Monday, 30 May 2011

Book Review - Gideon's War by Howard Gordon

Gideon's War: A NovelSome action books really get the blood pumping; the author does such a great job of visualizing the action that you almost feel like you're watching a movie or TV show.

Other times, you get TV show writers who want to write books, but they don't seem to be able to make the transition. They wallow in television tropes, unable to break free of what they're used to.

Howard Gordon was the executive producer of 24, and his first novel, Gideon's War, falls into that trap somewhat. It's not necessarily a *bad* book, but it's very frothy and not very satisfying.

My review has now been posted on Curled Up With a Good Book:
"Gideon Davis is the President's go-to guy whenever he needs a particularly delicate negotiation done. He is being honored at the UN for his latest accomplishment when he's pulled away by the President and his advisors, including old family friend Earl Parker. They ask him to help bring in a rogue agent, Tillman Davis - who just happens to be Gideon's brother. He'll only surrender himself to Gideon. When the situation explodes, Gideon is forced to make his way to the Obelisk, a huge oil platform off the coast of the war-torn country of Mohan. Terrorists have taken it over, and one of them may be Gideon's brother. He has to stop them before they blow the platform to pieces."
Unfortunately, the character development is almost non-existent, and the writing style just smacks you in the head with TV tropes. Weird perspective changes are the most egregious example of this. How can you have five perspective changes in one 3-page section of a novel? It almost gave me whiplash.

Anyway, check out my review on Curled Up. Who knows? This might actually be your cup of tea.

It wasn't mine.

Sunday, 29 May 2011

One Hit Wonders of the 2000s (Part 25)

Dust. Dust everywhere. Dust so thick that it will blow around you and choke you, entering your mouth and nasal passages, smothering you, until only the sweet oblivion of Death's grip on your shoulder will save you from it.

As those immortal bards known as Kansas used to say, all we are is dust in the wind.



But you know what all this dust means to me?

It means that we have to hire a new cleaning service.

This is my office here at One Hit Wonders Inc.

(Thanks to egotvonline)

It's not a pretty sight.

Why yes, I do have trees in my office. Why do you ask?

Anyway, I will try to clear my throat and brain enough to do this week's one-hit wonders of the 2000s post! The series that's full of wit so dry that it's not even noticeable.

Seriously, this could be you.

(Thanks to RamblingRoses)

But we motor on regardless!

As usual, you can find the list I'm taking these from here. And you know what? Please don't jump ahead. I'm asking nicely. Seriously, I am.

Oh, and I'll let you get a drink of water before we go.


Pssst! Are they gone yet?

Ok, let's go!

1) Huey: "Pop, Lock, & Drop It" (#6) (June 2, 2007)



(Yay, Vevo!)

(Funnily enough, I put this in every week, and I don't think *anybody* has ever clicked on it)

It's got an appropriate intro, don't it? It's like the Jaws sound of imminent doom.

I'll say one thing for rap videos, though. You can always turn the sound down and still get some pleasure from the videos.

Well, if you're a guy.

Or a lesbian.

Your ears (and other parts of your body) will thank you for it.

The rest of you? Well, you're out of luck. But I'm here for ya.

(Thanks to Denver OLX)

Never let it be said I don't take care of all my readers.

2) Shop Boyz: "Party Like a Rockstar" (#2) (June 9, 2007)



(Yay, Vevo!)

I'm looking at these last two videos. They went to #6 and #2 respectively. I'm trying to see what might be so different about these, that the mainstream people would like them as much as the normal rap fan.

And I come to only one conclusion.

(Thanks to Cracked!)

Yep, it must be this guy.

3) Blake Lewis: "You Give Love a Bad Name" (#18) (June 9, 2007)



Ok, I am officially sick of these American Idol "singles".

Especially when their only "hit" is a song they performed on the show. You guys are really making it difficult to do these posts!

I'm going to pout now.


Ok, I'm over it.

Everybody's raving over this song, which is perhaps why I don't watch the show. I hate this performance of it.

I'm not a fan of Bon Jovi (though I used to be), but even I feel sorry for them, having their song mutilated like this.

Anyway, I'll shut up now. Before American Idol fans storm the offices.

Maybe I'd better lock the door, just in case. Let the interns deal with them.

4) Big & Rich: "Lost in This Moment" (#36) (June 23, 2007)

Stupid BMG, rather than making their videos available like Sony does via Vevo, has every possible video of this song marked "embedding disabled"

If you really want to see it, go here.

I, meanwhile, have to go golfing.

(Thanks to Snopes)

You don't want to see my handicap, though.

5) Amy Winehouse: "Rehab" (#9) (June 30, 2007)



I shall avoid the usual Amy Winehouse jokes. They're too easy. And if I've learned nothing else as a comedian (Hey, you! Shut up! It *could* be true!), it's to not go for the easy stuff.

I have to say that I love the music in this song, though. The song itself?

Could there be any more appropriate song to be her one hit? I don't think so.

Let's see what Cute Talking Puppy had to say about that video.



How very insightful. I can't help but agree!

6) Down AKA Kilo: "Lean Like a Cholo" (#34) (June 30, 2007)



This is how I feel after this week (with one song to go!)

