How to Host Your Twitter Archive on Google Drive — and Keep It Automatically Refreshed

I recently made an online public archive of every tweet I’ve ever posted, that automatically keeps itself up to date:

My online Twitter archive—click to view

Setting up this up was surprisingly easy—even for a non-technical person. I’m sharing the steps below, so you can try it out yourself.

Admittedly, this is not really a useful thing to do, other than to satisfy your introspective curiosity.

But sometimes trivial pursuits are amusing (how many times have I posted about Waffle House, anyway?).

Step 1: Download your Personal Twitter Archive

Twitter lets you download a complete snapshot of all your past tweets, with an index that you can browse, search, and analyze offline.

It’s simple—follow Twitter’s instructions on downloading your archive.

Twitter will then e-mail you a link to a zip file. Download and unzip the resulting file. This creates a local folder called tweets which contains your exported archive, in two formats: CSV (comma separated value), and a JSON export with all the corresponding metadata—a full representation of all your tweets as returned by the Twitter API.

A look inside the 'tweets' folder. Open the index.html file to browse the archive 

To access the archive, open the index.html file using any browser—double click it, or use File-Open from inside your browser (Alternately, use the CSV file to import the archive into the spreadsheet or database of your choice).

Step 2: Upload the Archive to Google Drive and Share It 

Did you know that you can host webpages and images using Google Drive? You can.

This functionality is super handy for a mini-project like this one (I’m also using Google Drive to host the images for my map sites). There’s potential for all kinds of possibilities here which I have yet to explore fully. And it’s free. I learned about the idea for doing this via Kevin Marks.

You’ll need a Google account to do this, obviously.

1. Log in to Google via Gmail (or whatever your preferred entry point for Google is). Click the 'Drive' option in the top menubar.

2. Upload the entire tweets folder (from Part 1 above) to your Google Drive (it doesn’t have to be at the root level, incidentally).

3. Share the uploaded tweets folder as 'Public on the web' using the Share button. (Checkmark it in the document list, then press the Share button)

4. Copy the 'Link to share' text. Paste this text into an editor (Notepad, Textedit, or whatever is handy).

5. The text will contain a long string of characters that looks like what’s shown above (first line). Take this string of characters, and append it after this URL:

googledrive.com/host/

You'll wind up with something that looks like:

googledrive.com/host/0BwadvTiFXSLcU1Y4YVVybjJGekU

This ungainly address is the web link for your online twitter archive, which you can now share with anyone you like. Keep in mind that the archive is now public on the internet, and theoretically discoverable.

You can use an URL shortener like bit.ly to mask the ugly web address if you’re so inclined.

Step 3 (Optional): Set up a Script to Automatically Synchronize the Archive

Without some mechanism for periodically updating it with new tweets, your archive will only reflect posts up to the moment when you download it. Which obviously is not an entirely satisfactory state of affairs.

To rectify this, set up a Google Drive script to monitor your tweets and update the archive automatically. That might sound tricky, but luckily for you, someone else has already done that work.

Martin Hawksey has created an excellent Google Docs spreadsheet implementing such a script, along with instructions on how to get it running.

Follow Hawksey’s instructions to set things up.

You can inspect the code if you want, to verify what the script does. Along the way, you’ll be creating a Twitter app! [Note: the instructions are clear enough so that non-developers can successfully complete them; you merely have to follow the steps.]

The end result: a self-updating, online archive of your entire Twitter history. You can configure the script to update at an interval of your choice; I set mine to run once every morning in the wee hours, but you may prefer a faster or slower synchronization schedule.

Is this worth doing? Perhaps. Perhaps not. Despite the general banality of most tweets, a person’s personality and interests do get expressed to a certain degree by what they tweet. By examining your posting history, you might gain insight into your own mindset and weltanschauung.

Good luck, and enjoy your archive. Share it with me in the comments if you like!

See also
Twitter Omphaloskepsis
If This, Then That—Connecting the Semantic Web

Congratulations to RaBIT! A Big Step Forward

Congratulations to the Ranked Ballot Initiative of Toronto (RaBIT):

We did it!!! Just moments ago, City Council voted to request permission from the province to use ranked ballots for our municipal elections!
— RaBIT (@TorontoRaBIT) June 11, 2013

RaBIT button!

