2012: The Year of Happy

[caption id="attachment_1547" align="aligncenter" width="604" caption="Me, my mom and my sisters, having fun the Taylor way"][/caption]

As 2011 draws to a close, I've been thinking of 2012 and what I want to achieve. It's going to be a big time of change for me - a new job, new projects and a whole new city - so I've been thinking about what I want to be at the heart of what I do. Though I'd love to change the world, make it a better place, start a movement, the thing that is really important to me is that I am happy and bring happiness wherever I go. I do love to smile, so that's a good start.

My mom would always say, it doesn't matter what you do in life as long as you are happy. As long as you can pay the bills and keep a roof over your head, you can find the happiness in anything.

I do think that happiness and fun should be at the heart of life. No matter how bad it gets, find a way to enjoy it. Make the hard things fun. Because if you can do that, you will spread joy to those around you. It's like a song I remember from my childhood, except I think of love also as happiness:

"Love is like a magic penny, hold it tight and you won't have many;
Lend it, spend it and you'll have so many, they'll roll all over the floor."

When I was growing up, my mom's agoraphobia was at it's worse. I was raised with a diet of TV and imaginary friends on the bad days, and on the good days, on the magic of one of the most crafty and artistic people I know. My mom can make anything from needlepoint to homemade painted chocolates. She has a garden to rival the Chelsea flower show, has renovated our house and makes stain glass. She fed my sense of curiosity but also my independence so I could take care of myself when she couldn't.

Sometimes on the days my mom couldn't get out of bed, we'd have bed picnics. Some of my best memories came out of the hardest times for her. She only told me when I was older, that it was all she could give us those days. Tried to make it fun so the debilitation wouldn't scare us. It never did. It was part of life. And it made us try to make the bad days good, the best ways we could. Sometimes having pizza in bed is the best you can do.

So as I head into 2012, I'll bring that with me. How can I be happy, how can I bring happiness to others, how can we all bring that philosophy into our lives. If you're not happy, why are you doing what you are doing? What are you going to do to change it? How are you going to spread your happiness?

Why I don't want to be a woman in "It's a Wonderful Life"

[caption id="attachment_1543" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="From Wikipedia"][/caption]
Last night, 5 of us shuffled into the Renior Cinema to see the Christmas classic, It's a Wonderful Life. Though this is deemed by the American Film Institute as one of the 100 best American films ever made, it was a box office flop at the time. For me, it's what makes Christmas more Christmasy.

Two of our friends hadn't seen it before so I was excited to share it with them. A man who's worth comes not from the riches of finance but the friends that surround him? Brilliant.

It was emotional, as always, but after years of watching it, this was the first time I realised how backward Capra's view of women was.

Now I understand that women's roles were very different in 1947 - I don't agree with it, but it was what it was. In Capra's world, women may have been a bit feisty but all they wanted (or needed) was a husband or a man to be kind to them and lead them on the right path.

If you've never seen It's a Wonderful Life, stop reading here....

What struck me, was what happened to the women in George Bailey's life if he never existed (as is played out near the end of the film to show George that he really was worth something). His mother becomes a bitter widower who *shock* *horror* has stooped so low, she's running a boarding house. The local flirt, Violet Bick, becomes a drunk floozy without George's steady influence.

But the horror of all horrors appears to be the fate of Mary. Without George ever being born, his brother drowns, hundreds of men burn on a troopship, his Uncle Billy ends up in the insane asylum and the town sinks into a one of strippers, booze and crime as the renamed Potterville. But the one thing the angel Clarence doesn't want to tell George, is that without him, his wife is unmarried, in her mid-thirties and is working as a Librarian. Surely not! But yes. That is a fate worth than death.

I guess being in my thirties now, this is a bit closer to home. All I can say is, it's a good thing I'm not a Librarian. In Capra's world, it would be the end of the world for me. Thank God it's not.

Not everyone is built for 9 to 5

[caption id="attachment_1539" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="Photo by Design By Zouny"][/caption]
Alarm rings. Snooze. Snooze. Snooze. Shower. Brush teeth. Check watch. It's what time? Find outfit still on drying rack. Throw on clothes, coat, and shoes. Hope makeup is in my handbag. Lock door. Unlock. Run upstairs. Grab scarf. No queue in cafe. Order with cash. Tap foot as barista takes his time making my drink. Shit. Bus. Run. Spill coffee. Check watch.

Sound like your morning? Maybe you're like me. Starting the day with a sense of urgency, of being one step behind. The plight of a night person born into the world of 9-5.

My brain is most ready to work at 9...pm. It's not condusive to a social life or, in fact, doing my day job. Its not that I can't work at any other time, its more like my brain gets a rush, a jolt of creativity as soon as night hits. I have had many a eureka moment on the dance floor at 2 am.

I wonder if this is due to my extreme extrovert nature. I find it hard in the mornings. I'm completely depleted. If I'm home alone too long on my own I feel the same. It took me a while to figure out we are all like batteries. Introverts wake up as a full battery and every interaction with someone drains them bit by bit until, at the end of the day, they're empty. Extoverts, like me, wake up drained and every interaction fills them up. I'm buzzing once night falls. I don't need coffee. I just need people.

In my ideal world, I'd be able to shift how the work world works. The concept of 9-5 is outdated. Most traditional employers don't understand that by shifting work patterns to suit the most productive time of their employees, they may actually get more work done. I see this working with developers. Reading the The Facebook Effect, you'll see the story of a team of workers only starting the day in mid afternoon and coding into the night. What if they were forced into 9-5? Would they have been as successful. I'd argue, no.

For me, I'd work 11-7 while others might choose to work 6-3. We'd all be happy and productive and I would stress less in the mornings. But until that day comes, I guess I'll continue to press snooze, and rush through my morning, spilling coffee in my wake.

Brewdog Camden: Why drink anywhere else?

Last night, the night I've been waiting for arrived. The launch of Brewdog Camden.

My first introduction to this Scottish Brewery came in a Squirrel shaped bottle. The gimic hooked me but it was the beer that made me stay.

