Lab Mixtapes: Episode 25

It occurs to me that recent episodes of this podcast have been slightly soft. Fear not. Prepare yourself, for it is time to be rocked and/or rolled. I'm talking about putting a brick through the other guy's windshield. I'm talking about taking it out and chopping it up. In the land of the Northern Lights and the Canadian Tuxedo we do things loudly. With licks hot enough to burn your fingers and hooks sharp enough to hang meat, I give you The Besnard Lakes, The Constantines, and Black Mountain. These bands can't hold a grudge because they're too busy grinding their axes.

Episode 25: You Will Be Rocked and/or Rolled
plays 12:25 mins

Links Open the iTunes Music Store
1. Devastation - The Besnard Lakes
2. Hotline Operator - The Constantines
3. Evil Ways - Black Mountain

It has not gone unnoticed that this is not just the last podcast of the year, but also the 25^th LAB Mixtape showcasing over 80 songs. Please join with us as we plan an international celebration of this very special podcast (which may happen to coincide with some other year end event). So pop a cork and indulge in the whimsy of trying to somehow commemorate a year or a decade. Remember what Abe Lincoln said, "It's not the years in the life that counts. It's the life in the years that count."

Christmas v.09

Get the flash player here: http://www.adobe.com/flashplayer

Lab Mixtapes: Episode 24 

The holiday season brings with it an unbearable amount of seasonal music, which we promptly forget on December 26th. It's fair to say that winter does not receive the same kind of musical treatment that the other three seasons enjoy. With that in mind, these are three songs that bring winter and the end of the year to mind without the sentiment nor the nostalgia usually brought to forefront in December. They speak of remembrances, isolation and loneliness or the stillness of a snow-covered field.

Episode 24: Winter Solstice
plays 11:35 mins

links open the iTunes Music Store
1. Little Girl Blue - Nina Simone
2. White Winter Hymnal - Fleet Foxes
3. The Last Laughter of the Laughter - Travis

Merry Christmas

Hey everyone, the annual animated card is back after a one year hiatus. Click here to see it.

The music is White Winter Hymnal by Fleet Foxes and can be purchased here.
Note: the link opens the iTunes music store.

Mom's Chocolate Pudding

Combine
1 cup flour
1/2 cup sugar
3 1/2 tblsp cocoa
2 1/2 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp of salt

Add
3 tblsp melted butter
1 tsp vanilla extract
1/2 cup milk

Stir and fold into lightly greased 8" sq pan or dish.

Sprinkle evenly with a mixture of 1/2 cup sugar & 2 tblsp of cocoa.

Pour 1 or 1- 1/2 cups of hot water slowly over dish. Do not stir - this is the sauce.

Bake @ 350F for 25-30 mins.

Enjoy responsibly.

I used 1-1/2 cups of hot water and baked it for a little longer (35 mins) and it stilled seemed kind of wet. I guess you just have to judge by how hot your oven gets.

UPDATE: After the pudding sat for awhile it was perfect. A few hours later I reheated it and it came out great. A fine winter evening indulgence.

Christmas Watch List

King of comedy
Streetcar named desire
On the waterfront
The wild ones
Amelie
Dogville
Dancer in the dark
Inland empire

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Seen in November

9th - Julie & Julia
10th - 14th - Mad Men Season 2
15th - Zombieland
21st - Bunny Lake is Missing
23rd - Mad Men se03 epi01
28th - Pennies From Heaven

Flying back to T.O. today after there was 40 cm dumped on St. John's which cancelled my flight yesterday. Apparently it was a record for the month of December. Sarcastic "yay".

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Sunday Morning, originally uploaded by rowdyman.

Looks like I'll be spending a little more time in Newfoundland than planned. The snow looks gentle and pretty and, I don't know, "rural". Unfortunately that's only the start to a storm that might bring as much as 20cm to St. John's, not to mention 10cm in Halifax. My flight is delayed and I wouldn't be too surprised if it gets cancelled. Fun times.

I've Got That East Coast Uneasy Feeling

Gathered around the laptop for an old fashioned video chat.

I woke this morning to a pretty dusting of snow which quickly turned to cold, cold rain. Despite a lot of groaning from the male side of the table, Mom wanted the Christmas lights up. Her reasoning was sound – the weather isn't going to get any warmer.

Welcome to December on the Rock. Visiting St. John's for Dad's birthday has reminded me why I don't travel in December. In the Northern hemisphere it is simply unlikely to have clear weather to fly on any chosen day. Thus planning a trip is pointless. In fact, I don't understand why anyone flies to Eastern Canada between December and March. Shut it down. Make a call instead. Or better yet a video chat. I set one up on the night of Dad's birthday supper to talk to Mike who was about 700 KM away. Like being there except… well, you can't stop some participants from just mugging for the camera. In fact, I'm pretty sure Sarah and Mitchel didn't even notice Mike on the other side for all the posing they were doing.

Still I'm glad Mike got to see everyone enjoying Dad's birthday and I'm glad I got a picture of it.

Eventually, after searching high and low for extension cords and a police visit after tripping of the house alarm, we did get the lights up, and tonight I finished my Christmas shopping the virtual way. So you'd think I'd be all over the Christmas spirit. Not so much. While Amazon reminded me that there are definitely some virtual things that beat the real ones you do lose something. Kind of like the video chat, it doesn't quite add up to the real thing. Though on the other hand, I can shop with a glass of Scotch in my hand which is something you can't do at the Eaton Centre.

NOTE: Did I mention Sunday's forecast? 15-20cm of snow, just when I'm supposed to be flying out. Keep the Scotch close by.