(Thanks to MyModernMet)

Seriously. This has been a hard week.

7) Hurricane Chris: "A Bay Bay" (#7) (July 28, 2007)



(Yay, Vevo!)

Tomorrow's headline: "Twenty-five dead After Blogger Rampage Due to Having to Listen to Bad Rap for 2 Hours"

Yeah, I can see it happening.

Actually, no. I can't. I just don't roll that way.

They might be seriously wounded by cutting remarks, though.


No, Fluffy!!!! Don't do it! I'm sure it will be better next week!

(No animals were harmed in the production of this post...mainly because I kept missing)

And there you have it. The year 2007 is really turning out to be a crappy year, isn't it?

I'm just going to take my bottle of tequila over here and...


Wake me when it's 2008.

I wouldn't blame you if you didn't watch any of the videos today.

I know I will bear the scars of it for years to come.

But now it's time for some calisthenics.



Hey, jumping jacks are hard!



One Hit Wonders of the 2000s
Part 1
Part 2
Part 3
Part 4
Part 5
Part 6
Part 7
Part 8
Part 9
Part 10
Part 11
Part 12
Part 13
Part 14
Part 15
Part 16
Part 17
Part 18
Part 19
Part 20
Part 21
Part 22
Part 23
Part 24
Part 25
Part 26
Part 27
Part 28
Part 29
Part 30
Part 31

Saturday, 28 May 2011

Scaring the Scary Pigeons


City-dwellers know that pigeons can be really annoying. Even more so if they've decided to take up residence on your balcony.

In a recent one-hit wonders post, I mentioned that we were having this problem, though I understand if you didn't realize I wasn't joking there.

The truthiness of the "facts" about myself given in a one-hit wonders post can range anywhere from "absolutely, positively true" to "if you thought this was even remotely true, you'd unfriend me on Facebook."

So anyway, yes, this was a true story. Two pigeons seemed to spend an inordinate amount of time walking around our balcony. I spent the Sunday that I was writing that post continuously distracted by watching them waddle. We did not want this to continue.

Checking around the Net, the most often recommended solution was to use some fake owls to keep them away. It seems they're not perceptive enough to notice that the owls aren't moving. We went to Canadian Tire and picked up a couple of the owls that are in the picture above. I know I was scared by them! So surely the pigeons would be too.

And it worked!

We have not seen a pigeon on our balcony since putting them out there.

Supposedly, if you don't move the owls around a little bit, the pigeons do wise up and realize "Heeeeeeeeeeey, these things are fakes!" So about once a week, we go out there and reposition them.

We even had a crow land on our balcony railing and immediately fly off, landing on the balcony above ours.

Scared by the owls? I don't know. But it was cool to see.

I whole-heartedly endorse what the other web sites are saying. If you have a pigeon problem, plastic owls are the way to go.

It's no wonder it works, though. Looking into that face, wouldn't you be a little intimidated?

Wednesday, 25 May 2011

Book Review - Ground Zero by F. Paul Wilson

Ground Zero (Repairman Jack)I'm a latecomer to the "Adversary Cycle" series of books written by F. Paul Wilson, but I'm enjoying them now that I'm reading them.

I really liked By the Sword, which was my first book in the series. I don't recommend you start there, but you certainly can. Everything was explained well enough that I didn't feel lost. I felt like I was missing something, but I didn't feel lost.

By the Sword: A Repairman Jack NovelGround Zero is the next book in the series, and it continues the strong story. Wilson has made it plain that the books in the series will no longer be self-contained, as he is leading up to the finale (there are two books left after Ground Zero, I believe). That's certainly the case here. I wouldn't say it ends in a cliffhanger, but there are so many story threads leading into the next book that it might as well have.

It takes a talented author to incorporate the events of 9/11 into a dark fantasy series and not make it look in bad taste or tacked on for shock effect. Wilson is that author. My favourite part of the book? It uses the 9/11 Truther conspiracy theorists, incorporates them into the narrative, and still makes them look like the idiots they are.

It basically does that by saying (within the world that Wilson has created, not for real) "the Truthers are onto something, but they're way off on what it is."

I love it!

My review has now posted on Curled Up With a Good Book.
"A decade after the horrific events of September 11, 2001, the world is going crazy. The dark plot that Jack has been fighting seems close to fruition, and the pieces are falling into place. In the meantime, Jack's childhood friend Weezy Connell has joined the 9/11 Truther movement, piecing together little facts and discrepancies that seem to lead to an inevitable conclusion: the true story of 9/11 has not been told yet. She posts her conclusions anonymously on the Internet, but somebody knows who she is. In desperation, she calls Jack, not knowing that he is the same Jack she knew all those years ago. Jack finds himself immersed in the Truther movement and discovers that they have no idea how far off they are while still being right. What's really behind 9/11 - and many other recent events - is part of a war millennia old, a war that may be catching fire again soon."
Wilson's imagination is endless, and Jack (known as "Repairman Jack" because people hire him to come and fix things) is a wonderful character. He's doing the best he can in a conflict between Good and Evil, caught in the middle and just trying to tread water and keep his loved ones alive.