I'm from the land of wheat (and other such plants grown in farmers fields) and we have quite a heritage of microbreweries. I've had my taste of many, many beers. Often in pickup trucks, sometimes in fields, usually by lakes. But, to be honest, I'd gone off beer the last few years and red wine has been my poisen of choice. I'm pleased to say it's Brewdog that brought me back.

Nominations for IAWTV Awards out this Wednesday!

I've just found out that the nominations for the Inaugural IAWTV Awards nominations are going to be announced this Wednesday beginning at 10:00am PST. We've entered Raptured so everyone have your fingers crossed!

If you want to watch Shira Lazar and Ethan Newberry make the announcements, you can watch the live stream here: http://bit.ly/wtchill

Raptured: Episode 6

Our day of fun: London edition

Raptured: Episode 5

Raptured: Episode 4

Raptured: Episode 3

From off-line to on-line: Benjamin Ellis at #dellb2b

What is the link between the on and the offline world. It's us. Or "two worlds bound by flesh" as Benjamin Ellis says. The uniqueness of the individual can be a help and a hinderence depending on what you want to achieve.

So we have to start with the question, how does virtual become real?
It could be something that gives us inspiration, moves a conversation online to the pub with friends, 3D printing or physically going somewhere.

And if we flip that, how does the real become virtual? That's done through recording, media capture - blogging, podcasting, pictures, etc.

Who is responsible for social media governance?

Top video tips

I wasn't going to lead a session at DellB2B but I decided that it would be good to talk about video. In the B2B space and even in the B2C space, it feels like there is a lot of content but is it any good? I was asked to give a few tips after my experience with Raptured (you can watch it on http://rapturedtheseries.com)

The question of Influence at #dellB2B

Influence is long recognised as being important. Back before this explosion of social media and micro-publishing, a small amount of people were considered to have a lot of influence. Or at least they were the ones that could be seen. PR teams would take them out for lunch. Wine and dine and hope they say nice things so people would flock to their brands. But this method, wasn't connected across the company or through communities.

Blogger outreach was used by a lot of companies to find the 50 people that would be influencers. But more and more professionals are now online so there are a greater number of people in the middle who may not have global influence but have influence within a specific community or area. With Twitter, LinkedIn, etc there is a movement of more individuals who are more influential in new areas and new platforms than ever before.

Companies now need to find who is relevent in your area and on the topic you are interested in reaching. This is about moving programmes from targetting 50 people to 500 or 1000. The good bloggers curate their twitter streams really well - just as journalists did in the past. Where they took from trades to put in nationals, they do this with Twitter now.

By the time it's reported, we've already talked about it online. Getting to the magic middle makes it easier to get to a larger, more targeted group. But if we think influence can't be scored, why are we interested? Someone in the audience uses it as a quick indicator and another uses it as it's embedded in some twitter clients.

But numbers? Why do we need one? For example, footballers are ranked on a Sunday in a score out of 10. If it's bad, you wouldn't have Alex Ferguson say "hey Wanye Rooney, you have 7.6" but to someone that is important - a way to mark the changes on performance. But are we moving to something that retail businesses may use a score to give an upgrade or special deals? Are they using you as you are influential in a community that they want to reach? Or, on the otherhand, call centres may not put you through to a VIP service if your score isn't high enough. Is that right?

Peer Index looks at areas of influence while Kred looks at influence and outreach - so they reward people for the generosity. It shows how authentic they are. The rockstars are the ones in local communities and not necessarily global.

500 influencers may have a reach of 5 million and they may be more influencial as they have a smaller network that trusts them.

I think the area of influence and scoring is an interesting one but it is still gamable and is still very much in it's infancy. The race is really to find the greater integration, the true data underneath it all - I can see the future to be more about credit scores and spending data being integrated with social footprint.

But until we can extract the full influence, I think we will be missing some of our greatest influencers and therefore our greatest customers. Influence is not just about chatter or overtweeting/autotweeting/spending our lives on Twitter. It links back to trust in a community and that's not just found online.

Discussing Trust with Cairbe Sugrue at #dellB2B

So in the search for finding power and a seat, my typing fingers weren't as fast during this session but trust is an interesting one. It's something hard gained and very easily lost.

In crisis situations people want to hear from more individuals. We'll listen to friends, trust some bloggers and are going to more spaces for information but the CEO must also be a prominent voice. Examples like Dominoes come to mind but recently Sony and Rim have tried to follow suit (though the timeline led to the downfall of the success - they took too long to be transparent. Timeliness has to be as important as transparency).

Generally people need to hear things 3-5 times, but if they trust you they only need to hear it once or twice. I've never considered that, but it's true - I'll click through to a link, I'll head to an event, I'll try a product, if a trusted person or publication has recommended it. It's the same during crisis. I'm more likely to trust a company if they build up the trust with me beforehand. I'll be more likely to believe them.

So in order to gain trust, we need to have more substance and have long term planning - you have to show strong commitment. It follows the adage, do what you'll say you'll do.

Crawl, walk, run, fly. I think more companies should think that way.

To see the full slides or Cairbe Sugrue's presentation, head over to: http://www.edelman.com/trust/2011/

Lee Bryant talks Social Business at #DellB2B

Dell B2B kicked off with Lee Bryant from Headshift talking about Social business.

As we begin our digital and social shift, we, as businesses are expected to have an open and accessible network externally but what about internally. With cost pressures and increased competition, though our organisations can seem advanced, they are often too expensive internally in how they function so they can't be global. Corporate IT is ripe for re-invention & humanisation but we need to make a deep structural change to a network centric world. Then we can have the speed and agility that are needed to have continued success.

Raptured: Episode 2

21st October, 2011. The Rapture happens, as predicted earlier this year, but it's not the fire and brimstone we've come to fear -- it's merely a routine earth upgrade which happens every century or so.

After Sarah Bailey is tricked into being in charge of the Rapture, she tries to return to normal life. But with half the people in the world missing, will things ever be the same again?

See more episodes at http://rapturedtheseries.com

Raptured: Episode 1

21st October, 2011. The Rapture happens, as predicted earlier this year, but it's not the fire and brimstone we've come to fear -- it's merely a routine earth upgrade which happens every century or so.

