For those of you who miss John King's 'magic wall' -and don't pretend you don't know what I'm talking about - here's a map showing the Unemployment rates in all counties in the U.S.. Interestingly, you can also change it to reflect manufacturing centres, rural areas. Lots of fun for those of us who like to look at the big picture. Just don't expect me to appear via hologram.
And here's an excerpt from Kunstler's ever-cheery website, where he prophesies that the next major meltdowns will involve both farming and oil markets. I hadn't really thought about the link between tight capital markets and corporate farming, but here's what he says:
The net effect of the failures in banking is that a lot of people have less money than they expected they would have a year ago. This is bad enough, given our habits and practices of modern life. But what happens when farming collapses? The prospect for that is closer than most of us might realize. The way we produce our food has been organized at a scale that has ruinous consequences, not least its addiction to capital. Now that banking is in collapse, capital will be extremely scarce. Nobody in the cities reads farm news, or listens to farm reports on the radio. Guess what, though: we are entering the planting season. It will be interesting to learn how many farmers "out there" in the Cheez Doodle belt are not able to secure loans for this year's crop.
My guess is that the disorder in agriculture will be pretty severe this year, especially since some of the world's most productive places -- California, northern China, Argentina, the Australian grain belt -- are caught in extremes of drought on top of capital shortages. If the US government is going to try to make remedial policy for anything, it better start with agriculture, to promote local, smaller-scaled farming using methods that are much less dependent on oil byproducts and capital injections.
Last year, most farms in Canada lost money. So, if lending guidelines tighten, are farmers going to be able to borrow more? It makes you wonder. The other thing is, I don't think we've seen the end of layoffs yet, and I think Canada is just beginning to feel the effects. Let's just say I will be doing some hard thinking about my food supply and whether or not to fill up that vacant cold-room in the basement. Panic or not, prices are only going to rise this year.
But, before you get all depressed, here's a great video of Willie Nelson and Ray Charles singing "Seven Spanish Angels." Just because I like it.
Wednesday, March 04, 2009
Saturday, February 28, 2009
The right tool for the job
I've been feeling a little skittish about the blog lately, which is unusual for me. I normally blog out of a need to organize my thoughts in print (virtual print, I guess), and because I love sharing interesting bits of information. I've got a few larger ideas mulling about but I am having difficulty getting them to speak....we'll see if the March break can alleviate the malaise.
In the meantime, here's a snappy little piece about the cultural, historical and technological differences between ballpoint pens and fountain pens. I don't know about you but when I am writing (and I still love the sensation of putting pen to paper, despite this blog) I need a good pen. Not necessarily an expensive pen, but one that writes with ease and discharges a relatively equal amount of ink. I hate that blotchy, clotted writing that's the product of a Bic gone bad. I would much prefer a good sharp pencil to a lousy pen.
But then again, the story goes that in the 1960's, NASA spent millions of dollars engineering a pen that would write upside down in space. Apparently the Russians took pencils. Go figure.
In the meantime, here's a snappy little piece about the cultural, historical and technological differences between ballpoint pens and fountain pens. I don't know about you but when I am writing (and I still love the sensation of putting pen to paper, despite this blog) I need a good pen. Not necessarily an expensive pen, but one that writes with ease and discharges a relatively equal amount of ink. I hate that blotchy, clotted writing that's the product of a Bic gone bad. I would much prefer a good sharp pencil to a lousy pen.
But then again, the story goes that in the 1960's, NASA spent millions of dollars engineering a pen that would write upside down in space. Apparently the Russians took pencils. Go figure.
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
The real disturbia
Check out this story on the 500% increase in prison construction in the USA. Apparently the new economic stimulus bill contains $800 million in funds for more jails, but cuts the money allotted for schools. And it turns out many of these prisons are housing children - some of whom are tried without lawyers. Freaky.
Monday, February 16, 2009
Not a very good year, I'd say.
This photo of a sherriff in Cleveland was recently named photo of the year for 2008. He is checking a foreclosed house to make sure the owners have left.
Thursday, February 05, 2009
The insignificant cosmic overlap
I don't know if you read that long post below (about literature), but I checked to see which book Yann Martel sent Harper this week and here's what he had posted:
It turns out Barack Obama is a reader, a big reader. And the books he has read and cherished have not only been practical texts that someone interested in governance would likely favour. No, he also likes poetry, fiction, philosophy: the Bible, Shakespeare’s tragedies, Melville, Toni Morrison, Doris Lessing, the poets Elizabeth Alexander and Derek Walcott, the philosophers Reinhold Niebuhr and St. Augustine, and many more. They’ve formed his oratory, his thinking, his very being. He’s a man-built-by-words and he has impressed the whole world.
I would sincerely recommend that you read Gilead before you meet President Obama on February 19th. For two people who are meeting for the first time, there’s nothing like talking about a book that both have read to create a common ground and a sense of intimacy, of knowing the other in a small but important way. After all, to like the same book implies a similar emotional response to it, a shared recognition of the world reflected in it. This is assuming, of course, that you like the book.
Apparently Martel and I read that same article in the New York Times and reached similar conclusions - that Obama's worldview and eloquence owe a lot to his literary heritage. Of course, this coincidence has me creeped out and thrilleded all at the same time.
Have you seen the movie "Waking Life?" There's this one scene where two characters are talking about how similar intellectual events in history seemed to happen simultaneously on opposite sides of the world. In a time before airplanes and email. This makes me wonder if that could still be possible, and I hope that it is. I don't know if that's where the 'collective unconscious' might come from, but if sure is interesting to think about!
It turns out Barack Obama is a reader, a big reader. And the books he has read and cherished have not only been practical texts that someone interested in governance would likely favour. No, he also likes poetry, fiction, philosophy: the Bible, Shakespeare’s tragedies, Melville, Toni Morrison, Doris Lessing, the poets Elizabeth Alexander and Derek Walcott, the philosophers Reinhold Niebuhr and St. Augustine, and many more. They’ve formed his oratory, his thinking, his very being. He’s a man-built-by-words and he has impressed the whole world.
I would sincerely recommend that you read Gilead before you meet President Obama on February 19th. For two people who are meeting for the first time, there’s nothing like talking about a book that both have read to create a common ground and a sense of intimacy, of knowing the other in a small but important way. After all, to like the same book implies a similar emotional response to it, a shared recognition of the world reflected in it. This is assuming, of course, that you like the book.
Apparently Martel and I read that same article in the New York Times and reached similar conclusions - that Obama's worldview and eloquence owe a lot to his literary heritage. Of course, this coincidence has me creeped out and thrilleded all at the same time.
Have you seen the movie "Waking Life?" There's this one scene where two characters are talking about how similar intellectual events in history seemed to happen simultaneously on opposite sides of the world. In a time before airplanes and email. This makes me wonder if that could still be possible, and I hope that it is. I don't know if that's where the 'collective unconscious' might come from, but if sure is interesting to think about!
Sunday, February 01, 2009
Did somebody say breakfast?
Apparently a campaign is afoot to appoint an official "White House Farmer." I think this is a splendid idea, especially after listening to the first two parts of Gwynne Dyer's "Climate Wars" series on CBC Radio. Ahh, Ideas, what would I do without thee?
Dyer says some frightening and enlightening things about how our changing climate will affect food supplies and political stability around the world. His explanation of climate change denial is pretty interesting, too.
In any case, North Americans are out of touch with their food supply, and any of these worthy nominees would improve the current situation. Here's the bio of Alice Waters:
Alice Waters was born on April 28,1944, in Chatham, New Jersey. She graduated from the University of California at Berkeley in 1967 with a degree in French Cultural Studies, and trained at the Montessori School in London before spending a seminal year traveling in France. Alice opened Chez Panisse in 1971, serving a single fixed-price menu that changes daily. The set menu format remains at the heart of Alice's philosophy of serving only the highest quality products, only when they are in season. Over the course of three decades, Chez Panisse has developed a network of mostly local farmers and ranchers whose dedication to sustainable agriculture assures Chez Panisse a steady supply of pure and fresh ingredients. Alice is a strong advocate for farmer's markets and for sound and sustainable agriculture. In 1996, in celebration of the restaurant's twenty-fifth anniversary, she created the Chez Panisse Foundation to help underwrite cultural and educational programs such as the one at the Edible Schoolyard that demonstrate the transformative power of growing, cooking, and sharing food.
Food is one of life's greatest joys, in addition to being a key part of national and global security. It's also one of humanity's foremost needs, and no amount of wishful thinking will create peace and progress if people go hungry.
Dyer says some frightening and enlightening things about how our changing climate will affect food supplies and political stability around the world. His explanation of climate change denial is pretty interesting, too.
In any case, North Americans are out of touch with their food supply, and any of these worthy nominees would improve the current situation. Here's the bio of Alice Waters:
Alice Waters was born on April 28,1944, in Chatham, New Jersey. She graduated from the University of California at Berkeley in 1967 with a degree in French Cultural Studies, and trained at the Montessori School in London before spending a seminal year traveling in France. Alice opened Chez Panisse in 1971, serving a single fixed-price menu that changes daily. The set menu format remains at the heart of Alice's philosophy of serving only the highest quality products, only when they are in season. Over the course of three decades, Chez Panisse has developed a network of mostly local farmers and ranchers whose dedication to sustainable agriculture assures Chez Panisse a steady supply of pure and fresh ingredients. Alice is a strong advocate for farmer's markets and for sound and sustainable agriculture. In 1996, in celebration of the restaurant's twenty-fifth anniversary, she created the Chez Panisse Foundation to help underwrite cultural and educational programs such as the one at the Edible Schoolyard that demonstrate the transformative power of growing, cooking, and sharing food.
