With a cleanly shaved face (like a babies bottom, oh dear what have I done!!!) and as with tradition, I bring to you my 2011 top 10 albums of the year. This year was like all others, extremely difficult. Without further adieu...

10: Eddie Vedder, Ukulele Songs

The first entry of my top 10 of '11. This year was my first chance to see Pearl Jam live (with Jenn and Justin; what a great great show!). When I first found out about this album I thought, how good could it really be: one guy fiddling around on a ukulele. Oh wow though, did it ever knock my socks off. My favorites include: Without You, Can't Keep, Longing to Belong, Once in a While, and Tonight You Belong to Me.  Here's a youtube of Without You.

9: Death Cab for Cutie, Codes and Keys

The number 9 entry belongs to Death Cab for Cutie. I never really was a big fan of Death Cab; could it be their ridiculous name? ...not sure. However, ever since I first put this album in my rotation I have loved it.  It's just a good, solid album. My favorites include: Doors Unlocked and Open, Underneath the Sycamore, St. Peter's Cathedral, and Unobstructed Views. Here's a youtube of Doors Unlocked and Open.

8: Socalled, Sleepover

Ever since I saw Socalled at the Regina Folk Festival I have been a big fan. There is just something so unique and fresh about his music, something so great. This album simply does not disappoint - it's great from start to finish. My favorites include: UNLVD, Richi, Beautiful, Work With What You Got, Sleepover, and a cover of Springhill Mine Disaster. Here is a youtube of UNLVD.

7: Chad VanGaalen, Diaper Island

Well, this album is a unique entry in my top 10 of '11 list. Let me state, I LOVE this album. There is not one song on it I don't like and this was once, earlier this year, a contender to be in the top 3 of my list here. What changed you ask? It all changed when I saw the man and his band live a few months back. Playing a wide range of tunes from this album, the concert really should have been one of my year's highlights. However, the concert was one of the worst, if not the worst, concert I have ever seen. Playing way too loud (and I like loud music!), and playing out of tune and appearing to laugh about it I was quite taken aback. However, the greatness of this album cannot be overshadowed as it is a very excellent album but still I have a sour sound in my ears and have slid this album down from where it should really be. My favorites on the album include: Blonde Hash, Freedom For a Policeman, Replace Me, Peace is on the Rise, Sara...really, it's all good!  Here is a youtube of Replace Me.

6: Sean McCann, Son of a Sailor

This is such a good album. Being a fan of Great Big Sea (GBS), Sean's music is very much the same goodness; on the mellower side of GBS. This album is a constant in my workday/playday playlists. My favorites include: Rather Be A Sailor, Simple Song, The Reply, Doing Fine, Long Road...really, every song is great!  Here is a youtube of Rather Be a Sailor.

5: Cuff the Duke, Morning Comes

Cuff the Duke is quite simply one of Canada's best and greatest bands. On the heels of the Tragically Hip, Blue Rodeo, Barenaked Ladies, Rheostatics, Sloan, and Great Big Sea - Cuff the Duke will be known as one of Canada's musical gems I am sure of it. This album is a great one, in line with all of their previous albums. My favorites include: Count on Me, Standing on the Edge, You Don't Know What Its Like, You Won't Look Back, So Many Times Before, and Time is Right.  Here is a youtube of Standing on the Edge.

4: Shotgun Jimmie, Transister Sister

Another year, another Shotgun Jimmie album on my list. There is just something about this guy that appeals to me, be it the rawness of his sound, the humor and light heartedness he has - it all just is very refreshing. At the Regina Folk Festival this year he was one of my favorites. This album is just good and fun!  My favorites include: Too Many Flowers, Transistor Sister, Swamp Magic, King of Kreuzberg, Suzy, and Stereo and the Stove.  Here is a youtube of King of Kreuzberg.

3: Fleet Foxes, Helplessness Blues

Getting closer now to the number 1 album of the year!  My number 3 of '11 belongs to these fine masters of folk goodness. Mr. Rhiendel first introduced me to the Fleet Foxes a couple years back now and I have been a fan ever since. Their folkiness and beautiful harmonies just resonate with me. This album is quite simply a masterpiece. My favorites include: Battery Kinzie, Lorelai, Bedouin Dress, Helplessness Blues, Someone You'd Admire, and Blue Spotted Tail but really, every song is fantastic!  Here is a youtube of Battery Kinzie.

2: Handsome Furs, Sound Kapital

Seeing these folks at The Exchange this year was definitely one of my year's highlights. A day that was full of music - Jason and I playing the Harry Chapin tribute; another highlight, thank you so much Jeff. I will remember playing that tribute gig forever! ...and then Jason, Melly, Tara, and I...oh and Bree came later, went to go see these 2 beautiful people. Such a great day!  An interesting fact (perhaps) - this album, along with Chad VanGaalen's 2011 album were my first 2 LP purchases. I simply love love love this album - every song from start to finish. It's just so great! But if picking favorites: Serve the People, Repatriated, Bury Me Standing, What About Us, and When I Get Back standout. Here is a youtube of Bury Me Standing.

1: Elliot Brood, Days Into Years

After first hearing this album I instantly knew it was something special. Like with the Handsome Furs, I saw Elliot Brood for the first time this year with Jason, Melly, and Bree and oh boy, what a great show indeed (second only to Rammstein in May which was the best show I have ever seen, period!). Every song on this album is great and I am sure that this album will be one I listen to forever. Songs like If I get Old and Northern Air are instant classics for me but there is more. Lindsay, Lines, Hold You, Will They Bury Us, West End Sky, My Mother's Side, Owen Sound, and yes, Their Will (my personal favorite on the album) - mentioning all songs on the album here, all I think are/will be a permanent part of any playlist I will ever make.  Seeing them live, the energy they have - very special indeed.  Here is a unique version of the song Lindsay.