Season One of Raptured follows a lovelorn 30-something, Sarah Bailey, who is tricked into being in charge of the Rapture. Instead of the seamless upgrade that's happened in the past, half the people have been left behind. It's now Sarah's job to make sure they make it over.

Watch more at: http://rapturedtheseries.com

6 tips for first time directors

It's been a really interesting process so far directing my own work. I've been on set a lot throughout my career so far in various different guises but as a director I've mainly self shot or worked with a small crew on documentaries.

When I had the idea for the web series we're making right now, I knew I had to make it now and it was time for my to take the helm and make it myself. Halfway through I've already learned a lot so I thought I'd give a top 6 lessons list for all those thinking of embarking on this type of thing.

Be an extra in my web series!! (please and thank you)

I'm excited to say I'm filming a 6 part web series over the next three weekends. A series that will hit the net on 21 October. It's all a bit hush hush at the moment but I thought it would be awesome if YOU could be part of the whole experience.

So here is an official call out to budding actors, people who want to see how it all works, or those of you who want a bit of screen time to mark it off your bucket list. You can take pictures AND tweet. Have fun. Eat cake. Dance. Dress up in funny costumes.

Burrito masterclass at Tortilla UK

Recently, I had the chance to take part in the Tortilla UK Burrito masterclass with a few other food bloggers. As I love Mexican food, this was a great evening - and I even learned a thing or two (like how the white connectors in chili peppers are the hottest part of the chili).

For more info on Tortilla UK, see their website for more details or follow them on Twitter.

Bringing Collective Kitchens to England

[caption id="attachment_1463" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="Picture by Kusine: http://www.flickr.com/photos/kusine/5901784343/"][/caption]

Today I noticed Dominic Campbell mention Murtaza Abidi's Community Kitchens project. Basically it's a new take on Meals on Wheels (which is being stopped in a lot of boroughs it seems). Its purpose is to connect those who need help with people in their local community who can provide it. On a daily, weekly or monthly basis, a designated helper might cook a meal for an elderly person down the road, or do an errand, or just visit. It really reminded me of the Collective Kitchen program we developed with Community Services when I worked for Pride through Play in the late 90s.

The London riots hit Clapham and Clapham hits back

It's hard to believe that anyone hasn't heard about the London riots. I followed online on Saturday and Sunday - it was scary and angering but it felt far away. On Monday that changed...



Storify: The London riots hit Clapham and Clapham hits back with #riotcleanup

The best love spam ever

I wouldn't normally post a spam email but this one was so full of awesome, that I had to share it with the world. Or the 7 people who clicked on the link to get here. So this email is from "Sweet Irina" (though the email address says Kathleen Medford which may or may not be this lady on Facebook. I'm assuming it isn't)

Anyhow...long story short, here is the email:

Knock Knock Knock..? Is the door of your heart open...? Perhaps you let me come in?

Oh sorry.. I forgot to introduce myself..My name is Irina.   I also love cooking and some other things. My free time depends on my mood, sometimes I like being alone  reading some book or listening to the music, sometimes in a gym or in a small caffee with my friends. But no matter how I feel, no matter what time of the year it is, I always love to be in the nature. Sometimes I think that when all is bad, just look at the sky, at the river, at the trees and I understand that life is beautiful and is not over.

If you got interested in me, write on my mail...

Do you have an email that rivals that? Please stick it on here! If you want to get in contact with Sweet Irina after being wooed by her lovely words, I'll happily give you her email address.

My love of cookery (and how Nigel Slater won my heart)

On the weekend, I spend a lovely time away with my girlfriends in Leicester. We play badminton on the back lawn, go out for brightly coloured curry and play a game or two sardines. We even watch Simon Pegg's Paul - the only downside to our weekend away (I'll have to blog about that another time - I think I still may be too traumatised).

As we are washing mugs after copious cups of tea on Sunday, I spot a copy of Nigel Slater's "The Kitchen Diaries." Hmm. What's this?

Fencing for the first time (and why I love/hate Groupon)

It all began with a Facebook message. My friend Sophie got an email from Groupon for a beginner 6 week course in fencing. Who wants to join her? I do, I do! I've never done fencing before, but I do love the Princess Bride and Highlander and was in Pirates of Penance three times.

First day arrives and I head to my first class with Fighting Fit Fencing. The studio is a basic concrete shell beside Caledonian Road - it's not glamorous and it's unfinished but full of heart.

Technology and Resistance: Talk on phone hacking & revolutions on Twitter

I got this wind of this brilliant event yesterday and though I'm not usually for regurgitating press releases, I'm busy watching the Select Committee so the full details are below.  Basically, I think you should all go and take part (especially as it's so pertinent to now).

TECHNOLOGY & RESISTANCE
Dingwalls
Middle Yard, Camden Lock, London, NW1 8AB
7:30pm - 9:30pm
FREE

Wikileaks,phone-hacking and revolutions playing out on Twitter. This revolution will not be televised. Come join Mark Simpkins (Creative Technologist at Spring Digital) + James Ball (formerly Wikileaks and now Guardian) and Sarah Morrison (Independent Newspaper – who reported in detail on the use of twitter in organising recent protest).

More details are here:
http://www.remotegoat.co.uk/event_view.php?uid=135506&days=300

MEANWHILE ON
Camden Lock Market Square
6-9pm

BYO-DIY TECH
Mean while on Camden Lock Market you can bring your own home-made tech devices to Camden Lock Market from 6-9pm on July 19th and demonstrate how to make them. Also present will be Netaudios’s sonic tabletennis. Prize for the best DIY tech. Drinks vouchers for Lock 17 for every DIY piece brought along.

Your help needed: What represents a relationship to you?

Excitingly, Michelle Tsen and I have been commissioned to make a short film for the Museum of Broken Relationships which is on from 16th August - 4th September, 2011. The film will be screened outdoors on 27th of August (and you can book tickets here).

But as I love working socially, I wanted your input into the final product. I don't want to give it all away, but we are looking for an answer to this question: "What represents a relationship to you?"