Food is one of life's greatest joys, in addition to being a key part of national and global security. It's also one of humanity's foremost needs, and no amount of wishful thinking will create peace and progress if people go hungry.
Saturday, January 31, 2009
Letting the fox guard the henhouse
Did somebody say JDI? Apparently Premier Graham has taken to heart Mr. Irving's suggestions for New Brunswick's "wood supply issues."
This is really just a fancy way of saying that one of our country's richest men (whose family is technically not headquartered in Saint John, but in Bermuda, where they pay no corporate tax), has just told us how to run our Crown Lands. The amount of protected areas is down, and the amount of tree plantations is up.
Be outraged, in this place.
The last report on Crown Lands included a survey saying over 90% of New Brunswickers want more input into forestry policy and management. Then the government cancelled the public consultations to follow-up on those recommendations. There was never any explanation for that cancellation - it appears now that some recommendations are more equal than others.
Does the government really think this is going to be good for New Brunswickers? The reality is we already have the most mechanized forestry industry in the country. We have a lot of people working in forestry, but in terms of the volume of wood processed, we employ the least people per unit produced. More tree farms aren't good for small woodlot owners, or small mills.
Guess whose bottom line they might actually improve?
Winner of today's quiz gets a free copy of the Telegraph Journal.
This is really just a fancy way of saying that one of our country's richest men (whose family is technically not headquartered in Saint John, but in Bermuda, where they pay no corporate tax), has just told us how to run our Crown Lands. The amount of protected areas is down, and the amount of tree plantations is up.
Be outraged, in this place.
The last report on Crown Lands included a survey saying over 90% of New Brunswickers want more input into forestry policy and management. Then the government cancelled the public consultations to follow-up on those recommendations. There was never any explanation for that cancellation - it appears now that some recommendations are more equal than others.
Does the government really think this is going to be good for New Brunswickers? The reality is we already have the most mechanized forestry industry in the country. We have a lot of people working in forestry, but in terms of the volume of wood processed, we employ the least people per unit produced. More tree farms aren't good for small woodlot owners, or small mills.
Guess whose bottom line they might actually improve?
Winner of today's quiz gets a free copy of the Telegraph Journal.
Monday, January 26, 2009
Friday, January 23, 2009
The Compassionate Heart of Literature
What does the literary background/orientation of a political leader tell us? And why, in times of crisis, do writers emerge to lead troubled nations?
These questions preoccupy me after watching Barack Obama's transformation from first-term senator to president of the world's most powerful nation - an ascension that would have been impossible without his muscular rhetoric.
His lofty speeches repudiate empty corporate-speak and his elegant elocution is a welcome contrast to George W. Bush's habitual mangling of the English language. Obama is a voracious reader, and has devoured the writings of Shakespeare,Ellison, Nietzsche, Abe Lincoln and hundreds more. It’s no wonder he sounds so sophisticated.
Language is power, and Obama's political campaign was successful despite all odds because of he could envision a 'more perfect union' and convince people that that union was not only achievable, but imminent. As a writer and reader, he expressed the outrage of many marginalized Americans but tempered it with a sense of 'hope' that their country could change for the better.
Subsequently, Obama's two books returned to the best-seller lists, and his astonishing fundraising success relied in large part on his silver tongue. He recruited the support of countless Americans - people who work but can't get ahead, people who are sick of corruption and patronage in government, people who can't improve their lives because of financial hardship, people who are angry at predatory corporations.
Similarly, after the Czech people decided to be rid of their Soviet overlords, they elected Vaclav Havel, poet, playwright and essayist. He, too, properly understood the power of words, and his inaugural address paralleled (and pre-dated) Obama's depiction of a troubled nation, largely run by liars. He began:
My dear fellow citizens,
For forty years you heard from my predecessors on this day different variations on the same theme: how our country was flourishing, how many million tons of steel we produced, how happy we all were, how we trusted our government, and what bright perspectives were unfolding in front of us.
I assume you did not propose me for this office so that I, too, would lie to you.
Our country is not flourishing. The enormous creative and spiritual potential of our nations is not being used sensibly. Entire branches of industry are producing goods that are of no interest to anyone, while we are lacking the things we need. A state which calls itself a workers' state humiliates and exploits workers. Our obsolete economy is wasting the little energy we have available. A country that once could be proud of the educational level of its citizens spends so little on education that it ranks today as seventy-second in the world. We have polluted the soil, rivers and forests bequeathed to us by our ancestors, and we have today the most contaminated environment in Europe. Adults in our country die earlier than in most other European countries.
No amount of winking and 'you-betchas' is going to counter the cold reality that people feel when they are being misused.
Although politicians often bully language to meet their ends, rarely does a man or woman with a literary heart seize our attention while maintaining political power. And we might assume that writers are immune from the crassness of politics, but transformative politicians understand that "robust language" is indispensable in rallying people to their side.
So, why do 'literary' leaders appear at the fore during crises? I suspect it's the act of reading, coupled with the critical thinking skills that writing requires.
I'm not normally one of those 'reading, writing and arithmetic' types, but to read fiction is to enter a wrestling match with other people's thoughts, feelings and experiences. Writing calls us to organize our thoughts and justify our opinions. Literature is not merely a pleasant way to idle away an afternoon. It is a method of engendering compassion, which, as Karen Armstrong reminds us, means 'the act of feeling with the other.' Com-passion.
This unity with others is precisely what Obama proposed, and exactly what he needed in order to win in a divided electorate. Contrast his approach with George Bush's divisive and ignorant goverment. Bush lacked compassion, and his non-plussed response to Hurricane Katrina is only the first example that comes to mind. Someone who spends long periods of time training his or her mind to experience the thoughts, feelings, tragedies and celebrations of other people would be more likely to respond quickly to such an immense disaster.
Which brings me to Canada. Stephen Harper is known neither for his love of literature nor for his compassion. His initial reaction to the global economic crisis was not to empathize with people about to lose their homes or retirements or live savings, it was to portray the disaster as a good time to buy stocks. Harper continues to antagonize Canadian artists, and has even provoked the ire of Booker-prize winning author Yann Martel. Martel sends Harper a book every two weeks, and publishes the list on his website.
On the horizon, watching all of this is Michael Ignatieff, author of numerous books and descendent of grandfather and great-grandfather who worked under Russian czars Alexander II and Alexander III. Ignatieff's writings have been called everything from dazzling to arrogant. Whether he is successful in taking a page from Obama's book remains to be seen.
In the meantime, Obama has repudiated the petty cronyism of the Bush years, demonstrating that after eight years of organized cruelty, it is once again cool to be kind. Let's hope he continues to read with ferocity, and to use language to uplift those who need it most.
These questions preoccupy me after watching Barack Obama's transformation from first-term senator to president of the world's most powerful nation - an ascension that would have been impossible without his muscular rhetoric.
His lofty speeches repudiate empty corporate-speak and his elegant elocution is a welcome contrast to George W. Bush's habitual mangling of the English language. Obama is a voracious reader, and has devoured the writings of Shakespeare,Ellison, Nietzsche, Abe Lincoln and hundreds more. It’s no wonder he sounds so sophisticated.
Language is power, and Obama's political campaign was successful despite all odds because of he could envision a 'more perfect union' and convince people that that union was not only achievable, but imminent. As a writer and reader, he expressed the outrage of many marginalized Americans but tempered it with a sense of 'hope' that their country could change for the better.
Subsequently, Obama's two books returned to the best-seller lists, and his astonishing fundraising success relied in large part on his silver tongue. He recruited the support of countless Americans - people who work but can't get ahead, people who are sick of corruption and patronage in government, people who can't improve their lives because of financial hardship, people who are angry at predatory corporations.
Similarly, after the Czech people decided to be rid of their Soviet overlords, they elected Vaclav Havel, poet, playwright and essayist. He, too, properly understood the power of words, and his inaugural address paralleled (and pre-dated) Obama's depiction of a troubled nation, largely run by liars. He began:
My dear fellow citizens,
For forty years you heard from my predecessors on this day different variations on the same theme: how our country was flourishing, how many million tons of steel we produced, how happy we all were, how we trusted our government, and what bright perspectives were unfolding in front of us.
I assume you did not propose me for this office so that I, too, would lie to you.
Our country is not flourishing. The enormous creative and spiritual potential of our nations is not being used sensibly. Entire branches of industry are producing goods that are of no interest to anyone, while we are lacking the things we need. A state which calls itself a workers' state humiliates and exploits workers. Our obsolete economy is wasting the little energy we have available. A country that once could be proud of the educational level of its citizens spends so little on education that it ranks today as seventy-second in the world. We have polluted the soil, rivers and forests bequeathed to us by our ancestors, and we have today the most contaminated environment in Europe. Adults in our country die earlier than in most other European countries.
No amount of winking and 'you-betchas' is going to counter the cold reality that people feel when they are being misused.
Although politicians often bully language to meet their ends, rarely does a man or woman with a literary heart seize our attention while maintaining political power. And we might assume that writers are immune from the crassness of politics, but transformative politicians understand that "robust language" is indispensable in rallying people to their side.
So, why do 'literary' leaders appear at the fore during crises? I suspect it's the act of reading, coupled with the critical thinking skills that writing requires.
I'm not normally one of those 'reading, writing and arithmetic' types, but to read fiction is to enter a wrestling match with other people's thoughts, feelings and experiences. Writing calls us to organize our thoughts and justify our opinions. Literature is not merely a pleasant way to idle away an afternoon. It is a method of engendering compassion, which, as Karen Armstrong reminds us, means 'the act of feeling with the other.' Com-passion.