Honorable mentions (no particular order, limit of 5)

• Dream Theater, A Dramatic Turn of Events
• The Decemberists, The King is Dead
• Christine Fellows, Femmes De Chez Nous
• The Dears, Degeneration Street
• Blackie and the Rodeo Kings, Kings and Queens

Well, there you have it ladies and gents. It was quite tough to dwindle the list to just 10, there was just so much great music in 2011. Many were not menitoned here (oh my, REM, PJ Harvey, Cake, Daniel Ramano...oh my oh my indeed the list goes on!)  As always, I'm sure 2012 will be yet another great year for music! -tMac

Web Intelligence Doctoral Workshop 2010, Teaching CS 100 (n= 270+ students), Redbeard's Back to the Grind featuring Burns and Maciag, 2011 funding search, Sharing Productive Capital project, RCE Saskatchewan administration, Students Expanding Knowledge and Creativity 2011 conference planning, Arcade Fire, Cuff the Duke, Great Big Sea, BB King, Spamalot, and Stuart McLean's Vinyl Cafe with Matt Andersen....

...and oh ya, beginning the doctoral research! ...and hopefully some Burns and Maciag, interaction, and just some tMac recording somewhere in there as well.

4 completely crazy, fun-filled months sure do lie ahead! -tMac

Spring/summer is here...well, sort of.  It's more like RAIN season! (but I love the rain so that is cool).

Most of you know that I am back in the world of academics.  I am very excited indeed!  I did quite enjoy my time in industry for the most part, meeting some very interesting, kind people and doing some exciting work.  However, I realized somewhere along the way that I am more of an academic type person; a researcher, an idealist, one who has the freedom and ability to devote intense and large amounts of time to investigate why things are the way they are; and one who has the freedom of opinion and choice and the ability to act on such (e.g. to use and be a proponent of open source software ala Richard Stallman style and not to simply succumb to the windoze way of life that is indicative of industry...cough...yuk!).  I found out that industry is not as tolerant in these respects.

That all said, the primary reason for my decision to head back to school was that during the last half year while working in industry, my research had all but come to a halt.  Having completed a large chunk of my degree program and realizing that this aspect of my life was going nowhere fast, I decided to move on it.  After all, I have found out that researching and teaching are the things I truly get excited about; what I really love.  Although things were going very well for me in industry, I decided to resign my position and head back to complete the ol' PhD.  It was a very difficult choice/decision but one that needed to be made and I'm glad I did it.

So, in terms of my academic life.  Over the summer I will be working with Daryl to finish up old business and refine new ideas.  Daryl and I have come up with a very interesting research path - one that I think will enable me to be a part of something great and I am very excited about the potential of it all. 

I have also re-integrated my web consulting activities back into my life, having been asked by Luther College to come back as a part-time web consultant over the summer.  And of course there is my continued work with RCE Saskatchewan.  While working in industry I was barred from doing such activities as they posed a conflict of interest (I never really did see how though).  Regardless, I am happy to be back working with these two organizations as we are really doing great work (especially with RCE Saskatchewan).

With this new found exploration in academia I have obtained a renewed vigor and energy to complete my degree and successfully defend.  It is really great!  I am also taking steps in a similar sense in my home life, having a renewed energy and drive to become a more healthy individual, integrating healthier eating and exercise into my daily routines.  For me, the exercise has never been an issue as I do quite a bit of walking and weights, it's the eating that I need to work on. It will be hard as I lead quite a busy lifestyle and it's so easy, perhaps this is a cop-out, to eat all the garbage and processed foods out there; It's something I need to work on - changing my habits.  I have been reading Michael Pollan's books on the subject and have found them to be quite enlightening.  The great thing about this aspect of my life is that it relates to my academic research so, in essence, I can be a guinea pig for my own work which is truly exciting!

I have also had a rejuvenation of sorts re: my musical endeavors.  I have recently picked up the ol' electric guitar again.  Having been strictly an acoustic guy for the last 3 years, I have found playing ol' blackie (my fender strat) to be quite refreshing.  Before resigning my industry position I was able to purchase some musical upgrades - a new amp (Fender Blues Junior tube amp that sounds most spectacular) and some effects pedals.  With these mods/additions I have begun writing new material and hope to have an album released by the end of this year under the moniker interaction.  My ideas for musical exploration include exploring the possible musical interactions between humans and computer generated music and augmented human/computer musical devices.  I've written some very raw new songs, all of which have a jam type feel very reminiscent to what Brett and I used to do back in our high school years oh so many years ago :-)  I'm very excited about it!  I also have a number of songs written for my next acoustic album which will also hopefully be out this year; I have about 10 songs written - they just need to be recorded!  Jason and I will hopefully get things back going again too!

Other stuff: Both sisters are having babies this summer...so many baaaabbbbiiieessss....ewww :-)  It should be good though.  Tess is on #3 and Krista #1.  Exciting news for them indeed!  Iron Maiden, Tool, Rush, and the Folk Fest are all music concerts I am really looking forward to.  As well, I'm the conference chair of the 2011 graduate student conference - I'm really looking forward to this - planning is starting very early (next month), Rider season!!, IPAD! (need I say more), and Ubuntu on my Macbook...awesome!

All in all, a great summer is planned.  Like always, I'll try to post more regularly. -tMac