The Official Website & Blog of Paxton Allewell. Media personality, Communications Specialist, Writer and Designer.
A Nostalgic Morning (My 1st Podcast)
Mar 6th
Hope you enjoy my first podcast just above…please press play!
I went for a nice hike today at St. Johns Conservation Area just a few minutes from where I live in Fonthill.
All morning I had a wonderful energy and deep sense of nostalgia. It forced me into a corner and made me confront my desire to want to reconnect with my past and my old friends. I found myself flipping through an old photo album and reflecting on distant memories.
My 10 year High School reunion is coming up in July – which I’m very excited about – but I don’t want to surpress this renewed desire to reconnect with my childhood friends from Ottawa, and the place itself.
Here’s a few photos from my hike below.
New Dark Mean Music – Free Download!
Mar 3rd
My friend Sandy Johnston’s band “Dark Mean,” who are based in Hamilton ON, recently launched their second EP (extended play) and I am a big fan, and I want you to listen to it!
“Music Box” is the latest EP’s name (blue cover) and it features 4 new songs from the band. Their first EP (green cover) is called “Frankencottage.”
You can listen and download the new EP for FREE at darkmean.bandcamp.com – Go there now! 
You can also listen to the band’s first EP and download it there as well. After you listen to Music Box, click on the green cover titled “Frankencottage” and you can listen and download from there. It will ask you to “name your price” if you want to download the songs and you’re welcome to pay for the CD, or just put $0 and you can get them for free too.
My favourite Dark Mean songs are: Frankencottage, China, (green cd) and I really enjoy all of the Music Box songs which are: Music Box; Piano & Beat; Acoustic; Dark Banjo.
For more info on the Dark Mean Band see: myspace.com/darkmeanband or darkmean.com
Band members: Billy Holmes, Sandy Johnston, Mark Dean
They’ve tagged their band “Ambient” “Canadian” “Folk” “Indie” “Canada” on bandcamp, so that might help you with defining their style and genre.
I would also say that Dark Mean’s style is very artistic and has good depth and complexity of sound, and overall it’s mostly chill music that may remind you of the cottage, but it definitely has some rockin’ moments as well. I think you need to listen their songs a few times to get a feel for them, but once you do, then I’m sure you’ll enjoy it.
Some comparisons/influences that I hear in their music: Coldplay, Radiohead, Broken Social Scene…
Happy Listening!
Do you like their music? Share a comment here>>
Video: Starbucks’ New Green Stores
Feb 27th
Starbucks “aim[s] to achieve LEED® certification for all new company-operated stores beginning in 2010.”
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As someone who worked at Starbucks for three weeks because I liked their coffee and business values (at least at the time), and as someone who takes advantage of the Starbucks environment to do work online, and as someone who prefers Starbucks to Tim Hortons, I was pleased to see the new and green concept stores – they look pretty cool. I just hope that they also find a way to better deal with excessive noise and traffic “pollution” to enhance the experience as well.
So far three new stores “showcase” the new approach. Two stores are in Seattle and one in Paris. For more info about the new stores and a virtual tour of these stores see Starbucks’ new website>>
What do you think of the new stores? Are you a fan of Starbucks? Is LEED certification enough? Please comment here>>
Sneak Peak: New Niagara Film Coming Soon…
Feb 24th
I came across this trailer the other day. I’m really looking forward to watching the whole video, but no word yet on when it will be officially released. This feels more like Niagara; not just Niagara Falls!
Pax Featured in Brock Alumni Video
Feb 23rd
Back in early fall 2009 (Ah, I miss the warm weather) I was interviewed by Brock University for this promo video. The video was taken at “Reunion Station” just after Ange Aiello and I spoke at the Annual Alumni Association Luncheon. I had a good time and I hope to make it again next year. You’ll find me at 2:44
Blogging at Brock / ‘Please Check My Blog’ Song
Feb 20th
So I had class 1 of 2 for my ‘Build Your Own Blog’ class today. There were a bunch of sandwich board signs pointing students to the class, so I snapped a quick shot of one of them on my way in.
I had tweeted and posted on facebook that I would do a live blog from class, but unfortunately it didn’t happen. Maybe next week?
Overall the class went well. Leading the class today – and seeing it through the eyes of newcomers – I must say it made me pretty proud to be a blogger.
Blogging is in some ways very easy to do, but in so many other ways it’s actually very challenging and requires a lot of learning to do it well.
Basically the class went like this: I told my personal blogging story and background, I took them to a custom blog that I set up just for the class which had videos and links etc. related to the class. From there we visited a bunch of examples of various types of blogs that are out there, we watched a couple useful videos explaining what blogs are, and then for the second half of the class, the students finally got their hands dirty.
Everyone in class learned how to sign up for an account with Wordpress.com and they all then set up a test blog in their account, so that we could play around a bit. We ended up only touching on “posts” and “pages” so far for their test blogs, but I’ve given everyone homework to come back with some names for their new blogs for next week where they’ll be able to start building a real blog, and also learn a bunch more tips and tricks on how to run and market their blogs. They’ll be a lot to cover next week, but it should be really useful to the students.
When researching for my class I came across this fun video called “Blog Song”. I played it at the start of class and it got a few laughs. It reminded me of the fun side of blogging. Enjoy!
Niagara Now On Google Street View
Feb 16th
Last week it was announced that the Niagara region was available on Google Street View.