This unity with others is precisely what Obama proposed, and exactly what he needed in order to win in a divided electorate. Contrast his approach with George Bush's divisive and ignorant goverment. Bush lacked compassion, and his non-plussed response to Hurricane Katrina is only the first example that comes to mind. Someone who spends long periods of time training his or her mind to experience the thoughts, feelings, tragedies and celebrations of other people would be more likely to respond quickly to such an immense disaster.
Which brings me to Canada. Stephen Harper is known neither for his love of literature nor for his compassion. His initial reaction to the global economic crisis was not to empathize with people about to lose their homes or retirements or live savings, it was to portray the disaster as a good time to buy stocks. Harper continues to antagonize Canadian artists, and has even provoked the ire of Booker-prize winning author Yann Martel. Martel sends Harper a book every two weeks, and publishes the list on his website.
On the horizon, watching all of this is Michael Ignatieff, author of numerous books and descendent of grandfather and great-grandfather who worked under Russian czars Alexander II and Alexander III. Ignatieff's writings have been called everything from dazzling to arrogant. Whether he is successful in taking a page from Obama's book remains to be seen.
In the meantime, Obama has repudiated the petty cronyism of the Bush years, demonstrating that after eight years of organized cruelty, it is once again cool to be kind. Let's hope he continues to read with ferocity, and to use language to uplift those who need it most.
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
more on this later...
A study of ten Chicago neighbourhoods using network analysis revealed several key supports that helped artists connect with audiences and other artists. One of these supports was “space resources – which included varied access to live/work space for making art aswell as varied access to public, private and commercial space for art presentations, exhibitions,festivals, parades, murals and facilities” (Grams, 2004, p. 14).
Other assets that were identified as partof some “circuits” were historic sites and public art that helped communities codify their identities,community-based art service activities for local children and families, and employment opportunities provided to local residents by non-profit cultural organizations (pp. 16-19).
This study also showedthat there were three mechanisms through which arts organizations leveraged assets for neighbourhood improvement: 1) by connecting people to local and non-local resources, 2) by enabling local problem-solving, and 3) by building social relationships among the different sectors of the community (Stern & Seifert, 2007, p. 45).
Other assets that were identified as partof some “circuits” were historic sites and public art that helped communities codify their identities,community-based art service activities for local children and families, and employment opportunities provided to local residents by non-profit cultural organizations (pp. 16-19).
This study also showedthat there were three mechanisms through which arts organizations leveraged assets for neighbourhood improvement: 1) by connecting people to local and non-local resources, 2) by enabling local problem-solving, and 3) by building social relationships among the different sectors of the community (Stern & Seifert, 2007, p. 45).
Monday, January 05, 2009
Dealing With Chinese Crowds: A Primer for Canadians
As promised, here's a look at boarding a plane (or waiting in any kind of line), Chinese style.
When a crowd assembles - and it's always a crowd in China - people jockey continuously for position, mostly maintained by elbowing and crowding together in the most advantageous place. Looking at the others in the crowd is likely to be interpreted as a sign of weakness, and while you are busy looking at the other person, they will steal your spot. Lesson learned.
Furthermore, the concept of "personal space" does not exist in a nation of over a billion people. If you are waiting for a subway, bus or train, people will push entirely up against you, especially if you don't look forceful. The only way to move at all is by pushing back. Standing still is impossible because you will be accosted from all sides by people pushing you out of the way. Did I mention there's a lot of pushing? It's a Canadian elementary teacher's nightmare.
People have been asking me - how was China? Strangely, the adjective that comes to mind is Darwinian. Picture this: 240 Chinese people (and about 10 white people, and 1 black person) are waiting for a flight. Fifteen minutes before the plane even calls for boarding, people line up near the door. Rather, they make a large mass near the door because "lining up" doesn't normally occur.
When the doors to the tarmac are opened, people literally run as quickly as possible to board the plane. Why? So they can sit as close as possible to the front. Why? So they can exit the plane as quickly as possible. Why? So they can wait in the next line as quickly as possible. Why? You get the picture. Imagine a group of sugar-starved seven-year-olds at a gigantic Easter egg hunt. Now you get the sense of urgency and lack of social constraint that Chinese crowds exhibit.
They are like those flocks of birds that appear in the fall, weaving and dancing in perfect synchronization, yet seemingly without a leader. I am not saying this to imply the Chinese are uncivilized or to criticize - it goes without saying that we have vast cultural differences from China and experiencing it firsthand was jarring. After a while, however, it becomes just another norm and before you know it, you are pushing onto the bus before the next guy can get in ahead of you.
When a crowd assembles - and it's always a crowd in China - people jockey continuously for position, mostly maintained by elbowing and crowding together in the most advantageous place. Looking at the others in the crowd is likely to be interpreted as a sign of weakness, and while you are busy looking at the other person, they will steal your spot. Lesson learned.
Furthermore, the concept of "personal space" does not exist in a nation of over a billion people. If you are waiting for a subway, bus or train, people will push entirely up against you, especially if you don't look forceful. The only way to move at all is by pushing back. Standing still is impossible because you will be accosted from all sides by people pushing you out of the way. Did I mention there's a lot of pushing? It's a Canadian elementary teacher's nightmare.
People have been asking me - how was China? Strangely, the adjective that comes to mind is Darwinian. Picture this: 240 Chinese people (and about 10 white people, and 1 black person) are waiting for a flight. Fifteen minutes before the plane even calls for boarding, people line up near the door. Rather, they make a large mass near the door because "lining up" doesn't normally occur.
When the doors to the tarmac are opened, people literally run as quickly as possible to board the plane. Why? So they can sit as close as possible to the front. Why? So they can exit the plane as quickly as possible. Why? So they can wait in the next line as quickly as possible. Why? You get the picture. Imagine a group of sugar-starved seven-year-olds at a gigantic Easter egg hunt. Now you get the sense of urgency and lack of social constraint that Chinese crowds exhibit.
They are like those flocks of birds that appear in the fall, weaving and dancing in perfect synchronization, yet seemingly without a leader. I am not saying this to imply the Chinese are uncivilized or to criticize - it goes without saying that we have vast cultural differences from China and experiencing it firsthand was jarring. After a while, however, it becomes just another norm and before you know it, you are pushing onto the bus before the next guy can get in ahead of you.
Sunday, January 04, 2009
So. I took a 'real' vacation . . .
As you can tell, the quality of internet access in Thailand as China was not great. That, and I decided to switch off the urge to be productive or efficient. Scary, I know - apparently that's what a vacation is supposed to be . . .
In any case, it's going to take me a few entries to digest my trip; for today I will share some of the immediate reflections with you, in the form of a list.
1. Travelling ain't easy. I did three consecutive days of airports to get to the beautiful tropical island of Koh Samui, Thailand. It turns out the best cure for jetlag is to clear customs repeatedly, get shoved on to a plane with 240 pushy Chinese people (more on that later) and haul your suitcase from here to Kingdom Come. Which was worth it, by the way.
2. Canadians are incredibly fortunate people. In China I saw a number of elderly or disabled people (some missing limbs) begging in public places. It was absolutely heartbreaking to see the lack of care given to these people. I have always felt fortunate but having seen people in the world living in shacks with no running water, I realize how much I have taken for granted. Not that everyone in Asia is poor, but the majority of people are struggling to make it.
3. The Thai people are as friendly as New Brunswickers, and I wish I could speak their language. Everywhere we went on Koh Samui, people smiled, said hello and waved to us. The island is half rural, half tourist, with visitors outnumbering locals 3:1. The people there are so laid back, they laughed when I asked what time the sun sets. Apparently that's a non-starter for them - a fact which was confirmed to me when the European man behind me at Bangkok airport lamented "The Thai people move at a snail's pace." Good on ya, I say. If I lived on a tropical island I wouldn't hurry, either!!
4. There is a difference between mainland China and Hong Kong. My one regret on this trip was not seeing more of mainland China. We were only there for a day or two between stops to Thailand and Hong Kong. Fortunately, I did get to see the Lohuo Market, which is full of dvd hawkers (an endless patter of "missy, you buy dvd movie") and knock offs of western brands. We took the Canadian approach to bartering - laugh when the price is outrageously high. It worked pretty well - I got some good presents.
5. Don't ever fly Continental via Newark. They will screw up and then deny any wrongdoing.
6. Most people in the world have the same basic concerns. Caring for their families, surviving economically, have a good laugh, eating a nice meal with family and friends, enjoying the sunshine - the best things in life are free.
7. I'm glad I went, but I'm glad to be home. See #1 and #5.
In any case, it's going to take me a few entries to digest my trip; for today I will share some of the immediate reflections with you, in the form of a list.
1. Travelling ain't easy. I did three consecutive days of airports to get to the beautiful tropical island of Koh Samui, Thailand. It turns out the best cure for jetlag is to clear customs repeatedly, get shoved on to a plane with 240 pushy Chinese people (more on that later) and haul your suitcase from here to Kingdom Come. Which was worth it, by the way.
2. Canadians are incredibly fortunate people. In China I saw a number of elderly or disabled people (some missing limbs) begging in public places. It was absolutely heartbreaking to see the lack of care given to these people. I have always felt fortunate but having seen people in the world living in shacks with no running water, I realize how much I have taken for granted. Not that everyone in Asia is poor, but the majority of people are struggling to make it.