We need things from the beginning of a relationship, the middle parts and most importantly, the end of a relationship. For us, the more your answer is based on sound (and action), the easier it is for us to use. I.e. A drink together (a clink of glasses), the first cup of tea in a new flat (a kettle boiling), stomping and slamming, the last kiss.

And what will you get if we use your suggestion? A special contribution credit will appear on the film and we'll send you a copy of it.

So let the fun begin and drop us your suggestions here!

Moving up North

[caption id="attachment_1425" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="Photo by www.flickr.com/photos/sarah_jane/"][/caption]

Yes. That's right. You've heard it here first. I am making the move back from the South to the North. Of London that is.

Five and a half years ago I left the dirty streets of North London (Archway to be more specific) for the leafy greens of Clapham Common. I can't say it's all golden in the south. If you've ever been on Clapham High Street on a Saturday night somewhere near Infernos, you'd know what I mean.

Moving happens a lot. I know. I've lived in 22 places in the last 30 odd years in 6 different cities. But London is the city I've lived in the longest in any one time and I've lived in my current house longer than I lived in any other house. So you can imagine I'm excited but also a little sad.

In a way I don't want to move. But my landlord gets nothing done and raised the rent by over £300 4 months ago and my flatmate can't afford it.

So I'm going. And before I leave, I am making a list of the things I need to do down south that'll I'll miss when I go.

• Go to a show at the BAC


• Have a picnic and a kick about


• Go to a day of a festival on Clapham Common


• A night of music upstairs at the Ritzy


• A wander through Brixton markets


• A pint on the sunny banks of Richmond


• A day at Hampton Court Palace


• One or two or three more movies at Clapham Picturehouse


• Have a go at as many restaurants and pubs as possible

I know this isn't much but that's where I'll need your help. What things do I need to do in south London before I'll go up North? And yes, I know I'll still be in London but I also know how often my friends visit. So I don't think there will be a lot of trips this way.

Cinque Terre coastal walk

One of the charms of Cinque Terre is the coastal walk between the 5 towns of Monterosso, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola and Riomaggiore.

I read that it took 4 and a half hours to go from Montesorro, where we were, which is the start of the trail, to Riomaggiore. We try on our first day to tackle the trail. A coastal walk should be pretty easy - only a 90 minute walk and we'll be at a less Jersey Shore-esque beach (we hope) and there we'll get some sun. We don our bathing suits, dresses, and as for footwear, Ann chooses sandels and I go with flip-flops.

Walking partly up a mountain, we are slightly out of breath but hopeful until we come up to a little hut and a sign. 10 Euros to walk the trail and it can't be done in flip-flops or heels. With a sigh we head back down to the beach at Monterosso where we unwisely bake our skin to a shade of lobster red.

Cinque Terre: the new Jersey Shore

On the train to Monterosso Al Mare, we sit in a train car with a group of older Italians. One asks us where we are going. When she hears Monterosso, her nose crinkles in slight disgust and says "that's where all the Americans go." I took it as an insult to us - oh she thinks we're Americans does she - but what she actually means I won't truly understand until we arrive later that night.

In Monterosso, the ratio of Italians to foriengers is 1 to one million. Of course an exageration but not by much. And most of them are American and most of these Americans are those you might see on the Jersey Shore. Big muscled, overly tanned, tribal tattooed, greasy haired, gold chained, beer-pong playing loudmouths with (but not always) backwards facing baseball caps. All in the middle of a preserved Italian paradise - the Riviera Ligure.

This is the view from our window.



But it is countered by this view.



And this view.



At least we get to relax and Ligure pasta is very tasty. It looks something like this.

ILLUMInations: 2011 La Binennale di Venezia

When I told people I was going to Venice in June, a number of people instantly said I should go to the Biennale. It's an international Art Exhibition that happens every two years and it takes over the city. You'll walk down a side street and a sign directing you to a participating country's exhibit appears. We go to Arsenale, only one section of the two main exhibits on Sunday. It is so diverse and in turns, it is amazing and WTF (as in What the F**k is that doing here and why is it art).

Italian adventure: our days in Venice

We left Friday night for Venice. It was one of those days. My cousin Ann, who was coming with me on a 10 day Italian adventure, got locked between my front door and our inner door, which resulted in a broken window and a few cuts and scrapes to get back in. At the airport, the flight was delayed by 45 minutes and when we hit the ground in Venice, we missed the bus to town by a minute so had to wait 40 for another.

But it didn't matter. We were in Venice and about to start 10 days of touring, eating, walking and trying a bit of the local wine. We were greeted off our boat (the local transport is all on water) by Andrea who led us through the winding streets of Venice to the apartment we rented for 3 days. It smelt of old and stagnent water but as it was the smell of a majority of Venice we quickly got used to it. But we had a fridge, stove, a sitting room and bedroom with a very powerful fan. We were set.

The Day of Free Burritos

I hope I get to go to space (or at least to the #nasatweetup)

One Christmas, my mum bought my sister and I a movie for our stockings. Mine was Space Camp. The ever informative IMDB describes Space Camp as the story of a group of American kids who go to space camp during the summer holidays. They learn how to operate the Space Shuttle. A team, consisting of a guy who just entered to meet girls, a wannabe astronaut and an instructor (who wanted to go on a mission instead of teaching), win the chance to sit in the Shuttle while the engines are tested. Then they're launched by mistake...Ooo kids in space. It also starred a bevvie of (now) well known actors including Kate Capshaw, Lea Thompson, Kelly Preston, Tate Donovan, Tom Skerritt and the super cute kid version of Joaquin Phoenix who played Max, the little boy his robot friend Jinx wanted to send to space (hence the whole being accidently launched thing).

New Twitter follow button: Great for browsers, bad for mobile

Yesterday talk of another new Twitter feature came out. Nothing to do with an inbox flooded with emails but all to do with a nifty new follow button you can add to your website.

Currently, if you have a follow button, anyone on your site who wants to follow you gets taken to another browser. The nifty new follow button will bring up a pop up and if you're already signed in, you're now following that Twitter account without having to really leave the website you are browsing. Nice.