The vote was 26 to 15. It’s an important step forward in the timeline for this reform to occur by the 2018 election. There are still hurdles remaining in this lengthy process — but it’s happening, slowly but surely.

Congratulations to the team of volunteers on their accomplishment! Thanks also to Councillor Paul Ainslie for his leadership on this initiative.

On to the next phase... getting Queen’s Park to approve. If you’d like to support this reform, check out RaBIT here.

See also
Why I Support the Ranked Ballot Initiative of Toronto (And Why You Should, Too!)

IFSC Bouldering World Cup in Hamilton a success

Yesterday, I attended the semi-finals and finals of the IFSC Bouldering World Cup in Hamilton. Hearty congratulations to everyone involved in the organization and execution of this event!

Anna Stöhr on Women’s Finals 1, en route to her eventual victory

It was an invigorating experience to witness some of the world’s best climbers first hand, in action. As a climber, this level of performance is something that you dream of and secretly (if impossibly) aspire towards.



It was an Austrian-topped podium as Kilian Fischhuber took the Mens gold medal, while Anna Stöhr was the winner for the Women. While the hometown crowd cheered wildly for Sean McColl, it just wasn’t his day for victory.

I’d like to express my sincere admiration of all of the inspiring competitors over the weekend (and especially of Stacey Weldon, Kerry Briggs, Elise Sethna, Miles Adamson, Sean McColl, and the other participating Canadian team members).



Full results: Men. Women. The Hamilton Spectator’s recap. UK Climbing’s recap.

I sincerely hope the future holds more World Cups hosted in Canada. This particular competition was held at the 'new' Gravity Climbing Gym in Hamilton. The crowd was filled with familiar faces whom I’ve met at comps and gyms across Ontario and Quebec, and I’m certain they shared my enthusiasm.

Full replays on YouTube of:

• Finals
• Semi-Finals
• Womens Qualifications
• Mens Qualifications

Check out these amazing photos by Ruby Photo Studio (yay Aidas!), and this set by Bonuel Photography from the competition.

Dustin Curtis writes his perspective as one of the setters for the comp.

What a great event. Congratulations again to the participants, organizers, and supporters.

Thanks to Kate Smith for the invitation!

Other Climbing Posts of Interest
Why is Tree Climbing Illegal in Toronto?
The Secret Life of Iyma Lamarche, Rock Climber
Hurrah For The Ontario Access Coalition
Bring a Bouldering World Cup to Toronto
Interview with Rock Oasis' Founder and President

Why is tree climbing illegal in Toronto?

Last week a man was fined $365 for climbing a tree at Bellevue Park in Kensington Market. Could it be that tree-climbing is illegal in Toronto?

The answer, it turns out, is yes. Several bylaws prohibit climbing of various kinds within the city. This was a surprising discovery to me, as someone who has occasionally clambered up statues and done easy (only non-sketchy) ‘buildering’ just for fun. And who hasn’t climbed a tree?

Out of curiosity I looked up the applicable sections of our municipal code. Here’s what they have to say...

Climbing in parks (mostly) prohibited
City of Toronto Municipal Code Chapter 608 (Parks), section 6, established under BY-LAW No. 854-2004, states:

No person shall in a park: a) Climb a building, structure or equipment, unless it is equipment designed for climbing; [...] c) Unless authorized by permit, climb, move or remove the whole or any part of a tree, rock, boulder, rock face or remove soil, sand or wood.

Apparently you can’t climb stuff in Toronto parks! I wonder if it’s even possible to obtain a permit. It would be funny to apply to Toronto Parks for one and see what happens. Incidentally according to clause e) of this section, you can’t throw snow inside a park either. No snowball fights, kids—it’s illegal.

Climbing stuff in Yonge-Dundas Square prohibited
In Article III, 636-11 (Public Squares) from City of Toronto By-law No. 1001-2001:

No person shall, within the limits of a square: a) Climb or be on any, tree, roof of a building or any part of a building, structure or fixture, except any portion which is a public walkway.

This bylaw appears to specifically pertain to Yonge-Dundas Square [Minor note: this used to be Ch. 270, which was deleted by the above Bylaw] rather than all public squares. I find it mildly amusing that 'being' on a tree or building is impermissible as well.