3. The Thai people are as friendly as New Brunswickers, and I wish I could speak their language. Everywhere we went on Koh Samui, people smiled, said hello and waved to us. The island is half rural, half tourist, with visitors outnumbering locals 3:1. The people there are so laid back, they laughed when I asked what time the sun sets. Apparently that's a non-starter for them - a fact which was confirmed to me when the European man behind me at Bangkok airport lamented "The Thai people move at a snail's pace." Good on ya, I say. If I lived on a tropical island I wouldn't hurry, either!!
4. There is a difference between mainland China and Hong Kong. My one regret on this trip was not seeing more of mainland China. We were only there for a day or two between stops to Thailand and Hong Kong. Fortunately, I did get to see the Lohuo Market, which is full of dvd hawkers (an endless patter of "missy, you buy dvd movie") and knock offs of western brands. We took the Canadian approach to bartering - laugh when the price is outrageously high. It worked pretty well - I got some good presents.
5. Don't ever fly Continental via Newark. They will screw up and then deny any wrongdoing.
6. Most people in the world have the same basic concerns. Caring for their families, surviving economically, have a good laugh, eating a nice meal with family and friends, enjoying the sunshine - the best things in life are free.
7. I'm glad I went, but I'm glad to be home. See #1 and #5.
Saturday, December 13, 2008
Heads up
I am leaving for China and Thailand soon - I'll be gone for two weeks. I am going to attempt to blog parts of the trip. How successful I am depends on the quality of internet access - in the meantime, take time to check out my links. There's a lot of good stuff going on locally, and I'm trying to tie it together. If you know of someone/something I've overlooked, please leave a comment so I can add it.
Happy Holidays!
Happy Holidays!
Friday, December 12, 2008
All hail, the living
It's been an up-and-down week. This dark time of year can be difficult - you probably already know that. On Wednesday I played for the choir and congregation at the celebration of the life of a young woman who recently passed on from cancer. It was a beautiful expression of gratitude, especially considering how easily the tsunami of grief can overcome us.
So I've been giving thanks for the small things - children and their zest for life, chocolate, and quiet, restful time at home. And I've been thinking about how these small things create our lives, make them meaningful, and sustain us when jobs, status and money are strikingly irrelevant.
Then I came across this beautiful slideshow of medieval art. The Met Museum in New York City has recently renovated the gallery containing works of art from the years 1050-1300. Rarely do we rarely study or discuss these "Dark Ages," but the works are so beautiful, using painting, sculpture and every day objects to communicate Biblical stories.
I am deeply moved by things and people that express the mysterious joy of being alive. Such as Elliott Carter's premiering a brand new work at age 100. As the article says, "when Mozart was his age, he had been dead for 65 years." Regardless of how long I live, I hope I'm able to cultivate the qualities that make me most human - curiosity, passion, laughter and compassion for other living beings. To quote the Bard:
What a piece of work is a man, how noble in reason,
how infinite in faculties,
in form and moving how express and admirable,
in action how like an angel,
in apprehension how like a god!
the beauty of the world, the paragon of animals.
~Hamlet, Act II, Scene ii
So I've been giving thanks for the small things - children and their zest for life, chocolate, and quiet, restful time at home. And I've been thinking about how these small things create our lives, make them meaningful, and sustain us when jobs, status and money are strikingly irrelevant.
Then I came across this beautiful slideshow of medieval art. The Met Museum in New York City has recently renovated the gallery containing works of art from the years 1050-1300. Rarely do we rarely study or discuss these "Dark Ages," but the works are so beautiful, using painting, sculpture and every day objects to communicate Biblical stories.
I am deeply moved by things and people that express the mysterious joy of being alive. Such as Elliott Carter's premiering a brand new work at age 100. As the article says, "when Mozart was his age, he had been dead for 65 years." Regardless of how long I live, I hope I'm able to cultivate the qualities that make me most human - curiosity, passion, laughter and compassion for other living beings. To quote the Bard:
What a piece of work is a man, how noble in reason,
how infinite in faculties,
in form and moving how express and admirable,
in action how like an angel,
in apprehension how like a god!
the beauty of the world, the paragon of animals.
~Hamlet, Act II, Scene ii
Tuesday, December 09, 2008
The Devil in the Details
Warning: I am about to attempt a nuanced discussion. If you're not the kind of person who likes that, skip directly to the link at the end, and reflect.
Economic stimulus is being hailed as a kind of 'magic bullet' that will save us from the unknown horrors of recession. To be frank, I'm not convinced that a recession in our society would be such a 'bad' event. We are already living well beyond our means and having less might force us to re-evaluate our priorities and live smarter. But that's a digression.
Everyone in the media is talking about infrastructure spending; today the NB government announced its plans. Mostly it consists of building roads with money we don't have. In other words, we are going to pave stuff with money my generation will have to find later. Take a look at this chart from James K Galbraith, grandson of the eminent John Kenneth Galbraith:
It's hard to read, but the chart shows the return for each dollar spent on 'economic stimulus.' The government is the most powerful actor in the economy - they have money and they make the rules, not to mention the power of the central banks they control. So, now they have a choice. They can spend it on food stamps - which would nearly double their $1 investment, or they could issue a corporate tax cut, which would actually take money out of the economy.
You can see that infrastructure spending (such as building roads) is one of the better values, but actually it would be more efficient to extend unemployment benefits. It is highly likely that corporate big-wigs know that this money is about to be shelled out and are lining up to collect their chunk of our tax dollars. The list of projects announced by the NB government will almost certainly be controlled by large corporations - such as those guys at Brun-way, who can't seem to keep the roads around here passable in the winter. The only say regular people will have is whether to apply for and accept a job at a given pay rate. They will have no control over how it is spent.
My question is: wouldn't that money be better spent on addressing poverty issues, such as food, or investing in education? Knowledge is infrastructure, and hiring more teachers, specialists and investing in early childhood education would pay important dividends such as a healthier, better educated citizenry.
It seems bizarre to me - this economic crisis seems to come with the recognition that the government should intervene to help people, but only help people get a job, not help them get a leg up on the things that matter most - education, empowerment and quality of life. The fact that 1 in 6 Canadian children still lives in poverty has been totally lost in the shuffle here, but that's a fact that will be reckoned with as a generation ill-equipped to lead takes the helm. So we've got roads, so what?
And finally, the project list only deals with major cities, in a province that is still almost 50% rural. And in a province where rural industries have taken a pounding in the last few years. What we need is to build rural infrastructure - like a windpower and agricultural co-generation powergrid. Like they've done in Germany, with smashing success. The solution is not to truck all the resources - people and trees and minerals - out of the traditionally rural parts, and send people to work in call centres. We need to find ways to make rural life viable again. And that's going to take creativity and brainpower and dedication.
So, as promised, here's the link for people who skipped the details. Quality of life matters, and in selling out resources and people, we're really selling off our heritage, oftentimes to the lowest bidder. I think we can do better, and we should be trying harder.
Economic stimulus is being hailed as a kind of 'magic bullet' that will save us from the unknown horrors of recession. To be frank, I'm not convinced that a recession in our society would be such a 'bad' event. We are already living well beyond our means and having less might force us to re-evaluate our priorities and live smarter. But that's a digression.
Everyone in the media is talking about infrastructure spending; today the NB government announced its plans. Mostly it consists of building roads with money we don't have. In other words, we are going to pave stuff with money my generation will have to find later. Take a look at this chart from James K Galbraith, grandson of the eminent John Kenneth Galbraith:
It's hard to read, but the chart shows the return for each dollar spent on 'economic stimulus.' The government is the most powerful actor in the economy - they have money and they make the rules, not to mention the power of the central banks they control. So, now they have a choice. They can spend it on food stamps - which would nearly double their $1 investment, or they could issue a corporate tax cut, which would actually take money out of the economy.
You can see that infrastructure spending (such as building roads) is one of the better values, but actually it would be more efficient to extend unemployment benefits. It is highly likely that corporate big-wigs know that this money is about to be shelled out and are lining up to collect their chunk of our tax dollars. The list of projects announced by the NB government will almost certainly be controlled by large corporations - such as those guys at Brun-way, who can't seem to keep the roads around here passable in the winter. The only say regular people will have is whether to apply for and accept a job at a given pay rate. They will have no control over how it is spent.
My question is: wouldn't that money be better spent on addressing poverty issues, such as food, or investing in education? Knowledge is infrastructure, and hiring more teachers, specialists and investing in early childhood education would pay important dividends such as a healthier, better educated citizenry.
It seems bizarre to me - this economic crisis seems to come with the recognition that the government should intervene to help people, but only help people get a job, not help them get a leg up on the things that matter most - education, empowerment and quality of life. The fact that 1 in 6 Canadian children still lives in poverty has been totally lost in the shuffle here, but that's a fact that will be reckoned with as a generation ill-equipped to lead takes the helm. So we've got roads, so what?
And finally, the project list only deals with major cities, in a province that is still almost 50% rural. And in a province where rural industries have taken a pounding in the last few years. What we need is to build rural infrastructure - like a windpower and agricultural co-generation powergrid. Like they've done in Germany, with smashing success. The solution is not to truck all the resources - people and trees and minerals - out of the traditionally rural parts, and send people to work in call centres. We need to find ways to make rural life viable again. And that's going to take creativity and brainpower and dedication.
So, as promised, here's the link for people who skipped the details. Quality of life matters, and in selling out resources and people, we're really selling off our heritage, oftentimes to the lowest bidder. I think we can do better, and we should be trying harder.
Sunday, December 07, 2008
Schools: why not creativity?
Sir Ken Robinson gives a great and funny lecture about how we are only educating people in the head, and "slightly to one side." Thanks to Tracy for telling me about ted.com, home of interesting ideas. I tried posting the video to no avail, so here's the link.