On a mobile? Different story.

Twitter notifications have a-changed

So for those of you, like me, who checked their email in the last hour, you'll have noticed that you've suddenly started recieving emails any time you were sent a reply or mentioned on Twitter. Same goes for retweets, or if your tweets are marked as favourites. As birthday boy Bob Dylan might have said, "Twitter, it is a changin'"*

My Beastie Boy poem for Ruth

Tonight I had the pleasure of performing at the Waltham Forest Literary Festival. I opened with my teenage boy poem (or as it referred to, my Beastie Boy poem). All about music, I did it in tribute to my recent weekend at ATP (or All Tomorrow's Parties for those of you who haven't heard of this awesome festival).

Music Memories: Michael Jackson

I was OBSESSED with Michael Jackson since I was six. Or rather from the age of 6 to probably 12. Ben was probably one of my favorite songs outside the Thriller album. I remember spending hours in our basement watching Muchmusic (Canada's version of MTV) and Video hits. I would watch Michael Jackson marathons and had a Thriller disc for my viewfinder. My favourite T-shirt had Michael Jackson in his iconic silver glove dancing across my shirt in multiple pop art versions of himself. I also had badges of his in the costume he wore when dueting with Paul McCartney.

The couch to 42k plan...to run around the world

Marianne McPhee (@fillingthepages) and I have a plan. And this plan involves running. Not just running around the park but running around the world.

We first decided to run a 5K for Cancer Research UK after seeing the London Marathon (which was also the anniversary of my Aunt's death from liver cancer). Now we've decided to raise even more money for Cancer Research by putting our bodies to the test and run in events around the globe over the next 18 months. And these bodies are ones that don't run. I never do things in half measures and I do like an adventure. Plus as cancer affects people around the globe, it seems fitting to take our various runs across it.

Should we celebrate death of any kind?

I meant to write this at the beginning of the week but I think it's pertainent no matter when it's written. I was amongst friends on Monday morning when we heard of Bin Laden's death and it wasn't until that night that I saw the footage of those celebrating in New York and elsewhere.



I couldn't believe it. The cheering and singing and drinking to the death of one man. A man that was held up of the root of all evil, but could one man ever embody that? Isn't it groups of men and women who act, who continue with war and hate. The one man can't make this happen. It is only if he is believed, if others have this belief, that this happens.

Music Memories: Nirvana

When I was in high school, you had a choice to take it in 3 years or 4. Mostly the 4 year route was for those who weren't doing well in school but I did it so I could do MORE classes. I'm a sucker for punishment. But it meant I got to be in the better band, choir and do a full IB diploma.

Music Memories: Nirvana

When I was in high school, you had a choice to take it in 3 years or 4. Mostly the 4 year route was for those who weren't doing well in school but I did it so I could do MORE classes. I'm a sucker for punishment. But it meant I got to be in the better band, choir and do a full IB diploma.

Music Memories: Garbage

This musical memory isn't really for all music by Garbage but rather one particular song "I'm only happy when it rains." For some reason, the summer after my first year at Uni, we listened to that song on repeat and it became our anthem.

Music Memories: Beastie Boys

When I was in University, I applied for a job posting to work in the post office. I was hired on the spot and was scheduled to work Tuesday and Thursday afternoons to start the following week. I turned up at my scheduled time and my new boss started walking OUT of the post office. What?

My first time at Wembley for the FA cup

I will admit that I'm not an avid football fan. I don't have a jersey and I don't have an official team to support. But I am a fan of live sports. So when an extra ticket sprang up for the FA Cup semi-finals Manchester United verses Manchester City, I had to go.

Marathon Magic and the start of my running adventures

Today Marianne and I went to London bridge to see the Marathon. A woman in the crowd asked us if there was someone we knew running in it. There are probably a person or two who might have been but no - I was there to cheer everyone on. My friend who ran in it before said the only thing that kept her going was hearing her name shouted from the crowds. If I could give that same support, I was going to.

Lastbookclub gets Gleick-ed

So today was the first lastbookclub adventure. British Library hosted a reading of The Information by James Gleick. I was slightly late but so was Gleick so it all worked out in the end.

The event started with a reading from the Information. Gleick chose to read a large section from the beginning, which I already read, and also added a few florishes. Next up were some student films - 45 second interpretations of The Information in a visual format. As there were 12 of them and no indication of who made what, it's hard for me to disect them properly but I did think they were hit and miss. BUT a great idea. How many non-fiction books get creative visual interpretations?




Rhys was able to capture the Q&A at the end with Audioboo. I find it's these sections that really bring out the real element of the author and his relationship with his work. A couple of the questions were a bit too self-important for my taste (it was the British Library after all). I wish there were a few questions on why he wrote the book and disected the process/ research but I guess that may be up to me to ask at future readings.

I loved reading a book (or some of it at least) and hearing from the author. Getting the book signed was a bonus - like an author's way of saying thank you. Or at least it is to me. So for future lastbookclub books and events, we'll be picking books (as often as possible) that coinscide with readings by the author. You can read any book by any one but connecting it with events gives our book club endevours a unique flavour.

Want to get reading? Start with The Information and we'll go from there.

Want to join our book club?

[caption id="attachment_1274" align="aligncenter" width="427" caption="Photo by Ben Gallagher"][/caption]

There are many book clubs out there. Ones in libraries, ones at friends houses with candles, cake and crudites, and ones Oprah spreads to the public at large.

Rhys suggested to me the other day that we needed to start a book club mainly because he had books he wanted to read. These books weren't the standard fictional fare but ones that have the distinct possibility of making your brain hurt.

My first ever comic convention

[caption id="attachment_1268" align="aligncenter" width="500" caption="Photo taken by Ketan Majmudar"][/caption]

Today I experienced my first ever comic convention and in fact the first ever London comic convention, Kapow. Though I had a pass for both days, I could only make it today.