Climbing street trees and posts prohibited
Under City of Toronto By-law No. 375-2012, Chapter 743-9, Fouling and obstructing streets:

... k) No person shall climb on or over a railing, bridge or fence located along or across any street, or climb on any tree located in a street, or on any post, pole or structure installed on any street.

Of course there are plausible reasons for bylaws like these. You don’t want people damaging trees, injuring themselves or others through dangerous behaviour, or messing up structures. Further, our municipal code is filled with historical cruft (though, in the case of the tree climbing clauses these are relatively recent updates).

It seems excessive. When you have so many obscure laws like this, it creates the potential for abuse by authority through arbitrary and discretionary enforcement.

And besides, if I fall out of a tree and break my arm—that’s my own fault. I don’t need a bylaw to tell me that. At least there seems to be room for climbing trees on private property.

Will I think twice the next time I look at a section of wall or a nice sculpture and say to myself, “I bet I could climb that!”? We’ll see...

---

Original photo credit: Tree Climbing by Alec Couros. Modified and used under CC BY-NC-SA 2.0

Related:
Is skateboarding illegal in Toronto?

Happy Star Wars Day!

Sometimes what we consider to be great cultural touchstones are simply works that have managed to physically survive through the ages. Literature is rife with such examples.

One day, will beleaguered students analyze George Lucas the way we do Shakespeare? Like it or not, you can easily make the case that Lucas’ work will still be kicking around 500 years from now, such has been its popularity.

In honour of this bright and sunny Star Wars day, I present you with the following videos—I do seem to enjoy collecting them...

May the Fourth be with you!

Lego Star Wars

[LINK]

Existential Star Wars [funnier if you don't understand French]

[LINK]

Galaxy of Passion - A Star Wars Telenova [or spanish]
[LINK]

Luke’s Change [9/11 conspiracy parody]

[LINK]

Star Wars animation done Japanese anime style
[LINK]

Star Wars Day Attack Ad: Say No to May the 4th
[LINK]

Bonus link: Behind the scenes photos from The Empire Strikes Back.

Other Star Wars posts of mine
Imperial March: Dogs versus Floppies
Star Wars Uncut -- Director's Cut
Top Ten Star Wars Spoof Videos
Top Star Wars Spoof Videos Continued

Why I Support the Ranked Ballot Initiative of Toronto (And Why You Should, Too!)

Very few people are passionate about—let alone interested in—municipal election reform. Probably 50% of my regular readers will never make it past the first sentence of this post.

I concede that it’s an eye-glazing subject.

Nevertheless, I want to inform you about a simple, incremental improvement to the way we could do voting in Toronto, that needs your support.

The proposed change is known as Instant Runoff Voting (IRV). It is championed by a group called Ranked Ballot Initiative of Toronto, or RaBIT for short. And it’s actually pretty close to happening.

The Plurality Problem

A major issue with our current 'first past the post' system for city elections is that council candidates are often elected with less than an absolute majority of votes within their ward. In races with 3 or more strong candidates there is a tendency for vote-splitting to occur, with the result that some candidates take the victory, even though an absolute majority of voters would not have voted for them.

This video featuring Dave Meslin explains the issue, and the proposed solution:

[LINK]

How IRV Works

Instant Runoff Voting uses ranked ballots in an attempt to eliminate vote splitting. What happens is that voters submit ballots with their choices in ranked order of preference. If no one wins an absolute majority, the candidate with the least votes is eliminated and those ballots then have their 2nd preferred choices counted in a second round. This process continues recursively until one candidate has attained an absolute majority of support. [Oh, and you can still just vote for one candidate. You don’t have to submit a ranked ballot if you don’t want to.]

It’s not a perfect approach, but here’s why you should support it:

The Benefits of IRV 

1. It eliminates vote splitting. People are free to vote for the candidates they truly support, without the fear of ‘wasting’ their vote on a candidate who isn’t going to win.
2. It promotes participation and diversity in elections. Candidates who might otherwise drop out or be dissuaded from participating, can now run without being perceived as ‘taking away’ votes from other candidates with similar support bases.  
3. It promotes a more positive and substantive approach to campaigning. Candidates need to consider attracting the '2nd rank' votes of their opponents. The best way of doing that will be through persuasive communication of ideas, not by adopting negative tactics and name-calling. 

