Powerful Music Videos

Does anyone not tear up when watching Sinead sing “Nothing Compares 2 U“?  Seriously, anyone?  She must have been in the midst of a serious heart break when she recorded that one.  Either that or she is a master at conveying misery.  Videography masterpiece – bringing you closer to the subject by putting her head at the size it would be if you were talking quietly to her in person.

Massive Attack’s video for “Teardrop” took my breath away when I first saw – captures the fragility of the song perfectly.  Heartbeat drum kick – of course!  Depth of field with floaties

Bruce Springsteen hasn’t done much that I’ve become engaged in, but his video for “Streets of Philidelphia” grabbed me right away.  Singing it live in the video adds to the heartfelt grittiness of it.  Love it, love it, love it!

Obsessed With Sounds of the Universe

Depeche Mode’s latest album Sounds of the Universe has me in its grips.  I haven’t been overly fond of many of their albums since Violator (like many of their fans I suspect) but I liked Dave Gahan’s solo album Paper Monster and some of their stuff.  So I gave this album a try, ignoring the tepid reviews.

Man is it a return to form!  Love the vocal performances, love the retro sounds, love the lyrics (for the most part).  In many ways this surpasses Violator (you can’t beat an album a gloomy high school student loved as he was coming of age, so I just don’t try anymore).

The first 4 tracks are powerful, tight, and totally enjoyable.  If you liked Violator you should listen to this album – it is fabulous.

Lead single is “Wrong” – listen to Gahan getting behind the lyrics.  The video is disturbing on its own, but DM has always been an interesting band to watch videos from.  If you want to listen but don’t like that video, here’s the song set to some in-studio footage.

Second favorite song is “Fragile Tension”, you can see Dave singing a bit of it in this web clip.  It totally harkens back to earlier DM, and combines a spine-tingling Gahan voice harmony with rising sequencers.  Just awesome on headphones.

Only 1 dud in the bunch, but then I’ve never been a huge fan of the sappy side of DM.  Second to last song goes too far down Gore’s path of troubadour style and I’m not lovin’ in yet.  I might be alone in that though.

Anyhow, it’s my current obsession.  I’ve owned it for weeks now and it is all I’m playing – I haven’t been this engrossed in an album for a long, long time.

Speak Up On Copyright Reform

Canadians have until Sept 13 to voice their opinion on Copyright Reform.  If you’re not sure what to say, check out this wizard that provides a form letter – simply put your info down and they handle the emails and letters for you.  You can even edit the form letter – a personal touch always warms the cockles of those politicians, right?

The issues at stake are quite important – a vital part of the Canadian legislation is being revamped to ressemble the US’s take on copyright.  You know, the one that actually changed it laws so Disney’s material wouldn’t become public domain (and thus free for anyone to use).  The one where it is illegal to circumvent any technoligical barrier in a product?  You know those DVDs that just never seem to play – you can peer suspiciously at its “technological barrier” if you want, feel free.

The US’s state of copyright is a mess – let’s just do something different, shall we?  Let’s ask why we have copyrights and then make the laws work towards those goals, rather than the goals of the mega corporations with the deep pockets (admittedly less deep now that digital music/movie sales are becoming mainstream).

Texting for Toddlers? Not At Goggs Avenue.

I’m very wary of technology in Marley’s toys – I think there is plenty of time for learning how to use technology.  Later.  First come some basic person-type things like self-esteem, social interaction, and compassion.  Anyhow who argues that kids today need technology to stay with the curve aren’t grasping that kids adopt technology much faster than their parents did when learning it.  I am certain marley’s going to be able to text faster than I can type at some point in the future, but why rush there?  Patience, as always, is the right way to go.

Here’s an article discussing the issue.  Technology companies are marketing to 3 year olds (or more accurately their weak-willed paranoid parents) – the cigarette companies paved the way and pointed out that brand loyalty starts early.  Why would Leap Frog be any different than Marlboro, for example?  They’re not sleeping on those mounds of money because they feel good about your child’s exposure to electronic and articfial intelligence.  There’s big money in toddlers today, don’t kid yourself (pun intended).

