I’ve been watching more television lately than ever before in my life. That is, in part, because I’m writing a weekly column about television. It’s also because there have been some interesting changes happening in the world of television. But that’s another topic for another day.

Because I’ve been watching more television, I’m also seeing more television commercials. I’ve decided that I don’t mind advertising if the spots are clever and entertaining. Most of us, I believe, are the same on this point.

So I decided this week to initiate a semi-regular article looking at the best television commercials being aired, the first of which published today.

I’m restricted, of course, to commercials that are airing in Canada, but if I don’t see it, it doesn’t exist, right?

At the last minute, the Straight decided this week’s issue should have video-games as its cover story. It was a great decision, but the timing of the decision meant that Charlie Smith, editor of the paper, had to dive in and help out. So there are four video-game related stories in this week’s edition, two of which came from me.

I wrote about Robert Parungao’s honours thesis research on racism in video-games and about the chaos that is expected at retail outlets when the PS3 and Wii release in North America next weekend.

Charlie’s articles look at the surge in video-game studios in Vancouver recently and the new Telefilm initiative to promote Canadian content in video-games.

A few years ago, DJ Faust agreed to start schooling me in the finer points of, well, music. Not just any music, but the kind of dulcet tones that he and other DJs were spinning in the clubs.

Among other recommendations, Faust told me about Zero 7. In particular, their song Distractions, from their debut album Simple Things, a downtempo effort with soaring vocals from Sia Furler that Faust said made him cry.

This morning it’s This Fine Social Scene, off the latest Zero 7 CD, The Garden, spinning in my head. Furler has the vocal duties again, this time more swooping and secure, almost delicate.

From CBC.ca:

Vancouver’s downtown entertainment district on Granville Street has descended into chaos since bars were allowed to stay open later on weekends, say city police.

Right. The chaos is because bars can stay open later.

Not because Vancouver created an entertainment district in the first place, with 300 bars in two blocks. That couldn’t have anything to do with it.

We elect these officials, right? Did we know they were so dumb?

If you track what’s playing on your inner soundtrack, you’ll realize that the playlist is often determined by what you listen to during the waking hours, when you’re trying to drown out other distractions or generally wanting to enjoy some music.

I’ve been researching, tentatively, this “freak folk” trend in music. I read about the bands in that scene in the NY Times, of all places, but have found a few things I quite like. Grizzly Bear and Tunng are favourites thus far.

This morning, the weird percussion of The Wind Up Bird, from Tunng’s Comments of the Inner Chorus, is swimming around in there.