And there’s one more advantage to IRV that may be the most critical element of all: it’s practical and pragmatic—it’s an easy to understand improvement. Other approaches are too unwieldy and complicated to implement, at least within the timeframe for the 2018 municipal elections. The reality is that we won’t achieve a radical overhaul of the system. But we can take a solid step towards something better.

Importantly, this change is about process, not specific candidates or political/partisan affiliations. It’s about making the voting system work better. This initiative isn’t even about the next election—this is about reforming the system for the 2018 election. It’s not a fringe idea—it’s happening.

Lastly, it’s key to note that this change is about municipal elections in Toronto—how we elect our mayor, to start with—where we don’t have political parties, and it is not about voting at the provincial or federal levels.

Here’s a lengthier video of Mr. Meslin discussing ranked ballots with Steve Paikin on TVO:

[LINK]

Drawbacks

There are theoretical drawbacks to IRV—mostly in certain edge cases. Voting system nerds will smugly inform you about the catastrophic possibilities for ‘monotonicity failure’, at which point you should just nod as if you see their point, while inwardly rolling your eyes. 

Logistically, ranked ballots can get unwieldy if there are a lot of candidates. But I’m confident that a reasonable solution can be adopted in time for the mayoral election of 2018.

And lastly, certain reform advocates are vehemently against implementing IRV (or any other non-proportional system) for Toronto. I don’t find their tactics or arguments convincing—but readers would be well served to investigate further and come to their own conclusions.

IRV is flawed, but it’s better than what we have now (and to reiterate, some very learned people don’t agree).

Broad base of support

A wide base of support for IRV has developed throughout Toronto—across ideological lines.  The penultimate goal is to get >50% of councillors to endorse it, so that the process can get underway to prepare the 2018 municipal mayoral election for the change.

Find out more about Instant Runoff Voting

• Check out the RaBIT website for plenty of information about IRV and what you can do.
• Read: Toronto voting proposal might be last shot at electoral reform in Canada (Andrew Coyne, National Post)
• Fair Vote Canada calls for a ranked ballot to elect the mayor of Toronto (an end, let’s hope, to the recent internecine voting reform kerfuffle)

Disclosure

Last year I attended a RaBIT volunteer meeting. In that sense I have been indoctrinated by the polished, mellifluous words of Mr. Meslin, one of the key organizers. Although I signed up for a number of initiatives, I haven’t contributed any efforts to RaBIT beyond occasionally re-tweeting stuff. I’m out of the loop—one of those loafers who enjoys the idea of helping out...

The 200th anniversary of the Battle of York!

Two hundred years ago an American force attacked York, the provincial capital of Upper Canada. It was a formative episode in our city’s history.

Check out:

• a review of commemorative events
• a short history of Fort York
• York in Flames (CBC Ideas podcast)
• Defending Fort York... from ourselves

And of course, my ongoing project:

• Fort York and Garrison Common Maps 

Thanks for stopping by!

I’m happy to see that lots of people have been visiting my Historical Maps of Toronto site. Thanks for your support!

Fort York Maps

You’re invited to check out my followup mapping project: Fort York and Garrison Common Maps, a collaboration with Stephen Otto and The Friends of Fort York.

Created to coincide with the bicentenary of the Battle of York (Apr. 27), the site visually explores the evolution of usage and ownership of Fort York and the surrounding military reserve. Highly recommended for history buffs!

Other stuff I’ve written... 
I like to write about a broad range of material. Here are some suggestions for you to read:

What Does A Decade of TTC Metropass Designs Look Like? - A very popular post about my TTC monthly pass collection...

The Secret Life of Iyma Lamarche, Rock Climber - an interview with rising local climbing superstar Iyma Lamarche

The Return of Longboard Haven Skate Shop - a profile of a fantastic indie skate shop on Queen Street East

A Thoroughly Enjoyable Guest Appearance on the CBC’s Lang and O’Leary Exchange aka that time I got on TV

A Pratfall of Monumental Indiscretion aka the time Canada’s most decorated citizen personally notified me, in writing, that I had made an egregious error. And also cc’d the Premier, the Leader of the Opposition, and the Lieutenant Governor.




