VYC want YOU to audition

Happy Holidays from Valley Young Company!

We’re working hard to finalize our 2010 Season and plan to announce the full production schedule by the end of the week. In the mean time, we have scheduled auditions in Woodstock and will be running things a bit differently this year.

We’ll be holding auditions for our full 2010 company in one audition this year, to be held at 6:00 January 3 & 4, 2010 at the WHS theatre (you only need to attend one of the two audition dates). The season this year is going to consist of 3 - 4 shows (look for an email with all the production details in the next few days) and we’ll be auditioning all the shows at this time.

Books: the dark side?

I remember yearning to read, and write. One of my best Christmas presents ever was a set of Disney books on tape (yeah, cassette tape, that's right) that chimed when it was time to turn the page. I read those things until the books fell apart, and got to know a lot of great fairy tales.

Now, humour me for a minute and watch this clip from "Good Will Hunting." They're talking about soul mates and Will is giving the list of authors he counts as soul mates. Then read this column by Rick Salutin and you really see where Robin Williams is coming from. Great thinking, great writing.

Too bad I'm not there in person for the dialogue. I think there's something to be said for oral traditions, and I think we have a strong one here. There's no doubt we have problems with literacy and I'm not saying that's not important; however, the flip side is we have people whose skill at storytelling needs to be heard, not read. Old school, campfire-style.

Bach, mein freude

I've been reading a lot about climate change and peak oil. One man was asked what gave him hope in the face of considering the bleak statistics. Apparently he paused for a minute and then replied: Bach.

Read about the first replica of a Bach-era organ on this side of the Atlantic. I've always said, if I could go back in time to one place, it would be mass at Bach's church. To see the master at the keyboard, improvising a fugue or conducting yet another (almost) brand-new cantata, and hear the mammoth machine sing at his behest, now you're talking!

A change is gonna come

These days I am thinking about the industrial way of living - working away from home, driving everywhere, being stressed out, angry and demoralized because of our schedules, eating food shipped across the globe, buying everything instead of making things, standardization, not having time for social relationships, the elevation of 'knowledge' over 'wisdom.' The list of ways industrialism impacts our lives is huge.

At the same time, I am realizing that we are in the twilight of the industrial age - with oil running low, climate change on the horizon, and many people wondering if this hyper consumer state is the 'it' we have been waiting for. We're told we're rich but we don't always feel rich. The human needs below the surface aren't satisfied by the latest greatest gadget.

You had a choice, sir

This is one of the most famous lines in Canadian political history, when Brian Mulroney turned the tables on John Turner during an election debate.

Read this story of the Halifax NDP MP who is using her 'ten percenters' to advertise art exhibits in her home riding. Typically MP's use these pamphlets to attack the 'other guys' and they're usually Rush Limbaugh-type arguments.

It's about time someone used her power for good. We need more creative people like Meghan Leslie in the House of Commons. Good ideas don't need to cost money.

And on the flip side

An anonymous donor gives free Turkey dinner and a concert to 1000 people in need. Good stories deserve to be re-told.

Information is power

Here's a great video from the courageous journalist Amy Goodman. If you haven't heard of her, take some time to check her out. She tells it like it is.

As you have probably gathered, I am watching this NB Power thing very closely. Most mornings I read the Telegraph Journal online and I am disgusted at their editorial pages lately. They seem to think most New Brunswickers are too dumb to 'see the truth' about this deal, and their condescension is nauseating. I find it sickening that they only seem to parrot what the Liberal PR firms are saying, without fact checking or giving print space to other viewpoints, such as the AIMS report.

Amy Goodman says the first credo of journalists should be 'follow the money.' The TJ certainly isn't doing that in this case and they are doing a disservice to all their readers. Super thumbs down to them.

Weekend ahoy!

For those who truly do work for the weekend, two pieces about pirates, and one about thieves.

Enjoy ye olde nerdy choir cartoon below, and read this story about a young man in Ottawa who actually tried to start a pirate radio station. No doubt he would have called it W-R-R-R, get it?Ye blasted permits can dampen the souls of the saltiest of sea-faring men.


And, for those who enjoy a good political duel, the latest gauntlet is here. If you're not into long reports, fast forward to the last page and read the summary. Not to sound like a country song, but they get the transmission lines, we get the shaft.