Now Here’s An Interesting Idea – Solar Roadways

Solar roadways – replacing asphalt with solar panels.  $100,000 grant in the US to give it a try.  All sorts of comments on Slashdot (surprised?).

The Solar Road Panels will contain embedded LEDs which “paint” the road lines from beneath to provide safer nighttime driving, as well as to give up to the minute instructions (via the road) to drivers (i.e. “detour ahead”). The road will be able to sense wildlife on the road and can warn drivers to “slow down”. There will also be embedded heating elements in the surface to prevent snow and ice buildup, providing for safer winter driving. This feature packed system will become an intelligent highway that will double as a secure, intelligent, decentralized, self-healing power grid which will enable a gradual weaning from fossil fuels.


Shedding My Pupal Casing in Lake Louise

I’m an optimist it seems – a dyed-in-the-wool type too.  I am constantly seeing opportunities loom within the current software development methodologies I follow at work.  Little ones, big ones, medium sized ones that you would feel good about taking advantage of without straining your back (or the corporate cheque book).  Sadly I have yet to fully realize any of these opportunities when it comes to usability practices at work.  I’ve tried a few different tacts – I’ve worked to bring general and specific user-centered design ideas into the fold, as it were.  Success thus far has been fleeting to say the least.  But I did say I’m an optimist – I haven’t given up yet.

I know there are better ways to do things and I know I’m not the only one around who sees it.  I just need a little more “oomph” or perhaps a little more “pow” in my approach.  Actually what I really need is a little more professional credence behind my ideas.  I need to rally the troops, as it were.

Enter CanUX – a glorious nirvana of like-minded soldiers congregating to discuss how to spread the word, to make design a little more person-centric and a little less “why the heck did that happen”-ish.  Is that a word?  Nestled in Banff for the last few years I have never been able to convince my manager (and her manager) that attending would be the door-opening, spirit-lifting, productivity-enhancing, creativity-spurring event I am certain it would be.  At least, I’ve never been able to convince them that this would happen for the low low price of admission and accomodation.

Picture a little cocoon awaiting the dawn of a new day, nestled in the shadows of Lake Louise.  CanUX is the sun and my ideas are the cocoon – they must be brought together!  Now picture the lack of funds as a giant flyswatter swishing … slicing … searching …

SPLAT!

That was last year.  And the year before.  This year I have another chance – we all have another chance.  No, my employer is not footing anything, but nForm knows what’s what.  They’ve created a contest where they will provide registration and accommodation for a single person to attend.  This may not seem like much until you realize that this is a full 1/100th of the attendees that they are funding.  That’s right – there are only 100 spots available at the CanUX conference and I want one of those spots.

I want to tap into the expertise at the conference.  I want to share my experiences – what kind of worked and what didn’t.  I want to take home ideas and push through to success with my current teams.  I want to arm myself for future teams, growing my bat-belt of tools, techniques and ideas.  CanUX can give me a leg up, a helping hand, a supportive cast of 99 people who can back me up when I say “The user matters – let’s design for them.”

This post then, is my entry to this contest.  I humbly submit it as my very first Twitter post – my inaugural tweet (well, my second, the first doesn’t count as it was stream of consciousness following the sign up process).  Wait, what’s Twitter for again?

And I would be remiss if I did not point out that there is a free, open-source microblogging tool available called identi.ca – and to support FLOSS efforts I will register there too.

Lake Louise at Banff National Park
Lake Louise at Banff National Park

McKesson’s Environmental Council Featured in GreenBiz.com Article

I’m proud to say that I am a co-founder and current chairperson of the Medical Imaging Group’s Environmental Council.  Proud because my actions are having a positive influence on McKesson at large.  I’m part of a change within McKesson that I wanted to see.   Apparently GreenBiz.com wanted to know more.

“You must be the change you want to see in the world” – Mahatma Gandhi