If you don’t see anything you like, try looking in the archives or use the 'View Random Post' option in the sidebar!

Firefly: a nighttime skate video using drones

I like how this contemplative video inventively uses aerial views of a skater’s nighttime peregrinations through a deserted city...


FIREFLY from samadhi production on Vimeo.

It doesn’t really go anywhere but I think the technique is interesting.

Sympathy and thoughts for the runners in today’s Boston Marathon...

Like everyone, I’m shocked by the news about the explosions at the Boston Marathon.

[LINK]

Even setting aside my disgust at the terrorism, as a runner I feel a deep anger towards anyone who would disrupt the race like that. For many people Boston is the pinnacle of their running careers; for others (like me) it is an achievement that will forever be out of reach despite our best efforts—but it’s something to aspire towards.

What makes it particularly poignant for me is the race time when the explosions occurred (a little over four hours)—I would probably finish around then!

My thoughts are with the injured and killed. Godspeed.

Classic TV Commercials Starring William Shatner

Shatner shilling for Miss USA

During the course of his lengthy career, the ubiquitous actor William Shatner has starred in dozens of television commercials for different organizations.

His resurgence in popularity since the late 90s (as embodied by the Priceline Negotiator character) is rooted in a fearless willingness to poke ironic fun at his own public image.

Nevertheless, it’s the sincere early commercials that deliver the most entertainment for me. For your viewing pleasure I herewith present this collection of Willam Shatner’s greatest appearances as a company pitchman...

[Click to watch. Some videos may open in a separate window on YouTube.]

Loblaws—Late 70s?:


See also: Another Loblaws Shatner commercial.

Promise Margarine (1974):

See also: Another Promise Margarine Shatner commercial (1975).

Commodore VIC-20:

See also: Another Commodore VIC-20 Shatner commercial

Inevitably, corporations attempted to capitalize upon Shatner’s most famous role as Captain James T. Kirk of Star Trek...

Western Airlines (1985):

See also: this footage.

National Power/PowerGen:

DirecTV:

See also:

• MCI Commercial with Leonard Nimoy, TOS Cast and Jonathan Frakes
• Oldsmobile commercial -- William Shatner with his daughter

Shatner’s campy, knowing portrayal as the Priceline Negotiator from around 1997 onwards signalled a new era in his career as a commercial spokesperson. Audiences loved that he seemed in on the joke, able to maintain a straight face while delivering the most absurd lines of dialogue...

Priceline Negotiator Death:

The Priceline Negotiator Lives!:

See also:

• Priceline Shocker: The Negotiator's Secret Daughter Revealed!
• Priceline - Shatner Fired (Shatner and Nimoy)
• Priceline - Two Spokesmen (Shatner and Nimoy)
• Priceline - Shatner and Nimoy 3
• Priceline - William Shatner Busts A Move

Miss USA Pageant (2001) (a result of his role as Stan Fields in Miss Congeniality?):

All Bran Challenge:

See also: All Bran Challenge Day 1 Shatner commercial

World of Warcraft:

Dial Direct Insurance (Piggy):

See Also: Dial Direct Tennis with William Shatner

Shatner also pitched for various legal firms, perhaps a derivative benefit from his role as Denny Crane on The Practice and Boston Legal:

See also:

• Goodman Acker - Shatner commercial
• Hupy and Abraham - Shatner commercial

Miscellaneous Adverts

Rescue 911 (1989):

State Farm: Eat, Fry, Love (Shatner & Turkey Frying):
(In my opinion this overlong piece sadly fails to capture the Shatner magic. It’s bad, but not quite bad enough to be funny...)

Desperate Crossing: “I’m Jewish; You’re Probably Not”

See also:

• 1985 CARES California National Horse Show
• Shatner’s World
• Shatner speaks about Tinnitus [a downer to watch, but for a good cause]
• National Friend Unfollow Day Announcement (joke ad)
• William Shatner’s Get a Life official trailer
• NASA Spinoff PSA
• William Shatner Asks YOU to Save Kipper & Protect the Bering Sea (Greenpeace)

Additional Reading

This excellent NY Times profile of Shatner provides some illuminating context to his career and to these advertisements. I recommend reading it!

