sparta) [interviews]. This past weekend he did some work on the site and published Episode 142. We’re falling a little behind but if this is the first you’ve heard of RadioZoom, I suggest you explore our catalog. All music we play is with permission from the artist or is officially pod-safe.
The other podcast in which I’m a co-host is The Crazy Canucks. We’re a bunch of bloggers who love the Canucks, love the game, and love to talk about it. John and Dave recorded Episode 58 this weekend and it’ll be up on the site later today. Look for all of us at Northern Voice on Saturday, February 23rd as we discuss sports blogging and podcasting with the masses.
I’ve done my fair share of liveblogging over the past few years, and I’ve even written a brief “How to Live Blog” entry. Many people have offered tips and tricks to help the process go smoothly and I think I’ve pretty much got my method down to a science.
However, this morning Tod sent me a link to Cover it Live – an embeddable little piece of ajax-powered code that allows you to publish in real time, with every tap of the return key. Viewers can also chime in, making it that much more live and interactive.
I’m always pretty skeptical when it comes to new technologies and tools (it took me long enough to let John even move me to WordPress in 2006), but I think I’m going to give this a whirl.
My next chance to do a live blog will be this Thursday, at DemoCampVancouver05. I’ve covered several DemoCamps before so we’ll see how this compares. Tune in then to participate and do the test drive with me.
Unfortunately I knew nothing of The Railrodder until my father handed me a collector magazine the other day.
The Railrodder is Keaton’s fitting valedictory to the world or iron, steam, speed and slapstick. The epic of man and machine is seen in microcosm, everything stripped down to bare essentials – one man, a small, motorized speeder railcar, and a clean trajectory across 4,000 miles of track.
Although he is older now, face gaunt and lined, Buster is truly himself one last time, attired in his familiar suit and pork-pie hat, sallying forth across a silent landscape with only his wits and ingenuity (and a delightful musical score from Eldon Rathburn) to survive a multitude of pratfalls and perils. [From Films in Review Magazine, article not online]
The entire film is only 24 minutes long but in that short time it becomes a tribute to a Canadian film making (Gerald Potterton being the NFB Director who convinced Keaton to come to Canada), and certainly an amazing throw back to the silent film era with a score that flows in time with the railway theme.
Part Three
You can find some films on YouTube in pieces or you can buy “Buster Keaton Rides Again“, the NFB produced documentary on Keaton, which includes a The Railrodder – it’s also a great view of Canada, back in the 1960s.
More than anything though, this showcases an actor, filmmaker, comedian and director that is sometimes forgotten in the age of blockbusters and CGI. The fact that he ends his silent film career in White Rock, BC just makes it all that more precious to me, anyway.
