The Balloon Tree by Phoebie Gilman was one of my favourite books as a child. We used to read heaps of books. Each summer Jenie and I would join the Summer Reading Club at the Preston library. I spent so much of my childhood at that place. I was either there, the dance studio, or gymnastics. I’m pretty sure I had my first reading by Robert Munsch at the Preston library. I remember meeting Phoebie Gilman and having my photo taken with her. Authors were my celebrities back then. When I wrote ‘Jeans: an anthology of poetry & prose‘ in 1996 we had our book launch there. We sold over 80 books that night and one dollar from the sale of each went to the Women’s Crisis Shelter. It was a magical night. I’l never forget how good it feels sitting there signing your own book for a lineup of people. I’ve been (slowly) working on another book. Write more, read more, that’s what I keep telling myself.
I’m a big believer in the power of positive thought and a few things I’ve been thinking about lately are libraries and speaking. Not necessarily together but in general. The crazy thing is, I got an email from Marketing Magazine asking me to speak at an event next month and guess where it is? A LIBRARY. My favourite library in the city, Toronto Reference. We’re talking youth culture and the founder of VICE Magazine will also be there talking about The Creators Project between Vice & Intel. I’ve been a Vice fan for about ten years and have a diploma in marketing so this is all quite exciting. THERE IS NOTHING WE CAN’T DO.
The Creators Project is really cool and well, CREATIVE.
“I have always imagined that Paradise
will be a kind of library.”
Jorge Luis Borges quotes (Argentinian Poet and Essayist, 1899-1986).
It’s a trending on twitter and it’s making news. Is this the war of 2012? The war we knew was coming but nobody predicted exactly what because it wasn’t invented then. What if it sneaks up one day, like Sunday and ALL OF A SUDDEN… I can’t even imagine… Just think about how ANGRY and LOST you would be if you didn’t have your Internet life, love, freedom? Would I die? I might.
I know I’m being dramatic but when I think about it, it seems like a 2012 movie that I’m IN, happening in real time, right now
I don’t know much about hacking but ‘Largest Attack Ever‘ are big words. Four peeps linked to Megaupload were arrested in New Zealand and are now being denied bail. Keri knows all about hacking and online security so naturally I went to her blog. Found this post:
We can’t vote in Canada on this, we’re counting on you big time, American friends! January 24 – please vote.
Sh*t is going down right now! Those feds would shut this blog down in a hot second. I’m not in the USA but I’m sure they could make me stop publishing. The internet doesn’t have boundaries the way countries do. I have seven years of links and content at least. (Back up your blog!) Youtube has the most crazy comments but that’s why it seems like this is a movie. Scary thing is this IS REAL.
Random Comments from this Video:
Under SOPA, YOU COULD GET FIVE YEARS FOR DOWNLOADING MICHAEL JACKSON.. ONE MORE YEAR THAN THE DOCTOR THAT KILLED HIM! By Jeezo
People will commit suicide, lose their jobs, and all hell would break loose if that bill passes. WTF congress?! Why censor our fucking internets?! Navyisgreat476
Mayans: 2012 = end of the world, 2012: pricks in congress try to censor web= end of the world “wide web” damn those mayans were right! Sarah3B247
This comment wins: I want Pipa Middleton, not Pipa Sopa!!! RioDeVick
If you want to put a STOP SOPA on your profile you can do it quick & easy at blackoutsopa.org. No matter what the outcome is with this attempt to censor the internet, things will never be the same.
Something I really love about life is the uncertainty of not knowing what the day will bring you. Opportunity, challenges, happiness, stress, whatever it is, I accept. Woke up today feeling kinda meh. Waited ages for a driver from CO-OP, they should be called slow-op. Was angry for a few minutes seconds but had a lovely chat with concierge while waiting.
Arrived at 1 King West during morning session break at Dell CAP. I didn’t realize how big the thing was before I went. I was taken to my seat (which I then realized) was two seats down from the moderator (Mark Evans), beside a Dell exec. and in clear view of the livestream. I don’t know WHAT I was expecting but it wasn’t this. I was pleasantly surprised.
