SYP Says

Help Wish Charles Darwin a Happy 200th Birthday!

Charles Darwin's 200th birthday is February 12, 2009. 

I have somehow been named CMO of the Happy Birthday Darwin Facebook group dedicated to finding 2,000 people who want to wish him a Happy Birthday by Monday 2/2/09. Obviously this is not a serious title--Phil likes to have fun with me from time to time. Anyway, our lofty goal is to have 200,000 people join by 2/12/09.

As of this post, we're up to 1,750 members!

Please join us. Here's how you can help:

1. Be one of 200,000 people to join the Happy Birthday Darwin group on Facebook. Note: you have to join Facebook, if you are not already a member. If you’re one of the 17 people on earth that hasn’t joined, it’s a fairly painless process to do so.

2. Volunteer to help in any of the following ways:

• Tell all your friends and family to join - give them the link to this page: http://tinyurl.com/ch3lkr
• Post the link everywhere: your status update, your blog, Twitter, your office lunch room, your classroom, your dorm room bathroom, your faculty lounge, etc. You can also use the website http://www.happybirthdaycharlesdarwin.com
• Update your Facebook status frequently with the latest number of members (and always post the link)
• Tell bloggers, press, universities, churches, synagogues, mosques, and everyone else to post the link
• Take pictures of yourself with white beard and hat and upload to the Facebook group
• Take video of yourself singing happy birthday to Darwin and upload the video to the group
• Host a birthday party, or a Happy Birthday Lunch, for Darwin at your office, your home, your classroom, your synagogue, church, mosque,college dorm room… and take pictures and video post them here

And if you feel really passionate, then get in touch with me directly. 

This weekend, I am going to try to find a Darwin beard to wear for the big celebration. :)

Need a Darwin refresher? Check out these sites:

* http://www.aboutdarwin.com

* http://www.lucidcafe.com/library/96feb/darwin.html

* http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Darwin

* http://www.amnh.org/exhibitions/darwin/

Laurel Bowman

I am in shock, but I am going to write this anyway. Laurel Bowman, CEO of The Conversion Group, died yesterday after a brief illness. I only know what is in the obituary.

I first met Laurel several years ago. I hired her firm to do some web design work. Over the years, we saw each other from time to time. She had the best laugh and was a die-hard Red Sox fan. One of my best memories of her was when we went to a baseball game in Brooklyn together. She ribbed me about being a Yankees fan for *3 hours*. Only Laurel could have kept that up.

Rest in peace, Laurel. We will miss you.

N.B. If you were Laurel's friend on Facebook, you can post condolences and memories on her wall.

http://www.whittier-porter.com/Photos/Obits/Laurel_Bowman.htm 

Laurel Ann Bowman, 44, of Highland Avenue, Ipswich, partner of Mary Rich, died Monday,  January 26, 2009 in the Lahey Clinic, Burlington following her brief illness.

Born in Needham November 25, 1964, daughter of  Charles H. and Joan M. (McClellan) Bowman of Virginia Beach, VA, she was raised in Dennis and was a 1982 graduate of the Dennis Yarmouth High School and an English and Communication Major at Bridgewater State College.

Laurel was the founder and CEO of the Conversion Group, Inc., a digital marketing and development agency which she owned and operated to date. She also founded and was the Creative Director of Red 98 Interactive Agency.  Earlier in her career she was a Vice President, Creative Director at Ingalls Interactive,  starting her marketing career as a copywriter at Cabot  Advertising.

A musician, Laurel was a songwriter, lead vocalist, guitarist and drummer  in the Boston based bands The Proletariat  and The Lumen Band. She was a graduate of Improv Boston and was a member of the troupe The Garamondo Files. For three years she served as  a Board member with the Boston Modern Orchestra Project.

In addition to her partner of  thirteen years  and her parents, she is survived by a brother John M. Bowman and his wife Rachelle of Martinsville, IN; a nephew Sean Patrick Bowman, and  a niece Sierra Rachelle Bowman both of IN; three uncles, William McClellan of Chatham, John McClellan of Canton and John Bowman of S. Yarmouth and six cousins.

