Scandinavia is the Future

It seems more and more these days that when news stories arise of new technologies, social progressiveness, environmental innovations and any other aspect of modern society, that the countries of Scandinavia (Denmark, Sweden, Norway and technically Finland) are front and center of the forward movement. Here are a just a few instances of their success:

• Recycling

• Elder Care

• Education

• Crime

• Renewable Energy 

(The Netherlands, but still)

Mood Music

The sun is growing stronger with each new dawn; the flowers are stretching taller with each gentle rain; and the once icy waters are melting into inviting, sparking retreats. Summer is creeping into our lives once again. As if unsure of her welcomeness, mother nature isn't barging into the party, but rather peeking her head in the door and slowly making her way around the room - retreating to the walls at the slightest spook. 

As those of us in the northern climates clamor its presence, we grasp at the slightest sign just to shed our winter ways. For me this means a change in my music listening habits. While Sigur Rós, The XX and Bon Iver calm and warm me through the depths of winter, summer begs me to roll down the windows, feel the sun on my face, and crank up the volume.

Currently amping up my mood are Barcelona and Future Islands. Both bands have a really awesome back catalog of songs, but off their most recent releases, specific recommendations include:

Artist: Future Islands

Album: Singles

Song: Back in the Tall Grass

Artist: Barcelona
Album: Love Me -EP
Song: Background

Sunday's Thoughts

I get my news from The Daily Show and Reddit.
Rachel Dratch is funny and underrated.
The Kroll Show is very funny and hosts the best Canadian spoof out there.
Parks and Rec is very funny and it's mostly because it's so close to truth.
The complexity of an eye ball is astounding, let alone how it communicates with the rest of the body.
I do not like my coffee black.
I am rarely the one to discover new music before my friends.
Lately I've been pushing off new "technology" as I find it creates superfluous noise.