Similarly, Malcolm Gladwell discusses the need for "meaningful work," and the fact that we are not maximizing the talent potential in our society.
Similarly, Malcolm Gladwell discusses the need for "meaningful work," and the fact that we are not maximizing the talent potential in our society.
Saturday, December 06, 2008
Once again, the fool speaks the truth
Not that anybody really believes Rick Mercer is a fool. But the funnyman sees the whole picture, that's right b'y.
Monday, December 01, 2008
Peace, Order and . . . Good Government ?
What a firestorm!
In case you were too wrapped up in ho-ho-ho this weekend, you should be aware that Canada appears to be headed for its first coalition government in 91 years. The Liberals and NDP are attempting to form a government with the support of the Bloc. The Conservatives have been asleep at the wheel since the election (or drunk with imagined power, depending on your perspective).
So, my two cents on the whole situation: It has occurred to me many times watching the Harper government that they are very interested in power but way less interested in governing. Their version of government seems to be to eliminate programs and then blame opposition on "partisanship" - witness the arts cuts and the elimination of subsidies to political parties based on vote share.
They have refused to meet with the press, used RCMP officers to keep people away from the PM at political events and ignored their own new "fixed election" law, ostensibly introduced to ensure stability to the governing process. Lots of reports tell of political-type firings where the Harperites are eliminating civil servants not because of incompetence, but because of ideology. Shades of Newt Gingrich, I think.
For some mysterious reason, Stephen Harper can't seem to deal with anything positive. He can say "no" and advertise moral outrage about a lot of things, but when it comes to building a country and cooperating with other people for the good of the country, he's at a total loss. The reality is that Canada is a huge, unwieldy, regionally and linguistically divided country, and running it requires getting along with most of the people, most of the time.
The question is how long Canadians want to put up with a government that cares more about eliminating political opposition than strengthening the country. Harper's tactics border on the delusional and it's time to get back to reality.
In case you were too wrapped up in ho-ho-ho this weekend, you should be aware that Canada appears to be headed for its first coalition government in 91 years. The Liberals and NDP are attempting to form a government with the support of the Bloc. The Conservatives have been asleep at the wheel since the election (or drunk with imagined power, depending on your perspective).
So, my two cents on the whole situation: It has occurred to me many times watching the Harper government that they are very interested in power but way less interested in governing. Their version of government seems to be to eliminate programs and then blame opposition on "partisanship" - witness the arts cuts and the elimination of subsidies to political parties based on vote share.
They have refused to meet with the press, used RCMP officers to keep people away from the PM at political events and ignored their own new "fixed election" law, ostensibly introduced to ensure stability to the governing process. Lots of reports tell of political-type firings where the Harperites are eliminating civil servants not because of incompetence, but because of ideology. Shades of Newt Gingrich, I think.
For some mysterious reason, Stephen Harper can't seem to deal with anything positive. He can say "no" and advertise moral outrage about a lot of things, but when it comes to building a country and cooperating with other people for the good of the country, he's at a total loss. The reality is that Canada is a huge, unwieldy, regionally and linguistically divided country, and running it requires getting along with most of the people, most of the time.
The question is how long Canadians want to put up with a government that cares more about eliminating political opposition than strengthening the country. Harper's tactics border on the delusional and it's time to get back to reality.
Saturday, November 29, 2008
View from the balcony: teachers needed
The old Carleton County Courthouse is 175 years old this year, and looking fabulous despite its age. It's amazing to think this stately building was being used as a barn barely 30 years ago.
Perched in the balcony, last night I had the pleasure of listening to three young choirs, conducted by Jen Muir and Will Davidson. Less than ten years ago I was a student of Will's and you probably couldn't have paid people to sing in a high school choir. Now, they line up by the dozens to be in musical productions, join the band, and sing in extra-curricular choirs like Jennifer's. It's very exciting not only to see the numbers but to hear the results.
Luckily, these teachers, along with Sam Arnold and Peter McLaughlin, have been around long enough to see the second generation of their students move into conducting and performing. It's not often we go to events where the generations mingle - church being one of the only exceptions. Now that social institutions are fragmented, we send children to school, young adults to teach English overseas, adults to work, the sick and the elderly out of sight. What a tragedy.
Thankfully, last night this wasn't the case. People of all ages gave and enjoyed performances, and I saw the abundance of talent - perhaps more readily evident here because we lack distracting shopping malls and megaplexes. But, as has always been the case in New Brunswick, we don't have enough teachers to develop the gifts of our young people. Every music teacher I know is maxed to the hilt, running six ways from Sunday.
We need to do a better job convincing skilled teachers in every discipline that they are needed here, and that our students are worth the work. We should retain our capable young adults before they get the impression we're not interested and find opportunities elsewhere.
Looking back on a decade as a community musician, I know mentors influenced my decision to stay here and contribute - because of the training and encouragement they provided, and because of the community's willingness to let me try my hand. If we are serious about keeping young people we must put them to work - frequently and as soon as they are able. Allowing them to lead shows that we value their skills and that there is a place here where they can 'make their mark.'
Young people have an incredible amount of energy and motivation - witness the success of the Valley Young Company and the perpetual motion at Fusion cafe. The question is whether we are content to pass that energy on to other people's benefit, or whether we are creative enough to find outlets here, strengthening our own community in the process.
Perched in the balcony, last night I had the pleasure of listening to three young choirs, conducted by Jen Muir and Will Davidson. Less than ten years ago I was a student of Will's and you probably couldn't have paid people to sing in a high school choir. Now, they line up by the dozens to be in musical productions, join the band, and sing in extra-curricular choirs like Jennifer's. It's very exciting not only to see the numbers but to hear the results.
Luckily, these teachers, along with Sam Arnold and Peter McLaughlin, have been around long enough to see the second generation of their students move into conducting and performing. It's not often we go to events where the generations mingle - church being one of the only exceptions. Now that social institutions are fragmented, we send children to school, young adults to teach English overseas, adults to work, the sick and the elderly out of sight. What a tragedy.
Thankfully, last night this wasn't the case. People of all ages gave and enjoyed performances, and I saw the abundance of talent - perhaps more readily evident here because we lack distracting shopping malls and megaplexes. But, as has always been the case in New Brunswick, we don't have enough teachers to develop the gifts of our young people. Every music teacher I know is maxed to the hilt, running six ways from Sunday.
We need to do a better job convincing skilled teachers in every discipline that they are needed here, and that our students are worth the work. We should retain our capable young adults before they get the impression we're not interested and find opportunities elsewhere.
Looking back on a decade as a community musician, I know mentors influenced my decision to stay here and contribute - because of the training and encouragement they provided, and because of the community's willingness to let me try my hand. If we are serious about keeping young people we must put them to work - frequently and as soon as they are able. Allowing them to lead shows that we value their skills and that there is a place here where they can 'make their mark.'
Young people have an incredible amount of energy and motivation - witness the success of the Valley Young Company and the perpetual motion at Fusion cafe. The question is whether we are content to pass that energy on to other people's benefit, or whether we are creative enough to find outlets here, strengthening our own community in the process.
Thursday, November 13, 2008
U.S Trails Cuba in Gender Equality
In a recent United Nations survey comparing gender equality in countries around the world, the United States ranked 27th, above Russia (42nd), China (57th), Brazil (73rd) and India (113th).
But the United States was ranked below Germany (11th), Britain (13th), France (15th), Lesotho (16th), Trinidad and Tobago (19th), South Africa (22nd), Argentina (24th) and Cuba (25th).
----
Some surprising numbers, from the supposedly 'freest' country in the world. Looking at the top three countries (Norway, Finland and Sweden) and the bottom three (Saudi Arabia, Chad and Yemen), one can't help but wonder what role religion plays in all of this. The USA is far more religious than most people care to admit - mega churches make mega decisions there, and have a hold over a large part of public opinion.
The Nordic social democracies are among the least religious countries on the planet, whereas in all of the three bottom countries, Islam is the law. Of course, by that standard China should have done better, so it's more likely a measure of how women are viewed in each country - as a threat to be 'contained' at home, or as humans with potential to contribute socially and economically.
On an unrelated note, I read a great essay by Malcolm Gladwell (author of "The Tipping Point"), arguing that it takes, at minimum, 10 000 hours to be good at anything. Which really makes my 90 hour music-semester classes look ridiculous. But considering the hours a young video gamer puts into his art or how many times a baby falls down before it learns to walk, it seems like a good benchmark.
But the United States was ranked below Germany (11th), Britain (13th), France (15th), Lesotho (16th), Trinidad and Tobago (19th), South Africa (22nd), Argentina (24th) and Cuba (25th).
----
Some surprising numbers, from the supposedly 'freest' country in the world. Looking at the top three countries (Norway, Finland and Sweden) and the bottom three (Saudi Arabia, Chad and Yemen), one can't help but wonder what role religion plays in all of this. The USA is far more religious than most people care to admit - mega churches make mega decisions there, and have a hold over a large part of public opinion.
The Nordic social democracies are among the least religious countries on the planet, whereas in all of the three bottom countries, Islam is the law. Of course, by that standard China should have done better, so it's more likely a measure of how women are viewed in each country - as a threat to be 'contained' at home, or as humans with potential to contribute socially and economically.
On an unrelated note, I read a great essay by Malcolm Gladwell (author of "The Tipping Point"), arguing that it takes, at minimum, 10 000 hours to be good at anything. Which really makes my 90 hour music-semester classes look ridiculous. But considering the hours a young video gamer puts into his art or how many times a baby falls down before it learns to walk, it seems like a good benchmark.