Family and friends are welcomed to visiting hours Friday January 30 from 5 to 8 pm at the Whittier-Porter Funeral Home, 6 High Street, Ipswich. Her funeral service will be private. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in her name may be made to the Ipswich Humane Group, P.O. Box 873, Ipswich, MA 01938.

Best Songs of 2009: Weeks of 1/18 and 1/26: How We Exit by Gentleman Reg

How We Exit and You Can't Get It Back by Gentleman Reg   

Free, legit downloads of both tunes are here.

Last week, I was so preoccupied with the inauguration, my own little dramas, and the electric bassist for Sun Ra Arkestra complimenting me on my blog and friending me on Facebook, that I neglected to post a Best Song. So this week, you get two in one. In particular, given we gave Bush the big sayonara last week, I thought "How We Exit" would be an appropriate song to highlight, but both are good tunes. 

Toronto native Reg Vermue's latest album, Jet Black, isn't available until next month, but thanks to rcrdlbl.com, you can download two songs for free. Reg often tours with the likes of fellow Canadian indie pop bands Broken Social Scene, Tegan & Sara, Stars, and Feist, but he's got his own thing going on. Plus, he's an albino. Need I say more.

2009 NAMM Photos

Enjoy these photos from NAMM 2009! Live pictures from the show. 

http://syp.typepad.com/photos/2009_namm/index.html

Live at NAMM 2009 with Music123.com

Winter NAMM 2009 at the Anaheim Convention Center is the biggest North American trade show in the music gear industry! Thousands of music gear manufacturers will be out in force showcasing the hottest new gear for 2009.

For sneak previews, pre-orders, and live chatter from the show floor and late night events, follow real-time at Music123.com's NAMM page and Music123.com's twitter feed at http://www.twitter.com/music_123!

Best Songs of 2009: Week of 1/11: Polmont On My Mind by Glasvegas

"Polmont On My Mind" by Glasvegas

"Wall of Sound" inspired Scottish band, Glasvegas, has had their acclaimed first album out for a while now internationally and digitally, but the physical CD of their self-titled debut was released in the U.S. just last week. Alas, I will be missing their performance at the Doug Fir in Portland tomorrow, but if you have the chance, don't miss this cross between Muse and Jesus and Mary Chain. They're performing live Jan 15 on The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson fyi.

Best Songs of 2009: Week of 1/4: I Need You by Finley Quaye

"I Need You" by Finley Quaye

This is a simple song from British reggae artist, Finley Quaye, but one that transports me squarely to the beach with warm breezes, sand between my toes, a bit of a sunburn, and a margarita. A pleasant daydream to start the new year off right, considering up here in the mountains, I've got what seems to be permanent snow and ice on my deck. 

Finley Quaye's new EP, Pound for Pound, officially releases next month, but you can get it early on iTunes and eMusic.

Here's a video of an oldie, but goodie from Finley Quaye, "Even After All." Can't believe this song is 10 years old!  

Jazushi in Jacksonville, Oregon

Had dinner last night at a cute little Japanese jazz + sushi restaurant called Jazushi in Jacksonville, Oregon, home of the Britt Music Festival, and an even tinier town than Ashland. It's about 20 mins away and reminds me a little of Chibi's on Mott Street in NYC.

It's just one guy who owns the place and does all of the cooking. The ambience is like being in his living room. They're generous with the sake, always a plus. Our rolls were fresh and my salmon with homemade teriyaki was really delicious. I usually avoid anything teriyaki, but here it was surprisingly tasty. 

There are several sushi restaurants in the area, but nothing really to write home about. The only one I go to on any regular basis is Kobe in Ashland and it's pretty pricey, so we don't eat there too often.

Anyway, try Jazushi if you're in town. Thumbs up from me.

Jazushi: 100 E. California Street in Jacksonville, Oregon. 541-899-9338. Open Tues-Sat 5-9pm.