The book is only slowed a bit by Wilson over-explaining the whole Adversary Cycle. That may be helpful to new readers, but I like to think that even they might say "can we please get on with it?"

I would definitely not start the series with this book. Though, again, you would be able to understand what's going on. It just wouldn't mean as much to you. At least start with By the Sword, if you don't want to start at the beginning. That's where I started, and it certainly hasn't hurt me.

Read the review for more, and let me know what you think! And if you're a Wilson fan, I'd love your thoughts as well (though don't spoil the next book for me...I know it's out, but I haven't read it yet).

Tuesday, 24 May 2011

Better Facebook - changing your Facebook experience for the better

Are you frustrated with the new Facebook user interface? Are there things you would like to do on Facebook that the interface just doesn't allow you to do?

There's an app for that.

Ok, an "extension," but that doesn't sound nearly as trendy.

It's an extension called "Better Facebook," and I find it works like a dream.

One of the most popular posts on this blog is my "Somebody Unfriended You on Facebook?" post, detailing a Greasemonkey script for Firefox that allows you to see who has dropped you from their Friends list.

(Incidentally, the family member referred to in that post is now on my Facebook friends list, so I hope she doesn't go back to read that!)

Anyway, Amy Vernon, an accomplished social media expert that I've been following on Twitter for a while now, was live-tweeting from a social media conference she was at. She mentioned a Google Chrome extension called "Unfriend Finder" that had been mentioned in one of the panels. I decided to take a look, since I mostly use Chrome now, and it got annoying having to open Firefox to check my friends list whenever I noticed it dropped.

The reviews were not good. (I don't know if you have to be on Chrome to access that page)

I tweeted that back to Amy and we had a short, 2-tweet conversation about it. Then Mei Qing chimed in suggesting Better Facebook.

I checked it out, and all I have to say is "Wow."

It has greatly enhanced my Facebook experience, and I highly recommend it for those of you who use Facebook a lot. It's available on all browsers except Internet Explorer.

Here are some of my favourite features:

1) Unfriend Tracker

The main reason I got it, of course.

2) Tabbed News Feeds

Do you find your News Feed cluttered with all of the game announcements, Astrology announcements, stuff posted from Twitter, feeds from pages you follow, etc? Better Facebook puts tabs on your News Feed so that you can separate all of that out. So far on my News page, I have a "Home" tab that has status updates, videos, photos, etc posted by my friends. Then it has RSS feeds, which has page updates. And finally a Twitter tab, where status updates that were forwarded by Twitter show up. It really cleans it up.

You can have Better Facebook automatically choose tabs, which is what I do. I'm not sure if you can customize the tabs, but it's worth exploring.

3) Remove posts you've already read

Once you've read an update, do you really need to see it again? If your answer is "no," then you can "mark all as read" on a tab and voila! They're gone. However, if somebody comments on an update you've marked read, it will reappear. So don't worry about losing out on seeing responses to it.

The cool thing is, if you don't care about responses, you can "mute" it so new comments will not make it reappear. You can also establish a comment threshold, so if the number of comments goes over, say, 20, it will stop reappearing. You're given total control!

4) Remove "Recent Activity" from your profile page

I don't use this option, but I still think it's a cool thing. You know how your recent activity shows up on your profile? Say you left a comment on your friend's status. It shows up on your profile as "recent activity," including a snippet of what you said! What if you don't want your friends to know that you're commenting on somebody's semi-nude picture?

With Better Facebook, you can make it so these activities don't show up on your profile page.

5) Hitting "Enter" on a comment doesn't actually post the comment.

Many people (Hi, Dawnie!) were extremely annoyed, just like I was, with the latest change in the user interface. It used to be, you had to actually click "send" to post a comment. You could write a couple of paragraphs if you wanted to. The latest change, though, made it so that hitting "Enter" submitted the comment.

Too many times, there are now two comments left by the same person, because they didn't realize that you could hit "Shift-Enter" and have it create a line break in the comment.

Better Facebook can return to the old style of commenting, making it safe to hit the "Enter" key again. If you want. If you are used to the new way of doing things, just leave this one disabled.

It's up to you.

There's so much other cool stuff, but I don't want this post to go on forever. Check out the Better Facebook page for all of the juicy details (see how nice I am? I linked to it down here, too)

The best thing about it, though, is that it lets you turn each option off and on. You don't have to take the whole package if you don't want to. Like I said about the Recent Activity removal, you can implement a feature or leave it turned off. There are a few things I've left off because they aren't important to me.

I love how customizable it is. And you can turn the entire thing off with a click of the mouse if you want to.

My experience with it has been wonderful. I highly recommend it for heavy Facebook users. Explore it! I haven't even scratched the surface of what you can do with the app in this post.

Not only that, but I haven't even explored the filtering options for myself yet. Something I may never do because that amount of filtering may not be important to me.

But it might be to you, and it's there for you to use.

Which is the coolest thing of all.

Monday, 23 May 2011

Book Review - Antiphon by Ken Scholes

Antiphon (The Psalms of Isaak)I've been a big fan of Ken Scholes since picking up the first book in the "Psalms of Isaak" series, Lamentation. The second book, Canticle, was even better.

