31 December 2011

2011 in Review: Top 10 Songs

This has always been my favourite list to compile.  I love music.  I have a passion for it.  I may not be able to play an instrument (or Rockband) but I have a respect for musicians who can release fantastic music.

Nonetheless, here are the top 10 songs of the year (in my mind):

10. Zombie Song - Stephanie Mabey
9. End of Line - Daft Punk
8. The Cello Song - Steven Sharp Nelson
7. Rescue - Tyler Ward
6. Perfect - Jake Coco & Julia Sheer
5. Michael Meets Mozart - Jon Schmidt
4. Party Rock Anthem (Tyler Ward Version) - Tyler Ward & Crew
3. I Do - Colbie Caillat
2. Raise Your Glass - P!nk
1. Heartbroken - Meaghan Smith

Late Editions:
Into the Black - Jessica Ketola (the violin player is a colleague of mine, Stephanie Varriano)
Little Ukelele - Harry Manx & Kevin Breit

25 December 2011

Christmas on Youtube

Here are some of my FAV Christmas songs this year.  Try clicking the snowflake button for some added special effects!

Carol of the Bells (for 12 cellos) - Steven Sharp Nelson



Sean Quigley - Little Drummer Boy



Lindsey Stirling - Celtic Carol



Meaghan Smith - Silver Bells

24 December 2011

Carols for the Psychologically Challenged

A colleague sent me this.  Thought it was hilarious and a must share!  These are the carols for the "psychologically challenged". Enjoy.

1. SCHIZOPHRENIA: -- Do You Hear What We Hear?

2. AMNESIA -- I Don't Know If I'll Be Home for Christmas.

3. NARCISSIST -- Hark the Herald Angels Sing About Me. 

4. MANIC -- Deck the Halls and Walls and House and Lawn and Streets and Stores and   Office and Town and Cars and Buses and Trucks and Trees and Fire Hydrants, and…

5. MULTIPLE PERSONALITY DISORDER -- We Three Queens Disoriented Are

6. PARANOID --- Santa Claus Is Coming To Get Me.

7.  BORDERLINE PERSONALITY DISORDER -- Thoughts of Roasting on an Open Fire.

8.  FULL PERSONALITY DISORDER -- You Better Watch Out! I'm Gonna Cry; I'm Gonna Pout! Maybe I'll Tell You Why.

9.  OBSESSIVE COMPULSIVE DISORDER -- Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells,

10. AGORAPHOBIA -- I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day, But Wouldn't Leave My House.

11. SENILE DEMENTIA -- Walking in a Winter Wonderland -- Miles from My House in My Slippers and Pyjamas

12. OPPOSITIONAL DEFIANCE DISORDER -- I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus So I Burned Down the House.

13. SOCIAL ANXIETY DISORDER -- Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas, While I Sit Here and Hyperventilate.

14. ATTENTION DEFICIT DISORDER -- We Wish You a  Hey Look!!!   It's Snowing!!!  


Have a great Christmas!

23 December 2011

Finding the courage within


I recently had a group discussion around the word courage, and what it means to be courageous. However, I sometimes think we look to the extremes and too far into history to be able to recognize courageous behaviour and actions in our own lives.

When talking about courage we usually hear of the story of David and Goliath, among other biblical stories, and also someone like Columbus sailing across the sea. These are valid examples of courage; however, they are sometimes disconnected from us, that is it is hard to have those stories resonate inside and for us to relate to.

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Read the rest at the News Optimist.

03 December 2011

De-Twilight Your Relationship


It is that time of year again, Twilight! The Twilight fans and moms are currently getting their Edward or Jacob fix at the local movie theater.

I may have once upon a time recommended the Twilight series as wholesome material, and as they way a man should treat a woman.  However, the more I am exposed to the series by the films and the synopsis from my wife, I question my original thinking.

01 December 2011

Stas Canada: Change in paid and unpaid work over generations

I love when Statistics Canada releases their Canadian Social Trends stats.

The first one I glanced through was the changes over the generations of unpaid and paid work.

The one part that sticks out to me is that men, finally as a whole, are doing more unpaid labor.  I really do believe this is a step in the right direction.  However, what always sticks out to me, and I got reamed by a feminist marker in one of classes for pointing this out in a paper, is that overall, men do do more work, and there is never credit given there.  Now, I am not downplaying the value of the work that woman do. Not at all.  But there is never a hint of, "oh look, men work on average 30 minutes more a day."

For example, here is the chart:

  • Late Baby-Boomers
    • Men: 5.0 + 0.7 = 5.7
    • Women: 3.6 + 1.9 = 5.5
    • Difference, 0.2 hrs more for men
  • Generation X
    • Men: 5.3 + 0.9 = 6.2
    • Women: 4.0 + 1.8 = 5.8
    • Difference, 0.4 hrs more for men
  • Generation Y
    • Men: 4.6 + 1.0 = 5.6
    • Women: 3.5 + 1.4 = 4.9
    • Difference, 0.7 hrs more for men
From the late Baby-Boomers to Gen Y we have an almost doubling of more average work per-day being done by men.

Now, I do realize this is a grand generalization over all 20-29 year old's. Of course it doesn't take into account: marital status, education, children, and so on.  For a more detailed look at those kind of numbers.  This is the average number of hours spent in paid labor, and this is the average number of hours spent in unpaid labor.