I’m not a Dell user, nor do I have any Dell products and before today I knew very little about the brand or company. I was impressed by the attention to detail, organization, and care the people at Dell have to their business. There were not more than 30 people, some local, others flown in from across Canada & the US. We shared ideas about brands we thought were doing things well in customer service, purchasing, sustainability and social media. My favourite part was the Social Media Discussion which included all Dell Panelists. The livestream is available to watch in sections here. This is the segment lead by Mark Graham (Rightsleeve) & myself on SM:
Everyone met in the Vault for cocktail hour and I walked to Ryerson University were I was speaking to the Image Arts Union & other students about personal branding & social media. We had a good discussion going for a while and in the middle of my talk the lights went out. Like, OUT OUT BLACKOUT. I made Halloween jokes and said ‘Happy Halloweeeeen” in a creepy voice and continued to talk with a little bit of light from the hallway. It was kinda nice.
I met lots of really great people today and spent and full day talking about brands & social media. It’s inspiring to see people from corporate executives who don’t get it and students who’ve grown up with The Internet showing interest in this stuff. Social media, internet & mobile allow us to build & cultivate our brands (business/personal) faster and to a wider audience than ever before.
Digging Skeet Skeet’s P.U.K. mix by FTP. Fitting for today ’cause I’m feeling PUMPED UP! Reminds me, Mum learned “LOL IRL” yesterday and was like “ooh, I like that.” haha enough acronyms yet? NBD.
Today I’m biking over to Yonge Dundas Square (where I won a car last week!) to launch koodonation.com, an online hub that connects volunteers with non-profits through microvolunteering.
There’s gonna be a fun ‘Wipeout’ style game for uni kids and I’m a judge with Jeremy Taggart of Our Lady Peace and Daniel Johnson from Stereos. The whole fun event is hosted Sheena from MTV Live. We’re volunteering our time and Koodonation.com is making a $20,000 contribution to a charity of our choice.
My charity is the Moving Windmills Project which supports Malawian-run rural economic development and education projects in Malawi. Mum introduced me to William’s story and I wanted to get involved. Here’s his TED Talk so you can be inspired too.
For more info on microvolunteering in Canada see Koodonation on Newswire here or check out the site at koodonation.com. If you’re around today cometo YD Square & say HELLOOOOOO!
Instead of cleaning my room I’m blogging about cleaning my room while NOT AT ALL cleaning my room. Phone vibrates on the counter and the thing get’s my attention again. Damn. Just got a ticked to AndroidTO. Going to opening night of Another Africa a Canadian Stage production. Imagine the ADD people are gonna have years from now. Crazy. Is there an app for Mum telling you to clean your room? SO nice & warm out today eh. Our place is really sunny. I got Alpha-getti for lunch. Tomorrow I do that cleanse and I’m kinda nervous/excited. I love that feeling.
Ok, this has gone on long enough.
Computer and internet, you are a distracting combo. An open door for creativity that never EVER sleeps.
This year’s TedX theme was Redefinition “A changing definition can be the most powerful force on Earth. A re-definition can change the world.”. Great job by the entire team. I left Friday feeling inspired, that we are the future and we are changing the world around us.
Took some street style to see what the smart kids were wearing Friday at TedXToronto.
Awesome work by the organizing team (below). See the guy on the far right? Co-Chair Ryan Merkley and I served as founding members of the Youth Advisory Committee Council in Cambridge 10+ years ago. I was Director of Public Relations, he was Chair. We governed youth issues that affected Cambridge youth with the City Council. That was my first real experience with PR!
Dr. Draw was amazing on the violin. Dancers were great too.
This video is funny. Thanks Kate for sharing. You’ll be seeing more of her around these parts in the coming weeks. I’m off to the Stella Block party tonight with the girls. Gonna be a blast and it’s right around the corner. Woo hoo. Have an awesome night!
Clearly people and interested! I’ve had heaps and heaps of questions about how I am using Spotify in Canada the last few weeks.
I was in the USA when Klout gave “influencers” a Klout perk last month. Everyone was like “WTF we can’t use our code in Canada, wahhhh, wahhhh”. I signed up thinking “I better get on this while I’m here since I go home in a few days blah blah blah”. When I got home, IT STILL WORKED. OMFG HEAD EXPLODE, MIND BLOWING. That’s how I have Spotify.
You can get it too, get curious and look it up yo!
Use a proxy
Go to the USA and sign up there
Ask a friend online or offline to sign up an account for you
I’ve been totally loving it. Music is filling my house and the playlists are introducing me to beautiful sounds I’ve never heard before. Here’s a sneak peek of what it looks like.