Sadly, the third book in the series, Antiphon, isn't nearly as good as the first two books. I don't know if that's because of the "middle book" syndrome or what. "Middle book syndrome" is when the second book of a trilogy is the weakest book because it's not establishing the series and it's not ending it. Many times, it seems it's just positioning pieces on the chess board.

Since I believe (I could be wrong) that Scholes' series is supposed to be five books long, it makes sense that the third book would fall victim to this.

And it does. Very hard.

My review for the book has been posted to Curled Up With a Good Book.
"The ancient and the modern clash as the Wizard Kings of old, long believed to be extinct, reach forward to war with the Androfrancine Order to take control of the ancient magicks. Neb, the Home Seeker for the Marsh People, runs the wastes looking for the Hidden Library, chased by a strange group of women for purposes unknown. Meanwhile, mechanical people from the ancient past, ancestors of the mechoservitors created by the Androfrancines, search for their own reasons. The Crimson Empress is coming, and her acolytes are attempting to pave the way for her ascension in the Named Lands. Only a few people can stop her."
I mentioned the chess pieces analogy for "middle book syndrome" above, and it definitely applies here.

The characters are nowhere near as interesting, and everything appears to be "destined" to happen.

It got quite annoying after a while.

Still, Scholes' writing maintains its excellence, so I'm hoping this is just a bump in the road to a thrilling conclusion to the series.

Read the review to find out more. And let me know what you think!

Sunday, 22 May 2011

One Hit Wonders of the 2000s (Part 24)

On a cold and rainy Sunday in Vancouver, a long weekend with nothing but promise, I am primed and pumped and ready to produce some blogging goodness!!!

Too bad that never lasts past the first sentence or two. But I thank you for staying with me anyway.

I think it's sweet how optimistic you are, actually.

It's also Family Picnic day at One Hit Wonders Inc! We play such wonderful party games as Find the Intern


And Pin the Tail on the Doctor

(Thanks to the Dr. Who Image Archive)

The interns really enjoy these outings. And I enjoy them too.

One day, maybe I will give them more then 30 minutes before getting back to work.

But only if they're really nice to me.

Anyway, it's time for this week's edition of the one-hit wonders of the 2000s! We're getting through 2007 at a lovely pace. And, so far, no Rap! Well, no real Rap anyway.

Though I did accidentally rap my knuckles with this ruler on the desk.

Too many Catholic school flashbacks, I think.

But wait! What's this?

(Thanks to Wikiality)

I see Rappy seas ahead! Batten down the hatches! And put out that cigarette. Those things are bad for ya.

As usual, you can find the list I'm taking these from here. Don't jump ahead of me, though.

Or this might jump out at you.

(Thanks to Vampires.com)

Sorry. That's me dressed up to go to the Symphony (yes, I go in drag...what of it?)

I meant this.

(Thanks to News of Delhi)

Here we go!

1) Rich Boy - Featuring Polow da Don: "Throw Some D's" (#6) (March 31, 2007)


Rich Boy - Throw Some D's by UniversalMusicGroup

Thar she blows!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Storm didn't take long to get here, did it?

(Thanks to 44mlb Art Gallery)

We'll just have to ride it out.

Now, where did I put that rum bottle?

2) Robin Thicke: "Lost Without U" (#14) (March 31, 2007)



(Yay, Vevo!)

Oh my God! He definitely looks like his dad! And the video's straight out of a steamy soap opera, so his mom should feel right at home too.

Considering how she's all over him in the video, I don't think he's very lost. Do you?

Am I the only one who would find it deliciously ironic if, when he opened the door that last time and got that weird look on his face, it's because he was being served with divorce papers after all that hot sex he was getting?

I am?

Or maybe Stefano would be there and lay a beating on him for sleeping with his daughter?

(Thanks to Serial Drama)

That would be cool.

Mom might have to intervene.

3) Baby Boy da Prince: "The Way I Live" (#21) (April 7, 2007)



(Yay, Vevo!)

Oh no! They're back! That one snuck up on us. Cut the sail! Hard starboard!

And just ignore me, as I'll be over here in the corner.

(Thanks to Fork Party)

4)Red Jumpsuit Apparatus: "Face Down" (#25) (April 7, 2007)



Wow, thanks Mr. Apparatus (can I call you Red Jumpsuit?). Making a song about domestic abuse. I'll bet you did that just so I couldn't make fun of you.

You knew that, four years after your song, I'd be doing a post like this, aching to make fun of your long hair (I assume you play your instruments by touch?) and other shortcomings. But by making a song about a sensitive topic, you've inoculated yourself!

I can't even make fun of the video!

Well-played, sir. Well-played.

But you will get yours soon, my friend. Yes, you will. When you least expect it.

Your next hit, I'll be there waiting.

Wait! There isn't one! That's why you're here! HA!

That's one for me.

Ok, one comment. It seems from the video that her trouble isn't with an abusive husband/boyfriend, but with a bad poltergeist.

They've got people to deal with these things, lady!

(Thanks to MovieWeb)

Get help.

