On this episode we review 2017, a year punctuated with the bad, the ugly & the awkward. From Trump and #MeToo to the Phoenix pay system catastrophe and no more Sears holiday catalogues, we talk about key moments in politics and science, showing how 2017 was another year with far reaching impacts for all of us. 2017 was also Canada’s 150th birthday. As Canadians, we think back on what that meant to us and provide some advice for those of you looking to build a $4.3M outdoor hockey rink. 2017 also brought two births: Matt’s baby girl, Violet and, this podcast! In what will become a yearly tradition, we close the episode by talking about all our 2017 podcast appearances, the interviews we did throughout the year, and the great folks we had the chance to meet. Here’s to a wonderful 2018. Happy New Year everyone. Be kind. Some links worth checking out: Canada Day art: http://ottawacitizen.com/entertainment/local-arts/stephen-wilkes-day-to-night-photograph-documents-historic-canada-day-2017-celebration Hockey rink: http://nationalpost.com/news/canada/the-latest-wrinkle-in-the-4-3-million-canada-150-rink-its-too-cold-to-play-hockey-there Sears closures: https://globalnews.ca/news/3796103/map-sears-canada-locations-closing/ Science news: http://www.cbc.ca/news/technology/top-10-science-1.4458365 2017 Canadian headlines: https://www.ctvnews.ca/canada/10-weird-and-wonderful-reasons-canada-made-headlines-in-2017-1.3723428 2017 CanLit review: https://www.thespec.com/whatson-story/8003125-2017-the-year-canlit-courted-controversy/ USA Paris Climate deal https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/energy-environment/wp/2017/11/07/as-syria-embraces-paris-climate-deal-its-the-united-states-against-the-world/?utm_term=.ba4daf8b2bb1 CWHL-NWHL merger: https://www.nytimes.com/2017/11/01/sports/hockey/cwhl-nwhl-merger.html #MeToo: https://www.theatlantic.com/entertainment/archive/2018/01/beyond-metoo-can-times-up-effect-real-change/549482/ Phil highly recommended checking out APTN’s Mohawk Girls, find that show here: http://aptn.ca/mohawkgirls/   We thank Slammerkin for kindly allowing us to play three of their songs: I am so Evil, Xanadu & Two Worlds. From Toronto, ON, Canada, the sister act of Slammerkin combines electronic lo-fi synth waves, dreamy soundscapes, catchy bass riffs, and melodic vocals to paint sonic images that lead us on epic journeys. If you have an imagination and a pair of ears, you won’t be disappointed by Slammerkin’s debut album ‘All The Lasers Are Mine’. Make sure to check out and support Liza & Sam’s music. Slammerkin can be found on: Soundcloud https://soundcloud.com/slammerkingdom | Twitter https://twitter.com/slammerkingdom | Facebook https://www.facebook.com/slammerkingdom/ | Website http://slammerkin.ca/ | Spotify https://open.spotify.com/artist/7pjR0rYTLycc0y3MTdtbS2   Concluding thought:  Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do than by the ones you did do. ― Mark Twain -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Follow #PodernFamily #Podmosphere and #2PodsADay on Twitter and Facebook for the best in indie podcasts. Listen More. Listen Indie. --------------------------------------------------------------------------   If you enjoyed this episode, we strongly urge you to make a donation to the Gord Downie & Chanie Wenjack Fund and/or the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation. Please help continue Gord's charitable & activist work. He left us with memories and a lifetime of music to enjoy. Helping the causes he cared about is the best way we can thank him now. https://www.downiewenjack.ca/ https://give.umanitoba.ca/nctr http://secretpath.ca/   Follow us on Twitter: @The_SIM_Pod and on Facebook @thesimpod Email us: semiintellectual@gmail.com Subscribe to the podcast: https://thesim.podbean.com/feed/ iTunes: https://goo.gl/gkAb6V Stitcher: https://goo.gl/PfiVWJ GooglePlay: https://goo.gl/uFszFq Corrections & Additi