Governor General's Literary Awards finalists announced

The Canada Council for the Arts announced the names of the 70 finalists for the 2010 Governor General’s Literary Awards on October 13. The finalists include authors, illustrators and translators from ages 25 to 74.

The English and French awards are in the categories of fiction, non‑fiction, poetry, drama, children’s literature (text and illustration) and translation. A total of 1,702 eligible books were submitted for this year’s awards, an increase of 161 books over last year. At least nine of the finalists are under the age of 35 and six of the finalists are Aboriginal or from culturally diverse backgrounds.

I would like to extend a personal congratulations to friend Matt James, illustrator for I Know Here, written by Laurel Croza (Groundwood Books / House of Anansi Press; distributed by HarperCollins Canada)

Read the Canada Council's press release on the announcement and the list of finalists.

Addictions and Bad Dreams

My current obsessions, time wasters and indulgences, in no particular order, are:

Turkey! As a practicing pescetarian, I usually don't eat any poultry, but this weekend I am eating meleagris gallopavo for a 72-hour period. It is Canadian Thanksgiving, ain't it?

Mel Brooks films. If you have to ask, you'll never know!

Dusk by The The

Teaching my cousin guitar chords

Keeping track of Don Draper

Fire department lets home burn

A man's home in Tennessee burns and the fire department stays away because the owner did not pay a subscription for fire services.

In the words of my friend Ian Malone: "Sometimes I am embarrassed for my species..."

Watch the Toronto Star video below.

Kid Koala performs with Yo Gabba Gabba

Years ago when my friend Eric San a.k.a DJ Kid Koala was going to McGill University for an education degree in the late 1990s, I asked him how he could combine his mad turntable skills and his schooling; he answered by saying he wanted to do stuff for kids shows. At the time, I thought: "Yeah Eric would be perfect for that! Perhaps he could get on Sesame Street or some other cool show"

Fast forward to 2010. Eric finds himself on stage at a Yo Gabba Gabba tour date in Montreal, and as you can see from the following clip, Eric is a kid at heart himself.
For me personally, as an uncle to an-almost-two-year-old niece, I can tell you that Yo Gabba Gabba is a big deal nowadays. For those who haven`t watched the show, it is a kooky mix of dance party, puppet show, acid trip and a Flaming-Lips-meets-Devo-meets-Ween music video. The show features segments that include rapper Biz Markie teaching kids to beatbox, Devo frontman Mark Mothersbaugh, along with other musicians athletes and celebrities.

It`s a freakout! Checkout the theme song for the show: this clip

Kid Koala will be joining up the Yo Gabba Gabba crew for 2 more performances at the end of November as part of the “Yo Gabba Gabba! There’s a Party in My City” tour.

Nov 26 – Los Angeles, CA, USA @ Nokia Theatre LA

Nov 28 – San Diego, CA, USA @ San Diego Sports Arena