5) Crime Mob: "Rock Yo Hips" (#30) (May 12, 2007)


Crime Mob-Rock Yo Hips by ZICARLOS

And now they're back! Geez, will this storm never end! Ahoy, mateys!!!! We're going down if we don't do something quick! The masts are down, the sails torn to shreds!

We'll have to find another ship to take.

(Thanks, Flickr)

Oh wait. There's one!

Prepare for boarding!

6)The White Stripes: "Icky Thump" (#26) (May 19, 2007)



Big on the alternative music scene, this is the only "mainstream" White Stripes hit, which is why the duo shows up here. This husband and wife team has an interesting sound, don't they?

I have no idea what this song, or this video means. And I don't care. The wife likes White Stripes, so I wouldn't insult them even if I wanted to (and I don't, as they are actually very intriguing).

It must be nice working and touring with your spouse. No worries about groupies. No worries about one being away from the other for weeks on end.

Songwriting sessions might be interesting, though.

(Thanks to Oil Wrestling)

And that's when they agree!

So there you have it. Part two of 2007. We're half-way there, and we seem to have weathered the storm okay.

Pity about those other people, of course. But needs must, as they say.

For some small group of people that comprise "they," anyway.

Anyway, I did leave them with options.



And now it's off to get ready to go clubbing!



It's no wonder the ladies are all over me.



One Hit Wonders of the 2000s
Part 1
Part 2
Part 3
Part 4
Part 5
Part 6
Part 7
Part 8
Part 9
Part 10
Part 11
Part 12
Part 13
Part 14
Part 15
Part 16
Part 17
Part 18
Part 19
Part 20
Part 21
Part 22
Part 23
Part 24
Part 25
Part 26
Part 27
Part 28
Part 29
Part 30
Part 31

Saturday, 21 May 2011

Writing Disappointment

About six weeks ago, I got the urge to see if I could write a video game blog, or write for one. I started my own, but I haven't posted anything for a little while now (must get back to it).

I was looking for video game review sites, but I stumbled upon a video game news site that advertised that they're always looking for new writers. I jumped at the chance. One of the positions they were offering was "weekend writer," which means you would post the majority of your stories during the weekend, though you could also contribute during the week as well. There would be no pay, but you could eventually be given games to review, and you might actually be able to get into some video game events and stuff as "Press."

All in all, it sounded pretty cool, and I've always said that one thing that would motivate me to be regular on my blogging is having something be "required" (i.e. I'm not doing it just for myself, as I tend to get lazy sometimes when I do that).


I'm not going to name them, but I will say that it's not any of the really famous ones (Games Radar, Game Informer, Gamespot, etc). I had never heard of them before. But you've got to start somewhere, don't you?

I sent in my request, and didn't hear anything for two weeks. I had pretty much put it out of my mind when I get an email from them, thanking me for my interest and saying that they make their "hiring" (is it really hiring if you're not paid? I don't know) decisions by asking the prospective writer to write stories based on press releases that the editor sends. These are releases that the site has already written about, so it's not like what you send back will be posted. It just gives them an idea of your writing style and response time. Most stories on the site are 150-200 words long.

I receive the email on a Sunday morning. I quickly responded back, and I ended up writing three pieces for the editor that day.

Then I didn't hear from him for two weeks.

Again, I just wrote it off. Ok, rude way to turn somebody down, but whatever.

I did hear from him again, though. He apologized, saying they'd had a lot of work revamping the site and he hadn't been able to get back to me. Sent me another story to do. Keep in mind all of this happened on Sundays.

Didn't hear from him again until the next Saturday (the day I was at a conference) when he sent me another press release. I emailed back (Yay, iPhones!) and said I was at a conference but I would do this first thing Sunday morning.

I sent the story back on Sunday.

No response.

Today, I get an email thanking me for the write-ups, but "unfortunately I have to say your style is not what we're after right now, so I'll have to decline I'm afraid."

And you know what?

I'm not that disappointed. A bit pissed off, but not that disappointed.

The first weird thing (and not the thing that really pissed me off, because I just thought of this while writing this post) is: why the hell did you have to wait a week to blow me off? I know this was for a "weekend news writer," but does that mean that this guy only works weekends?

And even if he does, since they're gauging writing style, couldn't somebody else have done it too? It's not like they have a different style on the weekends, so only the weekend editor can make any judgement about the writers.

The most annoying thing, though, is that I really felt like I was being strung along. It took a month for all of this. Granted, one week he was busy and apologized, but still. In that month, I wrote five pieces. Five pieces? In a month? And three of them were on the same day.

That's ridiculous.

I really only kept going because, if it happened, it would have been kind of cool. I'm in Vancouver, and there are a lot of video game companies up here. Maybe they would have asked me to go visit them and see a game? I don't know.

But the longer it dragged on, the more I felt "it's cool if it happens, but I really don't care that much any more."

When I got that email today, my initial response was "Eh."

It's too bad, though.

I would have looked cool in the tweed hat with the "Press" tag on it.



Podcast stuff - Episode 11 of Radio EPLT!

This podcast stuff is actually kind of fun!

Just posted Episode 11 of the EPLT podcast yesterday. No interview this week (as explained in the post), but Jenny and I do a bit longer of a discussion about the Northern Voice social media and blogging conference I attended last weekend.

