On Sunday James and I explored the Reifel Migratory Bird Sanctuary. There are a lot of ducks there and a couple of nasty cranes.

For the full birding experience, my photos are on Flickr.com.

Last night was the first Vancouver podcaster meetup. It was at the Beatty St Bar & Grill, which I must say had minimal food options for one fish/seafood allergy-prone attendee. Aside from that the Stella came in a big glass and that was good.

The conversation turned at one point to Darren Barefoot’s absence. He was not detained at any border this time, instead he’s down with “flu-like symptoms.” In between discussing microphones and favourite podcasts, we debated the meaning of “flu-like symptoms.” Is it not just the flu? James pointed out that Darren is likely taking the piss. Flu-medication ads always mention “flu-like symptoms” rather than the flu. James also pointed out that weather broadcasters no longer talk about the weather. They talk about “weather events.” So Darren Barefoot is under the weather with flu-like symptoms and stayed home, which is likely best since we’re having a winter storm weather event.

But we did not discuss Darren all night.

I sat at a table with John of Audihertz.net. He has a podcast called Radio Zoom, which you can find on Podcastdirectory.com. I checked it out this morning and I like the music he plays so I’ll subscribe for awhile and see if he becomes a permanent fixture in my listening world. The fun thing about John is that he’s an American living in Canada. His podcast is music based but the personal side is what he describes as “just doing my best to give you more insight on what it’s like to be a boy from Iowa, living in the land of Canada.”

David of Loud Murmurs was also at my table. David, like John, is one of these fabled Americans who left his blue-gone-red state to come to red-gone-blue Canada. He has a background in classical music and is thinking of starting a classical music podcast. He wants to put classical music into context–something like, “listen to this, and this is why it’s important” or really cool. Sounds like something I’d like.

Other folks I met with podcasts are Ted Riecken of IslandPodcasting.com, which is a podcast show about life on Vancouver Island. Exploring culture, natural history and events on the Island. I also met Derek K. Miller of Podcast.penmachine.com, who’s a musician and offers instrumental podcasts. Derek is also podcasting the meetings for the BC branch of the Editors’ Association of Canada. Listen to the EAC meetings. And of course, Tod Maffin, organizer of the podcast meetup.

Things I didn’t know about before:
Daily Breakfast with Father Roderick from CatholicInsider.com.
Quirky Nomads, the story of a family that said, “if the Republicans get any worse, we’re moving to Canada.” And then? They really did. (This is my favourite of the previously unknowns.)
And, Spamusement.com. Poorly drawn cartoons inspired by actual spam subject lines.

Tod Maffin, self-described overcaffeinated public radio producer, author, podcaster and technology futurist, is offering a non-fiction storytelling seminar for independent producers, freelancers, writers and people who want to get into radio.

That’s me. And maybe you too?

Check out Tod’s site for details: TodMaffin.com. The seminar is called ìFrom Idea to Air.î The admission is by donation and Tod is giving 100% of any donations made to the Multiple Sclerosis Society of Canada. As Tod mentions in his post, he is trying to raise $5,000 to help his wife’s fundraising efforts (she was diagnosed with MS just over a year ago).

If you’re not interested in the seminar but want to donate to MS, here is Tod’s link, MSSociety.ca.

I heart radio.

How would you like to be a salmon researcher poking around in your small submarine when a giant octopus decides that you’re either cute or dinner?

Mike Wood’s remote-controlled submarine was working on the Brooks Peninsula in BC last November when a giant Pacific octopus weighing about 45 kilograms decided to attack. It sounds like Mike wasn’t in the sub, but he panicked nonetheless because the $20,000 piece of equipment was uninsured. Mike’s sub got away because he blasted the octopus with seabed particles.

I’m partial to sea creatures even though it creeps me out to be underwater.

Here’s Mike’s video on Seaeye.com.
Here’s the full CBC story on CBC.ca

And here’s a fantastic book, The Highest Tide by Jim Lynch. My favourite book of 2005. Lots of description about sea creatures, Rachel Carson is channelled, wonderful book.

Lisa Moore wins regional Commonwealth Prize: See CBC.ca

“Canadian writer Lisa Moore’s debut novel Alligator has been named best book for the Caribbean and Canada region, making it a finalist for the 2006 Commonwealth Writers’ Prize.”

Gabriel Garcia Marquez gives up the pen–retired: See Times Online

Aside from One Hundred Years of Solitude, Love in the Time of Cholera and Chronicle of a Death Foretold are two of my favourite Marquez novels.

Bill Maher to Stephen King: You’re anything but a scary guy.

Stephen King: I have the heart of a small boy. I keep it in a jar on my desk.

Stephen King doesn’t need any introduction, which makes a lot of people think that Stephen King also doesn’t need a marketing plan. Don’t the books just sell themselves?

This is the great fallacy about blockbusters. The blockbuster exists because people know about it, they talk to their friends about it, it captures the collective imagination, it’s human powered. But behind that is still a plan.

Any publisher with a blockbuster likely paid a lot of money for that book. There’s the enormous advance that goes to the famous author. There’s the fat cheque that gets paid to the printer for the thousands (or millions) of copies printed–usually paid for before the books have sold. And then there’s the marketing budget.

Why do you need a budget, it’s human powered?