Just before 10 am, I joined the queue for a good 25 minutes with a mix of people - some in costume but mostly guys in t-shirts and jeans - the same guys I'd expect to see at a hack day or any other tech event I've been to in London. I actually expected more costumes but I did see enough people in full make up to feel like I was at an actual comic convention. Of course it's nothing compared to the adventures I'd have in San Diego at the main Comic-Con but it's much easier to get to this London one.

Sunday Stories: The Fight

So we were sitting around talking about writing stories as kids and I thought it would fun to blog a few of those I wrote when I was 10. As this mini play was set in England, it's the most fitting that it would be the first one up.

The Fight

Characters: Tabby Cat (TC) and Yorkshire Terrier (YT)
Time: Mid-afternoon
Place: On a quiet street in an English suburb

(Cat and dog enter from opposite sides)

YT: 'Ello Tabee. 'ow are you?

TC: Oh it's you and your English accent again Yorkshi Porkshi. That's what your owner calls you, isn't it?

YT: All me say is 'ello and ye blow up. Yer such a stupid cat, Tabee.

TC: Ha, you puny little ball of fur. I am more sophisticated AND smarter than you.

YT: Least me don't cough up dose awful fur balls.

TC: Humph! Wll I don't have to wear that ugly plaid hat and coat. (laughs cruelly) You look so stupid YORKSHI PORKSHI! (laughs again)

YT: All ye get is food, Tabee. But me get love an' 'ttention.

TC: Ask anyone. I am better than you.

(Cat flicks her head and leaves with her nose in the air)

YT: There she goes, an' all me said was 'ello.

The joy of when they get it

Being a Canadian writer in the UK has given me a new perspective on word choice. I can definitely say that my vocabulary has increased (my favourites being snog and plunker). But there are some references I don't get and some my audiences don't get as well. The main way I've worked around this is to use my obscure references in a way that readers/ listeners who don't get it, can still understand the poem. Like Simpson-ic poetry.

One of my poems is about how I have the musical tastes of a teenage boy (it's the second poem in this clip that I recorded a couple weeks ago):

In the middle of the Pacific

On Sunday 27th March, 2011, I am going to be reading at a fundraising event for Japan at the Millar near London Bridge. There will be both a comedy stage and live music stage and 100% proceeds are going to the British Red Cross.

My friend Helen is organizing this. It's especially close to her heart as her sister was working in Japan when this tragedy struck and is still there.

Hopefully you can come. I'll post more details on times, etc, when I have them but do keep that day free. In the meantime, if you want to give to the Red Cross, there are more details here: www.redcross.org.uk

As for me, I find it almost impossible to explain how I feel. I'm half way around the world. The images seem more like disaster movie than real life. And how can my worries compare to those of the people of Japan right now. I'm sure countless people feel the same.

So I wrote this...



I heard your house
was in the middle of the Pacific,
so I took a week off work to visit.

I thumbed a ride from an Apache
and parachuted to the water
James Bond Navy Seals style.

I don't think they saw me wave goodbye.

You pull me in,
dripping wet.

You told me not to come
That it could only fit one
Two was too heavy
But I knew you wouldn't mind

You have robes. And a hand towel.
You always were the perfect host.

I tell you I like what you've
done with the place even though it's empty.
You had to lighten it, you said.
It needed to float.

You left your furniture in the hills.
Fuel for the forgotten, to warm hands
and brew tea.

To the man sat in the rubble of his house,
no windows or doors to seal,
you gave him your umbrella
to protect him from invisible rays,
and glowing rain.

Your pots went to a drummer.
There will be songs.

You gave your breath to the wind
to blow the fires out,
but it took too much (like always)
and your smile went too.

The water is tickling our feet. I didn't expect it
to be so cold out of my wetsuit.

You've taken the windows out
and put them in the floor.
Your own glass bottom house.

The fish don't entertain me.

We drink the last of your tea
brewed in yesterday's sun.

I show you my new phone but not
how it works. I expect the ocean
doesn't have a good data plan.

I brought you cans and food stamps.

But you broke your can opener
when you freed your neighbour
from their car and they've
shut off your gas and electric
since you've come out to sea.

And the stores are all closed.

But I see you're not alone.
No one told me. It wasn't in the photos.

You say it took days
to find the right conditions.
But over the crest of a wave,
a duplex surfed to join you.

Since then, there've been
sheds and plastic wheelbarrows.
Treehouses and trailers.

There's been rumours
of a tower block
and a parking garage.

The water is to our waists.
It's too uncomfortable to sit.

We stand to watch old Japan,
a three mile glow,
burning like paper lanterns to heaven

The water is at our necks.

I tell you I must be going
and thank you for the hospitality.

We wait in silence for the helicopter whirls
but they never return.

It’s all oranges and lemons in Relleu

It is officially day 4 of my trip away to write. This is probably the first time I’ve ever done this. So far I’ve been semi successful. I’ve written the outline to a short film (that I should have done a month ago), wrote 2 blog posts and completed the first 11 pages of a screenplay. I also played an entire game of Civilization, taught Karen how to play Cribbage, watched the first episode of Treme and re-read Salinger’s “For Esme – with Love and Squalor.”

I’m currently in the sleepy little village of Relleu which is about an hour from Alicante. They are known for their orange, lemon and almond trees and I was lucky enough to catch the end of the almond blossoms. I’m also lucky enough to be eating oranges directly from the trees. I can’t even describe how amazing they are. All I know is no other orange will compare.

Why I'm giving up alcohol for Lent

Wednesday is the start of Lent. Last year I gave up caffeine for a month. I was sneaky as I love the taste of coffee and as I could drink decaf it wasn't like I was giving up much. I'm not very caffeine dependent to function - I'm pretty high energy and frankly should stick to decaf anyway.

This year I'm giving up alcohol.

My relationship with alcohol is a funny one. And not funny ha-ha. There are alcoholics dotted amongst my family. The fact they are alcoholics is never discussed but it's there. As are some very heavily stocked liquor cabinets. Of course, that's their story to tell and not my place to tell it. Instead here is my story. It's something I've told very few people. But I think it's something worth sharing.