Hat tip 

A few weeks ago, +Joey DeVilla wrote a post about the highly amusing Star Trek video game promo with William Shatner vs. the Gorn. It was his article that prompted me to assemble this compilation.



Incidentally, Mr. deVilla is well worth following online. I’m not even sure how to describe him—Local tech personality? Bon-vivant? Pop culture critic? Gentleman adventurer? Blogger? the Accordion Guy? At any rate he is determined to live and document an interesting life.

Bonus Links

Shatner dancing on $25,000 Pyramid:

Common / People - a William Shatner, Kirk & Spock slashup:

See also:

• A rather manic (possibly sped up?) track from the 1977 William Shatner recording, Captain Of The Starship (William Shatner Live!)
• Shatner performs It was a very good year.
• Bohemian Rhapsody. No, really.

Did I miss any great commercials of Mr. Shatner’s? Post ’em up & discuss your favourites in the comments!

e.e. cummings reads "anyone lived in a pretty how town" (Harvard, 1953)

This was one of my favourite poems back when I was a student.


[If this link doesn’t work, try this YouTube version]

Some brief discussion and the poem’s text here.

Timelapse Overdose

My feelings about timelapse videos wax and wane according to my mood. Sometimes I dislike them, other times I think they are amazing. Certainly a considerable amount of skill and patience is required to capture them.

Herewith a sampling of recent favourites, for when I’m positively inclined...


Namibian Nights from Squiver on Vimeo.


Open Horizon from Russell Houghten on Vimeo.


TimeLAX 01 from iVideoMaking on Vimeo.


Time-Lapse | Earth from Bruce W. Berry Jr on Vimeo.

And of course who could leave out Toronto:

City Rising (Toronto Timelapse) from Tom Ryaboi on Vimeo.

See Also
Wonderful time-lapse tilt-shift changing depth of field short film

That Night in Toronto... (A Tragically Hip Tale)

For a brief, crystalline moment about eight years ago, I found myself faced with a snarling Gord Downie from The Tragically Hip:

Mr. Downie glares at me mid-song

It was November 26, 2004. Friday night. Twenty thousand boisterous fans inside the sold-out Air Canada Centre were rocking out behind me, while I stood in the gap in front of the stage, jostled by security, a pack of professional media photographers, and a film crew.

Lucky Contest Winner

The Tour Poster

Three days prior, I’d received an e-mail from The Toronto Star, informing me I’d somehow won their Tragically Hip Photo Pass Concert contest—the prize for which consisted of ‘two tickets to see the Hip at the ACC, their complete discography, and one photo pass for one person to photograph the band for the first three songs from the "pit."’

Sign me up!

At the time the Hip were perhaps the hottest live act in Canada. Their In Between Evolution tour was selling out venues across North America, and the band had gained a hard-earned reputation for raucous concert performances. So it was an easy choice to go. Without much difficulty I corralled a friend of mine to accompany me (yay Kat!), and Friday night eventually rolled around...

The Air Canada Centre was jammed.

That Night in Toronto
We arrived at the packed ACC and settled into our assigned seats. The opening band was the Joel Plaskett Emergency, but to be honest I didn’t pay much attention because I was too excited. Who wouldn’t be?

After JPE finished their set, a short intermission followed whereupon I was escorted by a gentleman from Universal Music up to the narrow moat in front. Unfortunately I had to leave Kat behind in our seats, as the pass only allowed one person to go. Once up front, I flashed my badge (pictured) to a burly security guard, who waved me gruffly into the off-limits area.

My front stage area pass (left) and my ticket

My Little Sony
The thing is, I’m not a photographer. I didn’t own a film camera. Back then I only had those crappy 24-shot disposables (remember those?!), so I decided instead to bring my digital camera. I’d acquired it from my Silicon Valley employer as a reward for doing online course-work:

My Sony Cybershot S75. Mouseover to see reverse.

Even though it’s a bit ridiculous looking today (check out the viewscreen on the back!), it was a decent model then. I had outfitted it with a whopping 64mb MemoryStick, allowing me to take about 60 shots total.