If you have problems viewing street view on my blog, see it on google maps here>>
As some of you may know, Niagara is a huge region; it’s not just Niagara Falls. Niagara has 12 municipalities and is a natural peninsula. It’s basically divided into two by the Niagara Escarpment – a UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve – with some of Niagara along Lake Ontario, and some along Lake Erie. Niagara is rich in beauty and natural wonders, as well as attractions. I’m proud to live here.
So why not explore Niagara via Google Maps’ Street View? Ever wanted to see one of Niagara’s world-class wineries? Ever wanted to visit Niagara-On-The-Lake? Ever wanted to take a stroll along the Niagara Parkway? I could go on… you can see so much of Niagara virtually now, it’s incredible. Not all of Niagara was documented this time around (I believe photographs were taken last summer), such as Jordan Village’s main strip, but most major areas have been done.
Of course, Niagara isn’t the only region in the world documented by Google Street View. You can explore, Los Angeles, Paris, Toronto, Ottawa and so many more.
I’ve had some fun exploring Paris, and also looking up my old street in Ottawa where I grew up. And I look forward to using it more and more. I actually used it to get a visual of where my friend lived in Toronto before visiting this weekend, which comes in handy. It’s nice to have a little familiarity when you’re looking for an address. I don’t have the option (yet) on my cell phone, but I could see people using it quite a bit.
For more info on Google Street View see wikipedia’s article here>>
Read more detailed Welland Tribune article here>>
Google Street View allows web users to see the street view image in 360 degrees of the address or location they want to visit – either physically or virtually. Below I’ve embedded an official Google video that shows you how to use Google Street View if you’ve never used it, or don’t know all the ways to use it.
Do you use Google Street View? Have an issue with it? Please post a comment!
Sun Salutation – A perfect morning exercise
Jan 24th
“The Sun Salutation is a classic vinyasa, a series of flowing poses…two to three repetitions are a good warm-up…five to ten repetitions are an excellent daily practice,” according to my Yoga book by Kristie Dahlia Home.
I’m writing this post because I’m feeling invigorated by the Sun Salutation. The past few mornings I have been doing the Sun Salutation set of poses and it’s been so refreshing, and as I said before, invigorating.
One of my goals this year has been to try to stretch everyday, but I find normal stretching exercises just too boring and not sustainable for me. Thus, I never end up achieving my goal.
It’s frustrating that my body requires so much attention; but at the same time it’s a good thing I guess because it keeps me healthier. My body especially gets angry at me if I don’t give it a consistent stretch or workout. It leaves me a weak and bitter person. So it has been important for me to find something that makes us both happy.
I remember taking my first Yoga classes when I first moved to Toronto in the Summer of 2005. Not only was I impressed with the attractive women in them (like many guys), I really enjoyed the unique combination of stretching, exercise, and meditation that it involved. It was much more challenging than first expected. Yoga activates and enriches the mind, body and spirit – it’s a complete package.
I have taken a good number of classes since, but it’s been challenging to keep it a routine and make it a priority, and I haven’t been practicing Yoga for a long time now.
So, I’m pleased to get back in tune with some of the Yoga practices again, and I really think I found a (stretching) solution that will last! And after thinking about it a bit, I realized that the Sun Salutation reminds me a lot of the child’s stretching game: “Head and Shoulders, Knees and toes…” except this is the improved adult version.
I like using the Sun Salutation as a good base to build from everyday. I can lift weights afterwards; go for a run afterwards; do more Yoga; or just count it as my stretch for the day and carry on.
If you’ve never taken a Yoga class, I do recommend it. There are a lot of variations and levels in Yoga, so it can be intimidating, but just let the instructor know you’re new and you’ll be just fine. I’m almost positive you will enjoy it.
Have you ever taken a Yoga class? Do you like the Sun Salutation, or Yoga as much as me? Are you a Lulu Lemon fanatic? Please share a comment here.
Below is a short video example of the Sun Salutation that may be useful to you for reference. There are other variations out there as well.
Tweeting in Welland
Jan 17th
Feeding little birds on Merritt Island, Welland
This weekend I went on a nice walk with my mom on Merritt Island in downtown Welland. On our walk we saw an older man with a handful of seeds feeding the nearby birds. I didn’t realize you could do that!
We wanted to take a picture of him doing it, but instead he offered us some seeds so I was able to give it a try for myself. I was thrilled to have this unexpected opportunity. I tried briefly on the same spot where he was just moments ago, but with no luck so we carried on and I kept the seeds in the palm of my hand to try a little later on down the trail.
We made a stop a little further down the trail where we heard and saw some birds – including a Cardinal. It took a little patience, and some arm strength holding out my hand, however slowly but surely the birds started to make their way to me jumping and flying down the trees. It was really cute and so cool when they would jump up on my hand and grab their treat. I recommend you try doing it sometime.
Zellers: Because the lowest PR is the Law
Jan 11th
I took this picture just before dark at the Pen Centre in St. Catharines. I had to play with the lighting a bit, but you can image that it’s quite noticeable at night. The sign has been like that for awhile now and I just had to take a picture of it! Any one hear of any good PR from Zellers lately? I think their sign answers that question.
Are you in retail? Make sure to replace the lights on your exterior signs because you never know what it might say when one goes out = bad PR!
