About Magpies (the bird)

The magpie depicted in the artwork is a Black-Billed Magpie (Pica hudsonia). I had taken some artsistic liberties with the bird, but with an increase in people looking for information on the magpie itself, I thought it better to create a more accurate depiction rather than an artistic one.

About Five Seventeen

My name is a number and, as a result, the question of the names origin is the question I am asked most often. I have written it out several times with versions appearing in two issues of my zine, and a properly edited version appeared in Issue 24 of Broken Pencil — a wonderful magazine with a damaging layout that is in serious need of overhaul.

As to the question of my name's origin: the answer can be found by clicking here.

I've lived in Vancouver since September of 2005, and before that made Toronto my home for seven years or so. Feel free to and say "hello."

Sending promotional materials, demos, etc:
I'm always happy to receive free things. I can't guarantee that I'll like it, but I will promise to listen to it. Before sending materials, etc. please do the following:
1. Read the website. I mention my interests pretty frequently, and you'll get a pretty good idea if I'll like what you're sending. If your unsure, you can always ask. If you mention something I've written about you're more likely to get a quick response.
2. Do not send attachments with your emails (a small .jpg is okay). It's more likely to head straight to my trash folder. If you want me to hear a song add a link to an mp3 (160kb/s or above), or point me to your website.
3. If you're sending music: read my Audioscrobbler Profile to decide if i'm where you want to send it.
4. If you're sending books (non-fiction, novels, chess, or children's books): I'll take it.
5. If you're sending DVDs: I'll take it.
6. If you're unsure, please ask.

And now for some filler....

Out of print albums everyone should own:
1. The Insides | Euphoria (4AD/Guernica)
2. Ultra Vivid Scene | Joy: 1967-1990 (4AD)
3. Underground Lovers | Get to Notice (Shock)
4. The Darling Buds | Crawdaddy (Columbia)
5 . That Dog | Retreat from the Sun (Geffen)
6 . His Name is Alive | Mouth by Mouth (4AD)
7 . Unrest | Perfect Teeth (4AD/Teenbeat)

Some books worth reading:
1. Janet Frame | Daughter Buffalo (Brazillier)
2. Alexander Solzhenitsyn | Cancer Ward (Vintage)
3. Jeffrey Eugenides | Middlesex (Knoph)
4. Walter Tevis | The Queen's Gambit (Vintage)
5. Milan Kundera | The Joke (HarperCollins)
6. Keri Hulme | The Bone People (Louisiana State University Press)
7. Julian Barnes | England, England (Vintage)
8. JC Hallman | The Chess Artist: Genius, Obsession, and the World's Oldest Game (Thomas Dunne Books)

Hire Me:
I like working freelance! PicaPica.ca.

Other Links:
Friendster Profile
Audioscrobbler Profile
Myspace Profile