Last days are strange

I find myself on a bus at two in the morning. The top half is filled with students chanting and clapping. A saxophone plays. The people who got on the bus with me had glanced upwards but stuck to the main floor. I went upstairs. Stomps, shouts, tamborine. Mardi Gras come to London...

Video lighting tips

Now let's go a bit technical (but not too technical) and delve into the world of lighting. Saying that, let's assume that you don't have any additional lights and you're only working with natural light.

Video tips: Beginning, middle, end

I often make fast and off the cuff videos. So I thought I'd send my next few blog posts giving some tips and tricks. It won't be everything (as that would be endless) but should be easy to understand for the beginner mobile filmmaker.

My brush with The End of History

I took myself over to ThursdayClub with the expectation of having a drink and a catch up. Little did I know I'd be experiencing my first brush with The End of History.

This strange creation by the genius if not slightly warped minds of the boys at BrewDog is, I believe, the strongest beer in the world at 55%. Yes, that's right. 55%. But that's not what makes it unique. It's the fact that it was housed in a squirrel that boggled my mind.

Changing the rules: a short short overview

When I taught script writing, I often had students who had never written a script before who came in and wanted to do everything differently. I've always been that way too. Wanting to change the rules and do it my own way.

What I've come to learn is that it is important to figure out the rules first. There are always things you can learn from what currently works. At that point, you can see how you can make what may have worked before, into something that works better now. Just don't forget that sometimes why something is set out the way it is, is because that way works best for users. You have to find out what needs to change, why and who for. If it's to improve the user experience, then let's go for it. If it's just to make it easier for you, you should perhaps look further into what you want to change and why.

The most excellent Mexican

No, I'm not talking about Gael Garcia Bernal though he is most excellent. Today my flatmate Trish and I made a Mexican meal that would make the entire population of the UK fall to their knees in joyous rapture. Well. That might be an exaggeration. But I'm sticking to it.

Why I've fallen in love with Craig Ferguson

When I was home in Canada at Christmas, every night at 11 pm, my parents would watch Craig Ferguson on "The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson." For me it was a first. There is a robot (made by the boys from Mythbusters) who likes to answer most questions with "Balls" and a dancing horse Secretariat who drops by from time to time. Everyone (including people at home if my mom is anthing to go by) dances along.

Twitter: Podium vs Network

This is the first in a Saturday blog series #usguysblogs where a group of writers/thinkers/ponders/people write on one subject. Today's question is "Twitter: Network vs. Podium"

I've always likened Twitter to a cocktail party. There are some people who lurk in the corners. There are others who only talk about themselves incessantly without listening to anyone else.

Take your deck.ly and shove it

Yep. I said it. Please. For gods sake everyone. Stop using the twitlonger/deck.ly/extenderthingy on Twitter. It's annoying.

And by annoying, I mean that by using this added "functionality" you are actually destroying the functionality and flow of the tool itself. Twitter allows you to get the message in one hit. It's not very consumable if you have to click away to an external browser to read the whole message. Twitter is 140 characters. 20 characters less then a standard text. It's not hard to do.

I love Tweetdeck. I use it everyday and love to support a British company. I big it up when I can. But why deck.ly? If it was purely a URL shortner (like I set up for giffgaff (giff.ly) or setting up for myself (heather.ly)), I'd be OK. I'd think it was cute. But to encourage this browser/ app mess? Ugh.

Yes twitter is not for everyone. If you want to send a more detailed message, guess what? Take it off Twitter. You've got Facebook and email and even text messaging. Just because we can send huge text messages doesn't mean the same needs to apply to Twitter. Maybe we could build it up and send 1000 word essay form tweets. But how about we just call it hotmail then?

If you want to violate the constraints of Twitter it's OK but do it elsewhere. If you really need to DM me a message longer than 140 characters, then we shouldn't be tweeting about it.

So keep it out of my stream. I mean it.

(PS. I was going to tweet this, but realised it was too long. Some people may have used deck.ly but I POSTED IT ON MY BLOG. Rant over.)

On the edge of the Y

I've recently been asked to speak on a panel at the International Payment Summit as a generation Y-er. Is that me? Or am I an X. And does it really matter?

According to Wikepedia, different sources cite different dates of when Generation Y officially begins. Some say late 1970s others pinpoint the exact year to be 1982. This puts me on the cusp (though my friend Alice points out that I'm really X and not Y and I should suck it up).

An American Geography Lesson

I'm seeing a constant stream of Tweets pointing out the fact that the US (and the "news" source Fox as well) doesn't have a firm grasp on geography. Or a even a firm grasp on searching for images on Google.



As a Canadian, I know the wrath that my fellow Canucks rain down on anyone who mistakes us for Americans. We may sound the same but other than that... So let's compare us in terms of our knowledge of geography. Over in the UK, we laugh at Fox's mapping errors but why didn't anyone catch it?

Sunday lunch at the Coach and Horses

Coach and Horses
173-175 Clapham Park Road
London, United Kingdom, SW4 7EX

One of the things I promised myself at the beginning of January is no work on the weekends (Or at least Sundays). So though my work was poking out of my bag, I thought Sunday lunch and a film was in order. As only the Ritzy had tickets left for Black Swan, we decided something close to Brixton would be the best bet. First pub on our tour was the Grey Goose. Not only was it fully booked out, but the place was too loud for any type of conversation.

Next pub down the road. The Coach and Horses. First thing I see is two old men having a smoke outside with their pints of Guinness still inside at a table by the door. Hmmm. Old man pub. This is going to be dodgy. Or so I thought.

Today I was a Zombie

It's not every day that you get to be in a zombie film. So when my friend put the word out that they needed two Zombies for a shoot in January, I was the first person to say yes. I, being me/ a girl/ an actor, asked what I had to wear and what I should do with my hair. In Canary Wharf, I'd imagine suits, in Archway, it'd be something entirely different I'm sure. I may have been over thinking this so I brought an array of outfits that were pretty middle of the road (but not TOO pretty in case they had to put blood on it).

The Restaurant at the End of the Runway

Molsen Bar
Edmonton International Airport
Somewhere behind uS immigration

It was only a couple years ago that I flew out of Edmonton through the US back to London. They separate the US side from the rest of domestic and international travel so you don't get to use any of the shops or restaurants in the main terminal after security. That's because you have to go through US immigration before you fly instead of after.