Sunday, November 09, 2008
And now, more thoughts on the 'local'
If you were around last weekend, you might have attended the aRiVA launch at Kerry O'Toole's gallery in Gradton. It was a ton of fun, and the turnout surpassed our expectations. The River Valley Arts Alliance (RiVA) was formed with the belief that local people have real artistic contributions to make, and that people will recognize talent when they see it, regardless of whether it comes from cities or small towns. A major part of the evening was dedicated to redressing the idea that New Brunwsickers are an 'artless' people.
Looking at the more-than-twenty local artists on display, and hearing a fabulous band of happy amateurs, aRiVA celebrated to the joy of being "local" - specific to one place (this place) with concerns that outsiders couldn't quite grasp. To wit, here's James Howard Kuntlser's take on "localism" and the role it will play after peak oil. For Carleton County, a place where people have traditionally been self-reliant crafstmen and women, I think it is an encouraging forecast:
What remains for now is a terrible grandiose inertia among people who really ought to know better: our culture leaders. The cutting edge has become a blunt instrument unsuited to fashioning the patterns of the future. Everything we do from now on will have to be finer in scale, quality, and character. Exercises in irony will no longer be appreciated because there will no longer be a premium paid for declaring ourselves to be ridiculous. The localism of the future will not be a matter of fashion. It will be in the food we eat and the air we breathe, and we’d better start paying attention.
Looking at the more-than-twenty local artists on display, and hearing a fabulous band of happy amateurs, aRiVA celebrated to the joy of being "local" - specific to one place (this place) with concerns that outsiders couldn't quite grasp. To wit, here's James Howard Kuntlser's take on "localism" and the role it will play after peak oil. For Carleton County, a place where people have traditionally been self-reliant crafstmen and women, I think it is an encouraging forecast:
What remains for now is a terrible grandiose inertia among people who really ought to know better: our culture leaders. The cutting edge has become a blunt instrument unsuited to fashioning the patterns of the future. Everything we do from now on will have to be finer in scale, quality, and character. Exercises in irony will no longer be appreciated because there will no longer be a premium paid for declaring ourselves to be ridiculous. The localism of the future will not be a matter of fashion. It will be in the food we eat and the air we breathe, and we’d better start paying attention.
The feminist president?
Bill Clinton was widely touted as 'the first black president,' because he owed his election to the large numbers of African-Americans who voted for him. Now the USA has a real 'black president,' and much has been made of this historic victory. It has been an amazing week to watch. But that being said, the gender undercurrent in this election interests me much more.
The primary battle between Hillary Clinton and Obama was a race to convince women that each candidate understood their issues. Then Sarah Palin entered the picture, and the McCain campaign attempted to convince disgruntled Hillary voters that Barack Obama couldn't be trusted. The issue of who women would vote for was raised repeatedly, largely because the Democrats can't win elections without them.
In his victory speech, Obama thanks his male campaign staff (and running mate) but acknowledges the debts he owes to women in his life. In his victory address, he thanked his wife, grandmother, aunts , mentions his daughters and tells the story of a 106-year old black women as an illustration of how far the USA has come as a country.
In the past, wifes are thanked perfunctorily and daughters look cute and smile for the camera. But I can sense that Obama truly respects women for their contributions and that he sees them as people. This is what feminism set out to achieve - political and economic equality of women.
Michelle Obama was Barack's mentor at the Chicago law firm where he interned after Harvard. He repeatedly asked her out and she repeatedly said "no," on the grounds that it was inappropriate. Now they are moving into the White House, with their two daughters, as partners.
The primary battle between Hillary Clinton and Obama was a race to convince women that each candidate understood their issues. Then Sarah Palin entered the picture, and the McCain campaign attempted to convince disgruntled Hillary voters that Barack Obama couldn't be trusted. The issue of who women would vote for was raised repeatedly, largely because the Democrats can't win elections without them.
In his victory speech, Obama thanks his male campaign staff (and running mate) but acknowledges the debts he owes to women in his life. In his victory address, he thanked his wife, grandmother, aunts , mentions his daughters and tells the story of a 106-year old black women as an illustration of how far the USA has come as a country.
In the past, wifes are thanked perfunctorily and daughters look cute and smile for the camera. But I can sense that Obama truly respects women for their contributions and that he sees them as people. This is what feminism set out to achieve - political and economic equality of women.
Michelle Obama was Barack's mentor at the Chicago law firm where he interned after Harvard. He repeatedly asked her out and she repeatedly said "no," on the grounds that it was inappropriate. Now they are moving into the White House, with their two daughters, as partners.
Saturday, October 11, 2008
MLK, 1967
This segment of a speech by Dr. Martin Luther is from the documentary series "Century of the Self." The connections between psycholanalysis, war, consumer culture, propaganda and public relations are all there. Check it out free online. Bonus points for anyone who can tie the content of this documentary to the recent Wall Street bailout. But I digress. Here's the quote:
Modern psychology has a word that is probably used more than any other word: it is the word 'maladjusted.' It is the ring and cry of modern child psychology: 'maladjusted.' Of course, we all want to live the well-adjusted life in order to avoide neurotic and schizophrenic personalities.
But as I move towards my conclusion, I would like to say to you today, in a very honest manner, that there are some things in our society and some things in her world, for which I am proud to be maladjusted. And I call upon all men of goodwill to be maladjusted to these things until the good society is realized.
I must honestly say to you that I never intend to to adjust myself to racial segregation and discrimination. I never intend to adjust myself to religious bigotry. I never intend to adjust myself to economic conditions that will take necessities from the many to give luxuries to the few, and leave millions of God's children suffocating in an air-tight cage of poverty in the midst of an affluent society.
Modern psychology has a word that is probably used more than any other word: it is the word 'maladjusted.' It is the ring and cry of modern child psychology: 'maladjusted.' Of course, we all want to live the well-adjusted life in order to avoide neurotic and schizophrenic personalities.
But as I move towards my conclusion, I would like to say to you today, in a very honest manner, that there are some things in our society and some things in her world, for which I am proud to be maladjusted. And I call upon all men of goodwill to be maladjusted to these things until the good society is realized.
I must honestly say to you that I never intend to to adjust myself to racial segregation and discrimination. I never intend to adjust myself to religious bigotry. I never intend to adjust myself to economic conditions that will take necessities from the many to give luxuries to the few, and leave millions of God's children suffocating in an air-tight cage of poverty in the midst of an affluent society.
Wednesday, October 08, 2008
Wednesday, October 01, 2008
Hello, October
The MacArthur foundation announced its latest round of geniues - or is that geniui? {Little nerd joke there, for people who enjoy the Latin plurals. Sorry. } On a serious note, these people are engaged in amazing projects, and are now being funded to the tune of 100k per year, for 5 years. I think they should have a MacArthur genius grant for public school teachers. Excellent teachers could be funded by someone other than the government, on the basis of their innovative teaching ideas. Wouldn't that be fun!!
Secondly, read this article in the NewYork Times. Apparently a growing number of French Muslims are sending their children to Catholic schools. It's partially because of the headscarf issue (they're banned in public schools) but also because many Muslim parents want their children to have a quality education away from Muslim extremists.
This is fascinating from a couple of perspectives - consider the bloody hatred inspired by the Crusades, and the ongoing tension between secular western states and Muslims who believe that shari'a ought to be the law of every land. The fact that Muslims are now most free to practice their religion in Catholic schools is pretty mind-bending.
Finally, the scenery in Carleton County is so breathtaking right now that I haven't driven over the speed limit in weeks. Take the 105 between Woodstock and Hartland. It's like watching a lustrous painting come to life, in slow motion. Yes, sir.
Secondly, read this article in the NewYork Times. Apparently a growing number of French Muslims are sending their children to Catholic schools. It's partially because of the headscarf issue (they're banned in public schools) but also because many Muslim parents want their children to have a quality education away from Muslim extremists.
This is fascinating from a couple of perspectives - consider the bloody hatred inspired by the Crusades, and the ongoing tension between secular western states and Muslims who believe that shari'a ought to be the law of every land. The fact that Muslims are now most free to practice their religion in Catholic schools is pretty mind-bending.
Finally, the scenery in Carleton County is so breathtaking right now that I haven't driven over the speed limit in weeks. Take the 105 between Woodstock and Hartland. It's like watching a lustrous painting come to life, in slow motion. Yes, sir.
Thursday, September 25, 2008
Margaret Atwood hits the nail on the head
The post below is not my work (unfortunately!) but expresses thoughts I think she's right about our current government's distaste for arts and culture. The arts are not elitist. They're what keep us from eating grey cardboard cereal and living in grey cardboard houses and painting grey cardboard pictures and worst of all, thinking grey cardboard thoughts.
But enough outta me....
What sort of country do we want to live in? What sort of country do we already live in? What do we like? Who are we? At present, we are a very creative country. For decades, we've been punching above our weight on the world stage - in writing, in popular music and in many other fields. Canada was once a cultural void on the world map, now it's a force. In addition, the arts are a large segment of our economy: The Conference Board estimates Canada's cultural sector generated $46-billion, or 3.8 per cent of Canada's GDP, in 2007. And, according to the Canada Council, in 2003-2004, the sector accounted for an “estimated 600,000 jobs (roughly the same as agriculture, forestry, fishing, mining, oil & gas and utilities combined).”
