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Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics

February 13, 2010 / Monique

I am so excited. The anticipation of the Opening Ceremonies is bubbling up inside me. I am truly a bandwagon supporter when it comes to sports. I care about the winners and the big games. During playoffs and tournaments, I get excited, I follow along, I love the connection to something bigger. The Olympics is the pinnacle of that, in particular the Vancouver Olympics since they are hosted by my city.

Today I saw the torch run by my office. I’ve spent years watching the Athlete’s Village build up around the office. I have helicopters buzzing above my home. I don’t care! I know intellectually I don’t like the politics and moving homeless people out of the downtown and the commercialism of the sponsorship, but emotionally I’m totally hooked right now. I am thrilled to invite people to my city. I am smiling a broad smile. Everything about this moment is contagious.

I believe! Go Canada Go! And whatever other sayings have been drilled into my head. Let’s do it! Higher, faster, further …

Electricity is in the air. Good luck to all the athletes. If I’m this pumped, I can only imagine a quarter of their excitement.

(This post is in memory of Georgian luge athlete Nodar Kumaritashvili who was killed today in Whistler during a training session. May his spirit fly on.)

Design Your Own Light Show with Vectorial Elevation

February 6, 2010 / Monique

Last night, the Vectorial Elevation light show was so distracting that I almost tripped walking home from dinner with my mom. Vectorial Elevation let’s people create their own light show online and then it puts each light show into the playlist so people can watch it in real life. I think this is an awesome example of digital life and real life holding hands.

The series of 10,000-watt robotic searchlights are set up along Vanier Park and Sunset Beach and are super strong. The searchlights that make up the show are visible as far as Richmond and the peaks of Grouse and Cypress.

Montreal-based artist Rafael Lozano-Hemmer created the show and it’s played in Dublin, Mexico City, and Lyon. This is the first time it’s been in Canada.

Using a three-dimensional interface with Google Earth, VectorialVancouver.net lets you design your huge light sculptures by directing the 20 robotic searchlights. A web page is made for each participant with photos of their design from four cameras located around the city. It runs until February 28.

PARTICIPATE: Create your own light sculpture online

WATCH: See the light designs in real time.

Ok, I’m going to make mine now!

Hardback Leather Case for MacBook and MacBook Pro

January 22, 2010 / Monique

http://twelvesouth.com/products/bookbook/gallery/

Oh yes, this looks nice. Thank you for the link Craig Riggs.

‘Comme Des Enfants’ by Coeur De Pirate on QTV

January 18, 2010 / Monique

Since releasing her self-titled debut album in September 2008, the Montreal-based chanteuse has become one of Quebec’s hottest acts. Her songs are consistently on the francophone Top 10 list…and she’s earned a Juno nomination…and a spot on the longlist of nominees for the Polaris Prize. Coeur De Pirate was Q’s live performer for a special show recorded in CBC’s Glenn Gould Studio. This is the first song she performed ‘Comme Des Enfants’.

It is beautiful and I love it every time I hear it.

Book Sculptures

January 17, 2010 / Monique

It’s been a week of books and art. Here are some of the things I’ve appreciated most:

The Design Files: Interview with Nicholas Jones
I love these stunning sculptures made of beautiful old books.

Daily Imprint: We Heart Books
I want to hang these flash cards on the wall. L is for Ladybug.

Another book loving artist is Cara Borer.
The photographs are as wonderful as the sculptures.

And everything in this Fun Forever post is amazing!
I especially like the George Russell cutouts. Alice in Wonderland is one of my favourites.

Found Shit: Words Create Worlds
Anagram Bookshop Art Ads

And please go look at Rachael Ashe’s altered book series on Flickr. I want to buy some for my office.

Book Review: Tea Time for the Traditionally Built

January 4, 2010 / Monique

Tea Time for the Traditionally Built by Alexander McCall Smith is the New No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency Novel. And it came from Santa.

In short, Mma Ramotswe walks to work to eschew laziness. Mma Makutsi worries about the new saleslady at her fiance’s furniture store, and the ladies look for a soccer traitor. It’s typical McCall Smith and it’s wonderfully comforting to partake in the ebb and flow of this series.

Kate Inglis on the Daily Grommet

December 28, 2009 / Monique

Daily Grommet recently had the chance to host Kate Inglis on their blog (http://blog.dailygrommet.com/2009/12/14/an-interview-with-kate-inglis/) and give a few lucky commentators a copy of her book! Lucky fans. If you missed the draw, you can grab a copy at most bookstores.

Book City Jackets

December 28, 2009 / Monique

Book City Jackets offers printable PDF book jackets.

Preview: The Dread Crew by Kate Inglis

December 7, 2009 / Monique

Author Kate Inglis is one of those people who you meet and never want to leave. I’d move in next door if she didn’t live on the opposite coast. But aside from being lovely, she’s a great author.

Her first book, The Dread Crew is an imaginative tale of filth, friendships and backwoods pirates. It’s the story of a boy, a crew of dirty, warty, natty, rude, pugnacious, revolting, disgusting pirates who show up demanding things from the villagers that they hoard.

The Dread Crew is one of those tales that starts in the woods when a mother is walking with her restless tot, home is still a ways away, and there’s nothing fueling the walk expect whatever story she can pull from the air. Anyone who’s a mom knows how this works, but few of those stories actually find their way to the published page.

As Kate says, “it occurred to me that writing something silly was highly speculative, a debatable spend of martial and mothering time. I shrugged. I kept it to myself because I thrive in the pressureless void of low expectations. I hadd 15,000 words before telling my husband–with my mouth full, behind my hand–that I was writing a novel. A three-year spell of insomnia was my groundswell. Getting published was an accident.”

Listen to my audio preview of the book: (MP3 6 MB should play with Google Reader)

Enter to Win a Copy of the Reading Is Sexy Calendar

December 2, 2009 / Monique

Follow me on Twitter or become a fan of the Boxcar Marketing Facebook page to be entered into the draw for a Reading Is Sexy Calendar.

I’ll make the draw on December 16 and promptly mail you the calendar. I have 2 calendars to give away, 1 for the Twitter followers and 1 for the Facebook fans. So yes, you could get more than one chance to win.

The 2010 Reading Is Sexy Calendar promotes literacy and raises funds to help kids and adults with dyslexia. Proceeds go to the Canadian Branch of The International Dyslexia Association.

Buy the calendar.

You can look at my lovely mug for all of January.