thunderbird six

Dave talks to Jim Parker of the University of Calgary computer science department. Dr. Parker is a specialist in computer perception (vision, hearing) for intelligent interfaces. His special interest is the use of perceptive interfaces in interactive video games, especially for teaching. His research includes vision and hearing, gesture, and gaze, and he has designed and built computer games for teaching. Jim initiated the computer games concentration and the computer game programming class at the University of Calgary. Two of his current projects are the I'powahsin project. (Teaching aboriginal langauges using computer games) and Turtle Island a Massively Multiplayer online game (virtual universe) modeling the aboriginal world of a thousand years ago. Dr. Parker heads the digital media lab at U of Calgary.

In episode 19 of thunderbird six Dave sits down over Gizmo with Aaron Crocco, host of the Geekcast. The Geekcast is a truly cool podcast about technology out of New York City. Dave and Aaron talked about the top tech stories of the year (the rise of podcasting, the rise, or rebirth of Apple, and the Sony rootkit debacle) and about podcasting in general. At times it is probably a little technical / geek for some of you. That said, Aaron noted that one should be nice to geeks, cuz you may end up working for one someday. As well, Aaron and Dave suggested that geeks are the drug dealers of the 21st century, except that they deal in internet access... Shout outs to Aaron, Mel, RB, Dan, Phere, Gav, Mario and Erin, The Germans and the Arthur. Thanks again to Aaron.

An attempt at video, let us see how this goes. This is the experimental video of episode 18, the student gourmet, pizza!

The student gourmet, episode 2, PIZZA! Dave and Terry decided to give pizza a go, hell, we all order it, but with a little bit of effort (read a VERY little bit) you can make your own for much less. Plus it tastes better. We experimented with video, which will be posted shortly. The video is really just proof of concept. On our next installment of student gourmet, we will take your requests. That's right, just email us at thunderbird.six@gmail.com and give us any ingredient at all. We will take the list, and make a meal out of it. Enjoy. Shout out to Dan Brodbeck, happy birthday little brother.

A conversation with bee researcher Mike Boisvert. Mike is a PhD student at Western where he studies bee behaviour, specifically, the timing abilities of bees. Dave and Mike are old friends, indeed this is the first installment of a new feature, Dave calls old friends on Algoma U's dime. Dave and Mike talked about Rockstar INXS, about TV, video games, teaching, research, and just made overall goofs of themselves. Enjoy!

Interview with the band Das Macht Show/The Dust Poets. Dave, Donna and Isabelle hung out with the Dust Poets/Das Macht Show who were playing Sault Ste. Marie on November 5. The band played 3 songs and were hilarious. das macht SHOW! is cool acoustic roots and wry urban folk, a five-piece outfit of fast-picking slick-singing throwbacks from Middle Canada. Their diverse sound combines bits of twangy old country, irreverent folk pop, and punchy acoustic swing. Hooky arrangements and razor-sharp vocals showcase sarcastic, insightful, and occasionally off-the-wall original songs. This road-tested quintet of powerhouse instrumentalists and great singers bring youthful exuberance, quirky flair, and unpredictable stage antics to every performance – they truly know just what “makes show”! What started out as a cowboy poetry backup duo from Brandon, Manitoba soon grew into a five-piece party band, whose repertoire of country swing standards and euro-pop covers gradually gave way to an upbeat and unmistakable original sound. The all-acoustic lineup features guitar, upright bass, accordion, mandolin, clarinet, and an array of vintage luggage-as-percussion, plus saddle-smooth four part vocal harmonies. Since the band’s creation four years ago, das macht SHOW! has released two albums and toured much of the prairies as well as parts of BC and southern Ontario. Their first record, “…one night in Berlin”, earned a nomination for Outstanding Roots Recording for the 2002 Prairie Music Awards – quite an achievement for a basement recording done live off the floor in a single evening. Their newest professionally recorded release, entitled “Four Legs Good”, contains all the edgy excitement of their live show in a diverse and engaging 11-song romp that has veteran songwriter Murray D. Evans exploring themes like small town losers, travel in foreign lands, the consumption of our four-legged friends, and the absurdity of war. das macht SHOW! continues to earn their fans the old-fashioned way – with great music, a great sense of humour, and great performances – every time they take the stage.  

Terry Guertin, chef and Algoma U psychology grad joins Dave for the first installment of the Student Gourmet. Terry and Dave sat down to talk about how Terry has combined his psychology degree and his culinary training in his current career. Then Dave and Terry decided to do some cooking in a new feature called the Student Gourmet. This feature will show students how they can cook good stuff for teensy amounts of money. This time it was pasta with vegetables and clams. Email us! thunderbird.six@gmail.com.