But we've just been sent a signal by Prime Minister Stephen Harper that he gives not a toss for these facts. Tuesday, he told us that some group called “ordinary people” didn't care about something called “the arts.” His idea of “the arts” is a bunch of rich people gathering at galas whining about their grants. Well, I can count the number of moderately rich writers who live in Canada on the fingers of one hand: I'm one of them, and I'm no Warren Buffett. I don't whine about my grants because I don't get any grants. I whine about other grants - grants for young people, that may help them to turn into me, and thus pay to the federal and provincial governments the kinds of taxes I pay, and cover off the salaries of such as Mr. Harper. In fact, less than 10 per cent of writers actually make a living by their writing, however modest that living may be. They have other jobs. But people write, and want to write, and pack into creative writing classes, because they love this activity – not because they think they'll be millionaires.
Every single one of those people is an “ordinary person.” Mr. Harper's idea of an ordinary person is that of an envious hater without a scrap of artistic talent or creativity or curiosity, and no appreciation for anything that's attractive or beautiful. My idea of an ordinary person is quite different. Human beings are creative by nature. For millenniums we have been putting our creativity into our cultures - cultures with unique languages, architecture, religious ceremonies, dances, music, furnishings, textiles, clothing and special cuisines. “Ordinary people” pack into the cheap seats at concerts and fill theatres where operas are brought to them live. The total attendance for “the arts” in Canada in fact exceeds that for sports events. “The arts” are not a “niche interest.” They are part of being human.
Moreover, “ordinary people” are participants. They form book clubs and join classes of all
kinds - painting, dancing, drawing, pottery, photography - for the sheer joy of it. They sing in choirs, church and other, and play in marching bands. Kids start garage bands and make their own videos and web art, and put their music on the Net, and draw their own graphic novels.
“Ordinary people” have other outlets for their creativity, as well: Knitting and quilting have made comebacks; gardening is taken very seriously; the home woodworking shop is active. Add origami, costume design, egg decorating, flower arranging, and on and on ... Canadians, it seems, like making things, and they like appreciating things that are made.
They show their appreciation by contributing. Canadians of all ages volunteer in vast numbers for local and city museums, for their art galleries and for countless cultural festivals - I think immediately of the Chinese New Year and the Caribana festival in Toronto, but there are so many others. Literary festivals have sprung up all over the country - volunteers set them up and provide the food, and “ordinary people” will drag their lawn chairs into a field - as in Nova Scotia's Read by the Sea - in order to listen to writers both local and national read and discuss their work. Mr. Harper has signalled that as far as he is concerned, those millions of hours of volunteer activity are a waste of time. He holds them in contempt.
I suggest that considering the huge amount of energy we spend on creative activity, to be creative is “ordinary.” It is an age-long and normal human characteristic: All children are born creative. It's the lack of any appreciation of these activities that is not ordinary. Mr. Harper has demonstrated that he has no knowledge of, or respect for, the capacities and interests of “ordinary people.” He's the “niche interest.” Not us.
It's been suggested that Mr. Harper's disdain for the arts is not merely a result of ignorance or a tin ear - that it is “ideologically motivated.” Now, I wonder what could be meant by that? Mr. Harper has said quite rightly that people understand we ought to keep within a budget. But his own contribution to that budget has been to heave the Liberal-generated surplus overboard so we have nothing left for a rainy day, and now, in addition, he wants to jeopardize those 600,000 arts jobs and those billions of dollars they generate for Canadians. What's the idea here? That arts jobs should not exist because artists are naughty and might not vote for Mr. Harper? That Canadians ought not to make money from the wicked arts, but only from virtuous oil? That artists don't all live in one constituency, so who cares? Or is it that the majority of those arts jobs are located in Ontario and Quebec, and Mr. Harper is peeved at those provinces, and wants to increase his ongoing gutting of Ontario - $20-billion a year of Ontario taxpayers' money going out, a dribble grudgingly allowed back in - and spank Quebec for being so disobedient as not to appreciate his magnificence? He likes punishing, so maybe the arts-squashing is part of that: Whack the Heartland.
Or is it even worse? Every budding dictatorship begins by muzzling the artists, because they're a mouthy lot and they don't line up and salute very easily. Of course, you can always get some tame artists to design the uniforms and flags and the documentary about you, and so forth - the only kind of art you might need - but individual voices must be silenced, because there shall be only One Voice: Our Master's Voice. Maybe that's why Mr. Harper began by shutting down funding for our artists abroad. He didn't like the competition for media space.
The Conservative caucus has already learned that lesson. Rumour has it that Mr. Harper's idea of what sort of art you should hang on your wall was signalled by his removal of all pictures of previous Conservative prime ministers from their lobby room - including John A. and Dief the Chief - and their replacement by pictures of none other than Mr. Harper himself. History, it seems, is to begin with him. In communist countries, this used to be called the Cult of Personality. Mr. Harper is a guy who - rumour has it, again - tried to disband the student union in high school and then tried the same thing in college. Destiny is calling him, the way it called Qin Shi Huang, the Chinese emperor who burnt all records of the rulers before himself. It's an impulse that's been repeated many times since, the list is very long. Tear it down and level it flat, is the common motto. Then build a big statue of yourself. Now that would be Art!
Adapted from the 2008 Hurtig Lecture, to be delivered in Edmonton on Oct. 1
But enough outta me....
What sort of country do we want to live in? What sort of country do we already live in? What do we like? Who are we? At present, we are a very creative country. For decades, we've been punching above our weight on the world stage - in writing, in popular music and in many other fields. Canada was once a cultural void on the world map, now it's a force. In addition, the arts are a large segment of our economy: The Conference Board estimates Canada's cultural sector generated $46-billion, or 3.8 per cent of Canada's GDP, in 2007. And, according to the Canada Council, in 2003-2004, the sector accounted for an “estimated 600,000 jobs (roughly the same as agriculture, forestry, fishing, mining, oil & gas and utilities combined).”
But we've just been sent a signal by Prime Minister Stephen Harper that he gives not a toss for these facts. Tuesday, he told us that some group called “ordinary people” didn't care about something called “the arts.” His idea of “the arts” is a bunch of rich people gathering at galas whining about their grants. Well, I can count the number of moderately rich writers who live in Canada on the fingers of one hand: I'm one of them, and I'm no Warren Buffett. I don't whine about my grants because I don't get any grants. I whine about other grants - grants for young people, that may help them to turn into me, and thus pay to the federal and provincial governments the kinds of taxes I pay, and cover off the salaries of such as Mr. Harper. In fact, less than 10 per cent of writers actually make a living by their writing, however modest that living may be. They have other jobs. But people write, and want to write, and pack into creative writing classes, because they love this activity – not because they think they'll be millionaires.
Every single one of those people is an “ordinary person.” Mr. Harper's idea of an ordinary person is that of an envious hater without a scrap of artistic talent or creativity or curiosity, and no appreciation for anything that's attractive or beautiful. My idea of an ordinary person is quite different. Human beings are creative by nature. For millenniums we have been putting our creativity into our cultures - cultures with unique languages, architecture, religious ceremonies, dances, music, furnishings, textiles, clothing and special cuisines. “Ordinary people” pack into the cheap seats at concerts and fill theatres where operas are brought to them live. The total attendance for “the arts” in Canada in fact exceeds that for sports events. “The arts” are not a “niche interest.” They are part of being human.
Moreover, “ordinary people” are participants. They form book clubs and join classes of all
kinds - painting, dancing, drawing, pottery, photography - for the sheer joy of it. They sing in choirs, church and other, and play in marching bands. Kids start garage bands and make their own videos and web art, and put their music on the Net, and draw their own graphic novels.
“Ordinary people” have other outlets for their creativity, as well: Knitting and quilting have made comebacks; gardening is taken very seriously; the home woodworking shop is active. Add origami, costume design, egg decorating, flower arranging, and on and on ... Canadians, it seems, like making things, and they like appreciating things that are made.
They show their appreciation by contributing. Canadians of all ages volunteer in vast numbers for local and city museums, for their art galleries and for countless cultural festivals - I think immediately of the Chinese New Year and the Caribana festival in Toronto, but there are so many others. Literary festivals have sprung up all over the country - volunteers set them up and provide the food, and “ordinary people” will drag their lawn chairs into a field - as in Nova Scotia's Read by the Sea - in order to listen to writers both local and national read and discuss their work. Mr. Harper has signalled that as far as he is concerned, those millions of hours of volunteer activity are a waste of time. He holds them in contempt.
I suggest that considering the huge amount of energy we spend on creative activity, to be creative is “ordinary.” It is an age-long and normal human characteristic: All children are born creative. It's the lack of any appreciation of these activities that is not ordinary. Mr. Harper has demonstrated that he has no knowledge of, or respect for, the capacities and interests of “ordinary people.” He's the “niche interest.” Not us.
It's been suggested that Mr. Harper's disdain for the arts is not merely a result of ignorance or a tin ear - that it is “ideologically motivated.” Now, I wonder what could be meant by that? Mr. Harper has said quite rightly that people understand we ought to keep within a budget. But his own contribution to that budget has been to heave the Liberal-generated surplus overboard so we have nothing left for a rainy day, and now, in addition, he wants to jeopardize those 600,000 arts jobs and those billions of dollars they generate for Canadians. What's the idea here? That arts jobs should not exist because artists are naughty and might not vote for Mr. Harper? That Canadians ought not to make money from the wicked arts, but only from virtuous oil? That artists don't all live in one constituency, so who cares? Or is it that the majority of those arts jobs are located in Ontario and Quebec, and Mr. Harper is peeved at those provinces, and wants to increase his ongoing gutting of Ontario - $20-billion a year of Ontario taxpayers' money going out, a dribble grudgingly allowed back in - and spank Quebec for being so disobedient as not to appreciate his magnificence? He likes punishing, so maybe the arts-squashing is part of that: Whack the Heartland.
