Today I turn 26. I've never been one to make a big deal about my birthday, so I've rarely done anything for them. I never found them overly important. But, this morning as I was eating breakfast it dawned on me how cataclysmic celebrating a birthday is. When you really think about it, a birthday is celebrating your very existence. It's about the people who's lives you have touched and your place in the world. Knowing this, how could your heart not soar every time someone wishes you a happy birthday.

And as it turns out today was also the announcing of the Polaris Prize winner. For those of you who have no clue what it is, the Polaris Prize is a $20, 000 prize for a full-length Canadian album, judged solely on artistic merit, without regard to genre or record sales (as the site says). Last year's winner was the very deserving Patrick Watson, who I love, so I was very interested in this years outcome. There were some big names on the nominee list including Stars, Kathleen Edwards, The Weakerthans, (my hopeful) Plants and Animals, and other deserving artists. This year went to Caribou for their album Andorra. I haven't heard Caribou so I can't make any comment on the outcome. You can be sure that I will be checking it out soon though.

An extra little tidbit about the Polaris Prize site I recommend checking out is the the limited edition poster art created for each album. I've posted my two favorites below.

Having a blog is something that I have been considering for some time. I hadn't started one before because if I had a blog it would mean that I would need to have something to post on it, not to mention the time commitment. When the pros and cons were weighed it just didn't seem worth it. But, as you may be able to guess because I have started a blog, I now find it worth investigating.

Now don't expect this to be my online diary expounding on my latest relationship or my deepest secrets. I am hardly an exhibitionist. My life will of course be the starting point for most of my content, so I hope what I present of my life is entertaining to those who read. But, my goal is more to spur and document my personal growth and cultural explorations. Having to keep up a blog means that I need something to put in it. I will need to continue to take in and digest ideas to discuss, as well as expanding my cultural horizons so I have more culture to share.

I also believe that I have something to say, as everyone does. It's not that I think everyone should listen to me, it's that I think some might want to.

Joel