We talk a lot about social media, the conference itself, how cool conferences are to go to, and all of that other good stuff.

We also welcome the new Dean of the Faculty of Education at UBC, Blye Frank. We talk yoga and Canucks (not to mention bandwagon fans), and lots more!

So check it out. Even if it's just to hear my voice. :)

Sunday, 15 May 2011

One Hit Wonders of the 2000s (Part 23)

How do you celebrate birthdays at your work place?

Here at One-Hit Wonders Inc, it's birthday day tomorrow! In the interests of efficiency, we only celebrate birthdays once a year, so everybody brings a cake on this very special day.

Of course, that can be difficult when you have over 400 employees here (ok, interns, as we don't actually make any money so can't afford to pay them), so you can guess that there's a LOT of cake on this very special day (I should trademark that phrase).

Birthday Cake - First Birthday
(Thanks to Chimothy27)

Ok, a *few* of our interns are, shall we say, maybe not old enough to do much?

Anyway, since there are so many cakes involved, this inevitably happens.

aftermath
(Thanks to Foxtongue)

Because you can only eat so much cake, you know?

Soon, though, everybody goes back to work (hey, I gave them 20 minutes!) and we start producing this post again.

They do get a little hyper on birthday day, though.

excited about the cake
(Thanks to Just Samson)

But we manage to calm them back down. And produce the awesomeness that is the one-hit wonders of the 2000s!

We're moving into 2007 now, and hoping for *much* better music. We'll see!

As usual, you can find the list I'm taking these from here. Don't jump ahead of me, though. You don't want to see me when I'm pissed off.



And I even speak in Tongues!

Here we go.

1) Paula DeAnda featuring D.E.Y: "Walk Away (Remember Me)" (#18) (January 6, 2007)



(Yay, Vevo!)

She's a gamer? I'm already in love.

Hopefully she put the "dancing in front of the wall" shots on her eHarmony profile. That should attract a *lot* of attention.

Ok, so they're both obviously still totally in love with one another. So why did they break up? There's no hint in the video. I know sometimes circumstances (distance, job, whatever) can make it impossible to be with the one you love, but there doesn't seem to be anything like that in this case.

So why aren't they together, if they're pining for each other?

Maybe I should ask an expert.


On second thought, never mind.

2) Stone Sour: "Through Glass" (#39) (January 6, 2007)



I love the concept of this video! How fake and plastic Hollywood can be, how celebrity is no more than an illusion, something for us who are outside to look at "through the glass." How untalented hacks get cushy writing jobs when wonderful bloggers who could write that stuff in their sleep aren't noticed at all, especially when they write for some obscure blog that mainly gets hits from friends and family, because the Hollywood types don't notice and wouldn't know good writing if it reached up and BIT THEM ON THE BOTTOM!!!!!!

Ok, I may have been reading a bit too much into the video.

3) Corbin Bleu: "Push it to the Limit" (#14) (February 3, 2007)



(Yay, Vevo!)

Oh my God...more High School Musical crap!

Um, I mean....awesomeness? Yeah, that's what I meant.

I don't know. Perhaps Corbin might want to actually indulge in something...I'm not sure what the word is. It's on the tip of my tongue.

Oh yeah. Choreography? Because doing the modern version of "The Robot" just isn't cutting it.

These robots might, though.

Ballroom Dancing Robots
(Thanks to Eric_I_E)

Can't be any worse.

4) hellogoodbye: "Here (In Your Arms)" (#14) (February 17, 2007)



Have I ever said how much I hate Autotune? Well, I do. Thus, this song already has a strike against it.

Other than that, the song's not too bad, though the weird summer camp plotline is something out of Revenge of the Nerds: the Teenage Years.

Ah, yes. I do have fond summer camp memories myself.

The time when I swam across the lake to get lucky with the hottest girl in school, but got intercepted.

Loch Ness monster
(Thanks to Zimpenfish)

Funny. That thing looked scarier when I was 12.

5) Augustana: "Boston" (#34) (March 3, 2007)



(Yay, Vevo!)

Wow, all those pianos on the beach had to be expensive.

"You don't know me. You don't even care."

He's singing that about a woman, but one could say the same to him and his band for waterlogging all of those instruments! When they talk about a "concert on the beach," you're generally supposed to not actually be *in* the surf.

It's obvious their fans agreed, considering how empty that beach is.

Except with pianos, of course.

And utter despair.

Despair so powerful that it's contagious.


(Thanks to NickD)

Yeah, I agree Fozzy. But you shouldn't end it that way.

6) Gym Class Heroes featuring Patrick Stump: "Cupid's Chokehold" (#4) (March 31, 2007)



I love this song! And the video is priceless too.

I don't think Cupid would really make it on the wrestling scene, though. He might get you in a chokehold, but then he'd meet his match when this guy jumped into the ring.

Oliver "Pike" Perry
(Thanks to Podknox)

It might be a barnburner of a match, though.

And there you have it! The first week of 2007, and it's actually not too bad. Dare I say it, but I actually kind of liked almost everything.

May God strike me down if I'm lying!


Good thing I'm in a (rather crappy) car!

Let's hope next week continues the good streak. Or I don't know what I will do.