The last time I flew there was nothing there except, if my memory serves me right, a small kiosk with over priced snacks. Now there's a Hudson News, duty free, an Indigo book kiosk and the Molsen Bar.

The worth of a customer (or why I'll never fly United Airlines again)

How United Airlines turned an OK experience, into a bad experience, into a great experience, into a lost customer.



This post was originally going to be in praise of United Airlines about its great customer service. Unfortunately it is now going to be about how they turned a frequently flyer into someone who won't fly with United Airlines again.

After my flight was moved yesterday, I stayed the 7 hour wait at Edmonton International Airport so my parents didn't have to drive out twice. It's not an exciting place let me tell you but I wrote and read and ate and waited. And then waited some more. 12:40 was my flight and they said the plane was there but we had to wait for some reason. 2 hours passed before they said the flight was cancelled. Rear brake failure. So glad to not fly on a plane with no brakes. Easy to take off but very difficult to land.

I felt so bad for some of the other passengers. I had to miss a day of work, and I really needed to be there on Monday. But others were missing starts of vacations and expensive MBA classes and sadly one couple were going to miss their cruise they'd been saving years to go on. The most gutting part is that they could have taken the Denver plane that left 30 minutes before and connected through to Miami if the UA staff would have informed us of the problem instead of telling us the plane was there and we would be travelling soon.

Birthday celebrations at Yokozuna

Yokozuna
Whitemud Crossing
4121 – 106 Street
Edmonton, AB
www.yokozunarestaurant.ca

I first went to Yokozuna about a year ago when my family took me straight after they picked me up from the airport. My mom is in love with the dragon rolls. It's fitting that we then returned to celebrate my mom's birthday there.



Nine of us fit ourselves around the table and the ordering began. First came the tea, which was unlike any I have had before. They serve a unique blend including puffed rice which cuts out the bitterness of the green tea and adds a nutty flavour which made me drink more than I usually do.

Waiting at the airport

I'm a seasoned traveller. But sometimes I even get it wrong like I did this very morning. My flight was moved to 6:55 am. Ugh. I am definitely not a morning person. So when I checked the website, I think my brain deliberately deceived me and instead of reading that the check in closed an hour before the flight, I read check in was open an hour before (though it was confusing on the site - my flight was marked as Air Canada and was actually a combination of UA and Air Canada but I only looked at Air Canada instructions to check in "at least" an hour before.

Airport eating: Jasper Bar & Grill

Jasper Bar & Grill
Edmonton International Airport
Edmonton, AB

With a lot of time to kill and hungry bellies to be filled, my family and I headed to the Jasper Bar and Grill in Edmonton International Airport. Had the roads been better we would have headed back home for a few hours but no one should have to drive a round trip in zero visibility once, let alone twice.

This place has changed a lot since the renovations and not for the better. It used to be a large L-shaped restaurant and you see into the departures area. The menu was also more extensive and had plenty of options for all types of diets. Now, the restaurant is split into two, one half in the security area and the other half in the check in area and the menus look like a poor Photoshop job by a new graduate.

Are we wasting our power as consumers?

I've always believed in the power of the consumer and that, for the most part, it is the only power we have. Democracy isn't very democratic these days especially when you making your voting decisions based on how to keep the most hated candidate out of office or the one you think will do the least damage.

So to me, spending power is more like democracy than the one where you vote once every few years. It's a choice we make every day and if we all collectively make these choices together, there can be change.

An example that really resonated with me was the consumer protest against GMOs in foods in 1999. McCain Foods was one of the companies targeted due to their use of genetically modified potatoes. Because a large enough percentage of their customers stopped buying their fries, McCain’s made a decision to refuse to use GMO in their products. Harrison McCain said, "We think genetically modified material is very good science but at the moment, very bad public relations." He added, "We’ve got too many people worried about eating the product and we're in the business of giving our customers what they want, not what we think they should have."

Now, ten years on, where has our power gone? It’s not just what we buy now but what we say and to a large part, who says it. And this comes down to the growing popularity of social networks.

Sushi from Furusato to go

Furusato Japanese Restaurant
10012 82 Avenue
Edmonton, AB
www.furusatojapaneserestaurant.com

Yesterday when I firmly planted myself at Luzzara, I longingly looked at Furusato across the street. I first experienced Furusato last September when I came for the Edmonton International Film Festival. At that time, I had just started eating fish and seafood again after 10 years of vegan living (being unable to open jars at the age of 30 due to psoriasis affected joints wasn't cool in my books, so fish got added to my diet and helped immensely). It was great. Maybe not (in my foggy memory) Vancouver sushi house amazing but for the middle of the prairies it was superb. And according to the Edmontonians in Luzzara with me, it is the best in Edmonton.

Luzzara - the best little coffee shop in the west

Luzzara Coffee Bar
10011 82 Avenue
Edmonton, AB
T6E 1Z2
www.luzzara.ca

My trips home to Edmonton now have to include a trip to Luzzara on Whyte Ave. My sister's office is around the corner so she started going there a year or so ago.  Her daily trips here made her fast friends of the owner, Sarah Jackson. Of course my sister brought me along with her one day, so now Luzzara is a favourite for me as well. What I love is that Luzzara is housed in the front part of a scooter shop with a environmentally friendly hair dressers above. Sarah started her business when she reached a crossroads - instead of going back to school as she originally intended, she started her own business to encorporate her love of coffee and chatting with people.

Rethinking my blog

So it's a new year and like most people, I've been thinking about what I want to do. Then I looked at my poor neglected blog and thought - hey. This thing needs a little more love and attention then I've been giving it. I work on strategy and content in my day job - so why am I not doing the same thing here?

This is going to change! Yes - that's right. There are going to be posts. And pictures. And stuff. Lots and lots of stuff.  The main problem I have is that my blog is as eclectic as I am. There are random posts about the random things I do and I don't want it to be too confusing. I had three blogs at one point but now I've merged them into this one blog.