Naturally, I wasn’t the only person snapping away. A contingent of newspaper and media pros was also present:

The ‘competition’ with real cameras and lenses

Finally, there was a film crew, shooting the band as they performed. Footage from that evening would be released in 2005 as the Hip’s first ever live concert DVD, That Night in Toronto -- the name comes from a line in the Hip song, Bobcaygeon.

I’m a confident guy in most respects, but when you’re standing there and every cameraman has a bigger lens than you... it’s a joke that writes itself.

As a matter of fact, you can occasionally snatch a glimpse or two of me from the recorded footage:

Still from That Night in Toronto, about 6:30 in.

I managed to take three photos that looked all right, in my opinion. When you don’t know anything about photography other than pressing down the shutter button, you have to luck out somewhat. For the initial image in this post, Mr. Downie had noticed me with my dinky consumer apparatus and—judging correctly that I was not a professional like the others in the moat—deliberately struck and held a pose mid-lyric so I could take the shot. Class!

The other two:

Downie belting out Vaccination Scar 

For the first couple of songs I stood off to the side, stage right, rooted to where I’d placed myself, but for the third song I felt emboldened and wandered over towards the middle.

Fully, completely in the moment

The rest of the photos were disappointingly what you’d expect of a non-photographer: blurry, out of focus, ill-composed snaps taken not quite at the right moments. It turns out concert photography requires skill. View: the whole gallery.

If you’re a geek, you can examine the EXIF data and, based on the time-stamps, you can play the DVD and figure out approximately when during the concert each photo occurred.

Here’s a photo of me taking a photo (is that too meta?):

Mouseover to see me take the shot...

All too soon, the three songs were over, and I was ushered back to my seat to re-join my friend. The concert, not counting the opening act, wound up lasting two rollicking hours, covering the major hits. Like so many other Tragically Hip performances, it was a blast for those in attendance.

The set list that evening. Photo by The Tragically Hip

Thanks in retrospect to Nicolas Casimir at The Toronto Star, and to Andrew Patton & David Lindores of Universal Music, for organizing the contest! It was great.

Context for this post & bonus links
I was cleaning up my hard drive when I stumbled across these photos and I thought, why not share them? Kinda belated, but...

[LINK: The Tragically Hip performing ‘Bobcaygeon’ during That Night in Toronto]

• Here’s the band’s official photo set from that evening. 

Google Reader is getting canned?!

Google just announced that they are shelving Google Reader this summer. As a nerd, I am shocked. WTF Google?!

This dialog box needs a Cancel option.

I accept that RSS has never been sexy. ‘What's this little orange icon mean?' Explaining it to a non-technical person almost always wound up confusing them more.

But it doesn’t mean they had to kill the service. Functionally speaking, it was fine as it was. They didn’t have to keep developing it. Stick a co-op student on it or something -- it’s not like they don’t have the resources.

I’m appalled. What a gross display of corporate indifference in the name of 'focus'. Instead of showing good stewardship for the technology and letting it sunset naturally, Google is screwing us over -- & doesn’t care. So much for trust.

Google Reader has been an essential, major interface to the web for me since 2005, and was a key factor in my readily adopting other Google services. It’s about the ecosystem, guys.

[LINK: Hitler finds out Google Reader is shutting down]

This is a teaching moment about the cloud -- don’t rely too much on any given service because it can just vanish if the provider feels like it. This act shakes my confidence in the long-term viability of every other Google service I use. Why should I use any of these tools if they’re subject to evaporating based on Google’s whims? What’s next on the arbitrary chopping block -- Gmail?

Google may profess not be evil, but on this day it has surely crossed the line into suckitude.

Other posts I’ve written on Google

• Why I Switched My Search Engine to DuckDuckGo... 
• Google Drive Launch Video -- Reimagined
• How to Get Rid of “What’s Hot” Items From Your Google+ Stream

Further (external) reading

• Google’s Lost Social Network
• Google Reader lived on borrowed time: creator Chris Wetherell reflects
• Why Is Google Shutting Down Google Reader -- a former product manager answers
• Dave Winer (creator of RSS): Goodbye Google Reader
• Embrace, extend, extinguish: How Google crushed and abandoned the RSS industry
• The Evolution Of Google Reader Started With A Crash (a history of Google Reader by the founding product manager)