Well, yes, but the fan base still needs to see the book in the stores, still needs to hear about it online or in a newsletter or from a friend. From the publisher’s side this means paying for in-store placement, paying for ads, paying for advance copies or reviewer copies, paying for some gimmick that fans will love–kind of like throwing the beads at Mardi Gras. This all requires a plan because the publisher also wants to pitch the media on stories, it can’t just be “bestselling author publishes yet another book”. The publicity, the advertising, the in-store promotion–the blockbuster–needs to happen big and all at once. Just like the opening weekend of a movie.

So Stephen King. I saw his new novel Cell advertised somewhere (ok everywhere) and here it is on Amazon.com’s front page. “Amazon Fishbowl with Bill Maher”. The Fishbowl is a really solid promotion. There’s the link to buy the book above the video, which means the call to action is clear. But aside from that the Fishbowl clip is short enough that I don’t get bored or distracted but long enough to let me see what a funny and human guy Stephen King is. To me the video is a better chance to reach a broader audience because there’s the novelty factor–he’s on the very first show and he’s Stephen King–plus it’s cool technology and it’s funny. Perfect for viral marketing. I’m not a Stephen King fan, but the video captured my interest, I watched it, and now I’m thinking about buying Cell.

What I didn’t like: 1) My brain appears to be very maleable. 2) Bill Maher is a funny guy, but the audience explodes with laughter–how many people are in the audience and how over-excited are they?

I haven’t read a Stephen King novel since high school and even then I think I read it second-hand over the shoulder of my friend. But now, cool promotion, interesting concept, I might buy this book. Actually, I probably will buy this book. According to the Amazon.com review: Cell is “the king of horror’s homage to zombie films (the book is dedicated in part to George A. Romero).” Who doesn’t love zombies?

Apparently it will tap into my fears of technological warfare and terrorism, which is just great because I bought a cell phone and read that using a phone at a gas station could cause the phone to spark or ignite. Perhaps I should stick to the horrors of the owner’s manual.

If you’re Canadian and want to support the Canadian distributor rather than the American publisher, which you do by default anyway, here’s the Amazon.ca link. There is no video at .ca
Amazon.ca: Buy the Cell

If you’re just after the video, or live in America, here’s the direct link:
Amazon.com

Heather Cornell, founder and director of Manhattan Tap, is in Vancouver for two weekend workshops.

Classes held at Vancouver Tap Dance Society (2775 East Hastings St, Vancouver)

Advanced beginner and Intermediate/Advanced classes as well as improvisations classes are available on
January 27, 28, 29 and February 3, 4, 5

To register visit http://www.westcoasttapdance.com

Heather Cornell was a protege to Charles ìCookieî Cook, Eddie Brown & Harriet Brown. She studied extensively with and performed often with Chuck Green, Steve Condos & Buster Brown. Heather also had the rare honour of having shared the stage with Honi Coles, Jimmy Slyde, The Nicholas Brothers, Gregory Hines, and Savion Glover.

She established the Manhattan Tap Apprentice Program that is responsible for training todayís generation of tap artists including Max Pollak, Michael Minery, Roxanne ìButterfl yî, Bob Carrol and Jeannie Hill, as well as cast members of Manhattan Tap, Stomp, Bring In ‘Da Noise, Bring In ‘Da Funk, Tap Dogs, Cool Heat Urban Beat, and Riverdance.

Instrumental Feet and Support the Artform present workshops with Dormeshia Sumbry-Edwards.

Dormeshia Sumbry-Edwards (Black & Blue, Bring in ‘Da Noise, Bring in ‘Da Funk ) is undoubtedly one of the best tap dancers of all time.

The workshop will be held at Scotiabank Dance Centre (677 Davie St, Vancouver).

Saturday, Feb. 25
5:15-6:30 pm: Advanced beginner/intermediate
6:45-8 pm: Advanced

Sunday, Feb. 26
3:45-5 pm: Advanced beginner/intermediate
5:15-6:30 pm: Advanced

Dormeshia Sumbry-Edwards is a Master Performer, choreographer and instructor. Dormeshia started tap dancing at age 3 under the instruction of Paul and Arlene Kennedy in California. She went on to perform in Rome, Italy at the Tip Tap Festival by the age of 8. From there she made her debut on Broadway at the age of 12, in the musical revue Black and Blue with greats such as Gregory Hines, Jimmy Slyde, Buster Brown and Savion Glover. Her Broadway credits also include the Tony Award Winning Bring in ‘Da Noise, Bring in ‘Da Funk.

Dormeshia’s dance credit could fill an entire wall let alone this page.

Cost per class $30. Register early because the class space is limited.

Registration information: http://www.instrumentalfeet.tk

For more information please email: instrumentalfeet@yahoo.com

Having a basic understanding of marketing forces me to be a cynical consumer. When I see a poster in a bookstore, I wonder how much someone paid for that. When random people I meet on the street have very cool gadgets that they want to tell me about, I want to run away. I get how the viral marketing thing is supposed to work. Hello blog. So I pass this on with some reservation. Reservation because I know I’m supposed to find this video funny and then pass it on to my friends, and hey, maybe the guy who made it will become famous and then we’ll all want his desktop services. Ok, I’ve bought the ticket. Enjoy the ride.

From the misguided corner of the room, I bring you a crazy guy having a crazy time with Mac.