Daily Dose: Audio Dramas

Have you ever listened to a podcast? Most are kind of boring, right? A couple weeks ago while bored at work, a co-worker introduced me to a website called The Truth. They make short films without all the images – in other words, an audio drama – presented as podcasts. I was skeptical to begin listening to one, but these are all pretty short, and extremely entertaining. Even if you’re not watching anything, you will be so engaged and want to hear more.

Here’s my favourite one. Enjoy!

Daily Dose: Animals Talking In All Caps

THE VERY NOTION THAT I AM NOT FABULOUS IS PREPOSTEROUS, AND I REFUSE TO EVEN ENTERTAIN IT.

KINDLY REMOVE YOURSELF FROM MY PRESENCE. MY PORES GET CLOGGED WHEN I’M FORCED TO SHARE AIR WITH DUNCES.

Whatever crazy idea you’ve ever had, somebody’s probably beat you to it, and posted about it on the internet. There’s a blogger whose Tumblr is dedicated to nothing but animals talking in all caps, which is where the above image and text is from. You might not think that writing from the assumed perspective of an animal (in all caps) is writing practice, but it is. Any form of writing. As long as you’re putting your pen to paper, or fingers to the keyboard to produce words and sentences, it is practice. Just, some of the product is a lot more amusing than others. Nonetheless, it’s important to try different forms of writing – prose, poetry, lyrics, even tweets. And those of us who’ve tried twitter know that it is actually really hard to compose a good, comprehensive message in 140 characters.

Check out Animals Talking In All Caps if you’re bored and need a good laugh 😛

Daily Dose: Books

“Books are the quietest and most constant friends; they are the most accessible and wisest of counselors, and the most patient of teachers.”

—	Charles William Eliot

When was the last time you picked up a book? Nowadays, most people won’t be able to remember (other than for school, at least), or they’ll say they don’t read. To me, books are like people. I have a different relationship with each and every person I meet. Each relationship is unique in its own way, with different quirks, different connecting and differing points, and varying levels of depth. Whenever I come across a mindblowingly good book, I hesitate to share it. I want to keep it all to myself because I want to protect the relationship I have with that book. On the other hand, I want to share that book with all my close friends, so that we can talk about it and all share some sort of connection with that book and with each other. Then I remember that my relationship with that book is and always will be unique, no matter how many people know about it. It is mine, and nothing can alter it.

And when a friend to whom I suggested a book finally reads it and likes it, I’m nothing but glad that I chose to share something that provoked my mind and made me happy.

“Books are a uniquely portable magic” – Stephen King

 

Daily Dose: Looking Forward

“What is the point of worrying oneself too much about what one could or could not have done to control the course one’s life took? Surely it is enough that the likes of you and I at least try to make our small contribution count for something true and worthy. And if some of us are prepared to sacrifice much in life in order to pursue such aspirations, surely that in itself, whatever the outcome, cause for pride and contentment.”

—	The Remains Of The Day, Kazuo Ishiguro

There’s always room for us to improve, and more time and effort that we could’ve spent. But try your best, and don’t look back.

Daily Dose: Hunter Lee

A year ago, I was living in California. It was a normal day and I was looking through Reddit when I stumbled across this picture:

This picture had been submitted in a griptape design contest, and he had won. This year after joining Kollaboration, I met the person in this picture: Hunter Lee (the blogger you all know and love). These kinds of awesomely random coincidences go to show how art brings people together, and to different places all around the world. Not to mention, I’m currently blogging from California while looking back at how slim the chance was for me to have made a full circle, seeing this picture here, then going to Toronto, meeting Hunter, and reflecting on this while in the states.

While he might not look like your typical artsy person, Hunter does some amazing(ly unique) artwork, some of which is shown below. After looking at the artwork he’s put up on his Facebook, one thing I notice is that most of it takes a REALLY long time and dedication to finish (i.e. spidey, pictured below). Props.

Daily Dose: Trying New Things

“The desire to write grows with writing”
–Desiderius Erasmus

Sometimes you’re doing something that you might not enjoy very much, but with certain things, if you invest a little more time and effort, you may grow to enjoy it. Always strive to try new things.