(Warning: Naked Rear End Alert)

Step 1: Know where your fences are.

Have a great day!



One Hit Wonders of the 2000s
Part 1
Part 2
Part 3
Part 4
Part 5
Part 6
Part 7
Part 8
Part 9
Part 10
Part 11
Part 12
Part 13
Part 14
Part 15
Part 16
Part 17
Part 18
Part 19
Part 20
Part 21
Part 22
Part 23
Part 24
Part 25
Part 26
Part 27
Part 28
Part 29
Part 30
Part 31

Friday, 13 May 2011

The Perils of the "Automatic Follow"

You're innocently reading the tweets from those you follow on Twitter. Oh look, Christina Aguilera just said something really interesting! And she mentioned somebody else too.

You look at this person's timeline, see that she also posts interesting stuff, and you decide to follow her too. You click that follow button.

And a few minutes later, you get a notice that she's following you back! Wow, she must have seen that I was following her, come to my timeline and read what I had to say, and decided I was interesting enough to follow as well! Even though she's busy 23 hours a day doing shows and attempting to entertain the masses. I'm so special!!!

Actually, you're not, though it's a nice thought.

Instead, she has something set up that automatically follows whoever is following her. And often sends a "direct message" (a private tweet seen only by the person it was sent to) to each follower.

It's a weird mindset, though there are articles defending the practice.

Many times I get somebody following me who obviously hasn't read my tweets, other than maybe the one that brought me to their attention. They do a Twitter search and find keywords in my profile, such as "conservative" or "xbox" or whatever. They follow me. I read their timeline, decide that while they're probably ok people, their tweets are not something that I want to habitually read.

So I don't follow them. Soon, thanks to a service I signed up for that alerts me when somebody unfollows me, I get a message saying that they dropped me. All because I didn't follow them back.

Thus, many people think that, if they want to keep people following them, they have to follow back anybody who follows them in the first place. Hence, the auto-follow feature.

But today I happened upon a problem with this that I hadn't thought of.

I received a notice that Ms Sancha LPG was following me.

Her profile says "THE SEXIEST Bisexual XXX LATINA RAPPER I LOVE MY MEN AND MY SEXY BITCHES LETS PLAY XOXO"

Ummmmm, ok. I don't know how she found me, but I'm sure she'll drop me soon because I'm not following her back.

However, in the email I received telling me that she was following me, it also told me that "you follow a user who follows" this person.

And who shows up in that section? A semi-prominent (at least on Twitter) conservative pundit.

Now, maybe he has a secret obsession with sexy bisexual Latina rappers. I don't know.

But I doubt it.

Most likely, he has an auto-follow set up that follows anybody who follows him. And for some reason she decided to follow him. Probably for the same reason she followed me.

People can go through the people you follow, unless you hide your tweets. I would think you'd want to know who you follow, to make sure you don't have any "undesirables" in there.

Who you follow says something about you and your tastes. Or at least it should.

And for those of my readers not really interested in Twitter but who read this anyway (or who just look at the pictures), here's your prize.


Also, when I post about Twitter, Evette usually starts using it again, another reason to post this. :) (let's see if she's reading this...)

Finally, it's appropriate that I'm posting this today, because I'm currently (Ok, in a couple of hours) at the Northern Voices social media and blogging conference.

I'm sure I will have lots of fun (ah, the wonders of blog post pre-scheduling! Since I wrote this yesterday). Follow my Twitter feed for updates, as I do plan on tweeting from there.

*Edit* Surprise, surprise. Sancha's Twitter account has been suspended.


Thursday, 12 May 2011

Lost in Thought

You see it all the time in books of all genres.

The narrator is going over previous events, or having the character think heavily about something. Maybe trying to piece together the clues in a murder case. Maybe trying to figure a way out of the death trap that the black-clad villain has trapped her and her companion in.

Maybe she's trying to sort her grocery list.

Whatever the case, what inevitably follows is a sentence like "Linda realized that Joe had been talking to her the whole time. 'Are you even listening to me?' Joe asked."

Then the conversation will continue.

But does that really happen?

Have you ever been so lost in thought that you haven't heard that a person around you is speaking to you?

I can't remember it ever happening to me.

Oh, sure. If you're *doing* something, I can see it happening. If you're reading a book, a blog post (like this one?), playing a game. My wife has completely missed when I've said something to her because she's wrapped up in reading something. I know I've done the same thing.

But just sitting there, lost in space? Letting your mind wander?

I've never been that lost in thought.

If I'm just thinking of something and somebody comes up to me and starts talking, or is already in the same room and starts talking, my train of thought is interrupted and I hear what they have to say. I may not *listen* to what they have to say, but I do hear it.

And then I beat them to a bloody pulp because I ALMOST had the secret to world peace all figured out, but it's all gone now because they opened their gaping pie-hole and my train of thought derailed.


Once I've dismissed them from my mind, I can sometimes get back to what I was thinking about. If I'm lucky.

And if I'm able to tune out the screaming.

Which I usually can. Though sometimes I do have to move to the next room.

I'm sorry, did you say something?

This is part of Duane Scott's "Pleasantly Disturbed Thursdays" series. Head on over to Duane's page to find some more disturbed posts!

Disclaimer: No innocent persons were harmed in the creation of this post.

Not for lack of trying.

Sunday, 8 May 2011

One Hit Wonders of the 2000s (Part 22)

It's Mom's Day! Happy Mom's Day to all the good mothers out there, and most importantly to one of the most prominent moms out there!


What's that? She's been dead for over 75 years? And hardly anybody now knows who she is?

Well, knock me over with a feather and tickle me with a barbell. I had no idea.

Anyway, why do moms and dads get the short end of the stick? All of the other holidays are during the week and give us time off work. Why not these days? Ok, Easter is on a Sunday, but that couldn't be on any other day. Celebrate the parents! I want more work holidays!

No, I'm not being selfish whatsoever.


Ok, maybe a little. Besides, that kid called me names, so he doesn't deserve it anyway.

But a diatribe about holidays is not what you're here for, is it? Yes, you're here to have that painful, itchy rash looked at.

But I'm not a doctor.


So you're also probably here for more one-hit wonders!

As usual, you can find the list I'm taking these from here.

And I don't really care if you take a look ahead of me or not. I will, however, be very disappointed in you.

I think that's a very "mom" thing to say, eh?

Here we go!

1) Brooke Hogan: "About Us" (#33) (August 26, 2006)



C'mon, Brooke. Do we really need somebody *in your video* telling us how hot you look? Think highly of yourself, eh? And at least, if you're going to do that, get a non-loser to do it.

A minute in and we finally hear her voice!

This video is typical of the genre, with hot ladies dancing, lyrics *about* hot ladies dancing, and bad rapping in the middle of it too.

In other words, nothing much to sneeze at.

You know what *is* worth sneezing at?


This helpful hint brought to you by your Uncle Earl.

2) OK Go: "Here it Goes Again" (#38) (September 23, 2006)



(Yay, Vevo!)

Nerds dancing on treadmills! I already like this video.

It really should have a disclaimer, though.


No, not a "this music sucks" disclaimer, as I actually quite like the song.

More like a "Don't try this at home. These are nerds doing these treadmill tricks, and the world will not miss them if they mess it up. But you should know better."

3) Blue October: "Hate Me" (#31) (October 7, 2006)



I'm dying to make fun of this song, but I can't. While it starts out slow and then turns loud and abrasive, it's also an incredibly sad song about a man who has made his mother's life a living hell for so long, and he realizes it. He wants to remove himself from her life so that she can live without having to worry about him all the time.

But it's too late.

I think.

Actually, I'm not sure if the final lunch with his mom means that he was visiting somebody else's grave, or whether he's just reflecting back on a prior experience.

I'm so confused. And you wouldn't like me when I get confused.


No, that's me when I get angry. This is me when I'm confused.


I'm sorry you had to see that.

4) Snow Patrol: "Chasing Cars" (#5) (October 14, 2006)



(Yay, Vevo!)

Wow, a song I know!!!!

Not a bad one, either, though the video does seem to be a tutorial on how to get in the way. But whatever floats your boat.

Two depressing songs in a row, though? I don't know if that's a good thing for Mother's Day, so how about some high comedy?



Yes, I did mean that literally.

5) Jibbs: "Chain Hang Low" (#8) (October 21, 2006)



(Yay, Vevo!)

Trying hard to be nice on this special Sunday. Must....lower.....snark.....content.

I think I'd rather go here than listen to this song.


Though with my luck, they'd be piping it through the speakers.

*LOWERING SNARK CONTENT - FAILED*

6) Heartland: "I Loved Her First" (#34) (October 28, 2006)



(There's nothing in the last 20 seconds. Feel free to stop the video)

From Rap to Country! At least this song is listenable. It's also quite beautiful.

But what's with all the tearjerkers today? It's either that or crap? Which is tear-inducing in its own way.

Me? Nah, I'm immune to these types of songs.


Seriously. There's just something in my eye.

7) Mario Vazquez: "Gallery" (#35) (November 11, 2006)



(Yay, Vevo!)

Another American Idol singer! Though he dropped off the show once he reached the finals. Went his own way.

And he's had one hit.

Well, you can't have everything.

You know, the guy she's with must be pretty dumb. Considering how much she's looking at Mario in the bar, and he just doesn't seem to notice. Or care.

Maybe that's what Mario's singing about.

But you'd think he'd be pissed off. Or something.

Maybe his mind is busy with other things.


That could keep him occupied for the rest of his life.

And there you have it! We're now done with 2006.


Whoa! That went off prematurely. I'll have to see somebody about that.

Anyway, onward and upward to 2007! Hopefully there will be something to get excited about.


But probably not.

Now it's off to start my Sunday.


Thankfully it was a wrong number.



One Hit Wonders of the 2000s
Part 1
Part 2
Part 3
Part 4
Part 5
Part 6
Part 7
Part 8
Part 9
Part 10
Part 11
Part 12
Part 13
Part 14
Part 15
Part 16
Part 17
Part 18
Part 19
Part 20
Part 21
Part 22
Part 23
Part 24
Part 25
Part 26
Part 27
Part 28
Part 29
Part 30
Part 31