Daily Dose: CNE

To many people in the GTA, the Canadian National Exhibition is an annual experience to be experienced. Taking place at Exhibition place in Toronto for 18 days each year, roughly 5.3 million people visit the CNE, and roughly 1600,000 out-of-town visitors travel to Canada for the fair. It is Canada’s largest fair, and North America’s seventh largest. The first CNE took place in 1879, mostly to promote Canada’s agriculture and technology in Canada. Over time, the CNE has come to showcase a broader spectrum of the work and talent of this nation, reflecting growth in diversity and innovation. In order to make CNE what it is each year, the equivalent of  579 full-year jobs are created in the region. The CNE puts a lot of emphasis on creating and executing new environmental initiatives, and is an important cultural and community tradition for attendees.

While the CNE might have seemed like a fun fair to enjoy, it has a lot more purposes than to entertain. Likewise, while Kollaboration seems like just a talent show, our purpose is to empower youth through entertainment, and to reach out to the community as much as we can.

We hope to see you all at our show on September 15th! Buy your tickets online here, or contact a staff member 🙂

Daily Dose: Olympics 2012 Closing Ceremony

While the main point of the Olympic Games is to showcase each country’s athletic strengths and to keep raising worldwide standards of speed, power, and strength, the closing ceremony encompasses a much broader spectrum of the host country’s culture. London blew us away with the musical talents they chose to display in the closing ceremony this year. If you haven’t already watched, click here to review some of the acts. Performances came from the following: Queen, Kaiser Chiefs, George Michael, Jessie J, Tinie Tempah, Taio Cruz, Ed Sheeran, Muse, Spice Girls, The Who, Liam Gallagher, fat Boy Slim, Eric Idle, and a few more that are slipping my mind at the moment.

When you really think about it, we grew up with some of the music that we heard from London’s closing ceremony. It really doesn’t matter where music is from, but that we listen and enjoy it.

 

Daily Dose: Kollaboration 2012 Guest Performers

In honour of this year’s show’s guest performers, Dumbfoundead (and Dj Zo) and Joseph Vincent, we have a video from both of them below, as well as a little snippet about them.

Enjoy!

Joseph Vincent is an up-and-coming acoustic artist striving to make a name for himself in the world of music. Growing up, Joseph had an open ear for music, listening to all types of genres from hip-hop to rock. He picked up his first guitar at the age of 15 and started off by playing covers of some of his main musical influences, Jack Johnson and Jason Mraz. He began writing and composing his own original songs at the age of 16.

Born in Buenos Aires, Argentina to South Korean refugees,  Jonathan Park (Korean name: 박성만 Park Sung Man) was smuggled in along with his sister by his mother to Mexico, and then later settled in Koreatown in Los Angeles at the age of three. He was often seen as a class clown by his peers at an early age, and was exposed to hip-hop at age ten upon entering a community center in MacArthur Park and meeting emcees such as Mark Luv of Zulu Nation, Poppin’ Chuck, Cre8 RTN, and Ezrock.^[2] This first experience with hip-hop allowed him to develop the technique of freestyling and to educate himself on hip-hop’s history and roots. A year later, he was taken to Project Blowed, an open-mic workshop located in Leimert Park in South Central Los Angeles, by a high school friend. There he would continue to hone his abilities as an emcee amongst the influence of “Blowdians” such as Otherwize, Riddlore, NoCanDo, P.E.A.C.E., and many others, eventually earning the title of “Blowdian” himself. One of Dumbfoundead’s signature lines is “Get your bars up, peace”

KOLLABORATION TORONTO 2012

 

 

 

Ladies and gentlemen, it’s the event you’ve been waiting for! Months and months of hard work have gone into this. That’s right – TD presents Kollaboration Toronto 2012 – featuring the very best local Asian-Canadian talent in singing, dancing, and other performing arts! This show will feature some stunning guest performers, 6 groups of very talented finalists and more!

 

As indicated, we are proud to announce our guest performers: Joseph Vincent, Dumbfoundead and Dj Zo!
Check out our event page for more information, and our twitter for quick updates.

In case you’ve forgotten the faces of our finalists –

Come show them some love on September 15th!