Or is it even worse? Every budding dictatorship begins by muzzling the artists, because they're a mouthy lot and they don't line up and salute very easily. Of course, you can always get some tame artists to design the uniforms and flags and the documentary about you, and so forth - the only kind of art you might need - but individual voices must be silenced, because there shall be only One Voice: Our Master's Voice. Maybe that's why Mr. Harper began by shutting down funding for our artists abroad. He didn't like the competition for media space.
The Conservative caucus has already learned that lesson. Rumour has it that Mr. Harper's idea of what sort of art you should hang on your wall was signalled by his removal of all pictures of previous Conservative prime ministers from their lobby room - including John A. and Dief the Chief - and their replacement by pictures of none other than Mr. Harper himself. History, it seems, is to begin with him. In communist countries, this used to be called the Cult of Personality. Mr. Harper is a guy who - rumour has it, again - tried to disband the student union in high school and then tried the same thing in college. Destiny is calling him, the way it called Qin Shi Huang, the Chinese emperor who burnt all records of the rulers before himself. It's an impulse that's been repeated many times since, the list is very long. Tear it down and level it flat, is the common motto. Then build a big statue of yourself. Now that would be Art!
Adapted from the 2008 Hurtig Lecture, to be delivered in Edmonton on Oct. 1
Saturday, September 20, 2008
So many elections, so little time...
For me, politics is like watching a soap opera, except in real time and with metaphorical deaths and resurrections (for the most part). So, with the Canadian and U.S. federal elections, and soon a new PC leader in NB, I can't even keep up, and that's the way I like it.
The Canadian and U.S. elections could hardly be more different - there is a LOT at stake south of the border, and everyone can sense it. The fact that young people, women and voters of colour will decide this election (between an inter-racial ticket or an inter-gender ticket, no less) shows that slowly, the face of politics is changing. To what end, the debate remains.
In Canada, nobody is particularly fired up. It seems we are always going to the polls, and the choices offered for PM this time are lacklustre. A choice between a fractured Liberal party, the mean-spirited Harper Conservatives or tossing your vote to left-wingers or separatists suggests that most votes will be "protest" votes, but for what or against what, we're not exactly sure. Maybe part of the problem is that few Canadians know where they want the country to go next.
So, a couple of interesting links for the political junkies: an interactive map about female politicians in the world . Canada isn't doing so hot, nor is most of the G-8, for that matter. And New Brunswick is one of the worst provinces for female MP's.
Finally, Paul Well's excellent piece on exactly how calculating Stephen Harper is. He's not the ideologically driven man that a lot of critics would have us believe. He's driven by winning, and holding on to power long enough to change Canada. So read this-I wouldn't be surprised if Harper's people are running Census figures on every riding in the country, figuring out exactly whose votes he needs to gain a majority, and focus-grouping the heck out of those demographics to see what promises will win them.
It's almost like the "market-research" mentality has taken over the PMO. In this respect, Harper's campaign bears a remarkable similarity to the debates over how to win swing ridings in Ohio, Pennsylvani and Florida. Whether McCain's selection of a female running mate will turn that tide, we shall see.
The Canadian and U.S. elections could hardly be more different - there is a LOT at stake south of the border, and everyone can sense it. The fact that young people, women and voters of colour will decide this election (between an inter-racial ticket or an inter-gender ticket, no less) shows that slowly, the face of politics is changing. To what end, the debate remains.
In Canada, nobody is particularly fired up. It seems we are always going to the polls, and the choices offered for PM this time are lacklustre. A choice between a fractured Liberal party, the mean-spirited Harper Conservatives or tossing your vote to left-wingers or separatists suggests that most votes will be "protest" votes, but for what or against what, we're not exactly sure. Maybe part of the problem is that few Canadians know where they want the country to go next.
So, a couple of interesting links for the political junkies: an interactive map about female politicians in the world . Canada isn't doing so hot, nor is most of the G-8, for that matter. And New Brunswick is one of the worst provinces for female MP's.
Finally, Paul Well's excellent piece on exactly how calculating Stephen Harper is. He's not the ideologically driven man that a lot of critics would have us believe. He's driven by winning, and holding on to power long enough to change Canada. So read this-I wouldn't be surprised if Harper's people are running Census figures on every riding in the country, figuring out exactly whose votes he needs to gain a majority, and focus-grouping the heck out of those demographics to see what promises will win them.
It's almost like the "market-research" mentality has taken over the PMO. In this respect, Harper's campaign bears a remarkable similarity to the debates over how to win swing ridings in Ohio, Pennsylvani and Florida. Whether McCain's selection of a female running mate will turn that tide, we shall see.
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
The party that wrecked America
If the whole echoes-of the Great-Depression, who-took-the-capital-out-of capitalism thing is catching your attention, continue reading here. It's hard to believe the meltdown going on south of the 49th parallel, except when you stop and consider how long the system has been corrupt.
Consider the scenario of the last few weeks:
1. We are continually being told that high oil prices are a result of "supply and demand."
2. A major hurricane invades the U.S. refinery coast (Gulf Coast, sorry) and the price of gas jumps. Fine.
3. The week after historic and prestigious banks seek bankruptcy protection, the price of oil goes back down. The justification is, 'we need to keep the economy growing."
So, which is it? Is the price of oil controlled by psychological reasoning (ie. what is supposedly 'good' for the economy) or is it actually controlled by supply and demand?
Answers, please, because this rational economy is looking more schizophrenic every day.
Consider the scenario of the last few weeks:
1. We are continually being told that high oil prices are a result of "supply and demand."
2. A major hurricane invades the U.S. refinery coast (Gulf Coast, sorry) and the price of gas jumps. Fine.
3. The week after historic and prestigious banks seek bankruptcy protection, the price of oil goes back down. The justification is, 'we need to keep the economy growing."
So, which is it? Is the price of oil controlled by psychological reasoning (ie. what is supposedly 'good' for the economy) or is it actually controlled by supply and demand?
Answers, please, because this rational economy is looking more schizophrenic every day.
Monday, September 01, 2008
If it's broke, don't fix it
That's right. Because soon, it looks like only the dealer who sold you the car will have the knowledge necessary to fix it. Apparently auto makers are trying to restrict access to diagnostic software and chips necessary to maintaining newer cars. So small garages can forget about working on newer cars.
Boys, my '88 Camry is looking better all the time. Metaphorically, of course.
Boys, my '88 Camry is looking better all the time. Metaphorically, of course.
Thursday, August 28, 2008
On the Diagonal
"I think the city has made it clear over the last number of years that the No. 1 priority is pedestrians. No. 2 is transit, three is cyclists, and four is the car," Mr. Rae said. "... This is an experiment to see if pedestrians are able to benefit from this, and if we are able to get drivers to cope."
Monday, August 25, 2008
Down the Generations
Over the weekend, I came across an interesting idea that, in all of American history, there are basically only four generational types. Of course, these 'personalities' manifest themselves differently according to what is happening in society at the time, but the values, methods and orientations remain largely the same. Like the seasons, they follow each other in an endless cycle.
As a child, I spent a LOT of time with my grandparents and other senior citizens, and have always greatly admired them for determination in the face of hardship and a strong emphasis on community. According to these theorists, both generations are based on the 'Hero' archetype. This reaffirmed a kinship I had always felt, but had no way to explain.
Have a look to see which generation you are, and whether it resonates with you. Considering the Boomers are the "Prophet" archetype, and that their coming-of-age is linked to "sanctifying," I'd say these guys are on to something. Other "Prophet" cohorts have included the Missionary, Puritain and Transcendentalist generations.
On a sad note, work starts again tomorrow so I won't be blogging nearly as much. Thanks for reading this summer and hope you're well, wherever you are. I will continue to keep an eye out for interesting little bits and to enjoy life's mysteries.
As a child, I spent a LOT of time with my grandparents and other senior citizens, and have always greatly admired them for determination in the face of hardship and a strong emphasis on community. According to these theorists, both generations are based on the 'Hero' archetype. This reaffirmed a kinship I had always felt, but had no way to explain.
Have a look to see which generation you are, and whether it resonates with you. Considering the Boomers are the "Prophet" archetype, and that their coming-of-age is linked to "sanctifying," I'd say these guys are on to something. Other "Prophet" cohorts have included the Missionary, Puritain and Transcendentalist generations.
On a sad note, work starts again tomorrow so I won't be blogging nearly as much. Thanks for reading this summer and hope you're well, wherever you are. I will continue to keep an eye out for interesting little bits and to enjoy life's mysteries.
Friday, August 22, 2008
Not free, not school
In lieu of a wonderful camping trip (beautiful weather!) I chose to stay home and enjoy an impromptu trip to a FABULOUS record store in . . . Bangor, Maine. I know - Bangor. You need to check this out-it has a section for everything, including new vinyl, tv on dvd, movies, and playstation games (if that's your bag). Forget the 'outlet shopping.'
My visit to this luscious temple of artistic consumerism secured multiple albums for my increasingly stale cd collection, with an emphasis on live concert recordings. The prizes, in chronological order:
7. Charles Mingus - Mingus AH UM (1958)
6. James Brown - The Apollo Theatre Presents (1962)
5. The Band - Music From Big Pink (1968)
4. Townes Van Zandt - Live at The Old Quarter, Houston, Texas (1973)
3. Alison Krauss & Union Station - Live (2002)
2. Bill Frisell - East/West (2002)
1. Cadence Weapon - Afterparty Babies (2008)
Can you tell I'm excited ??
Before I go to listen to all this great stuff, I have one question: did any substantial music get made in the 80's? Please leave recommendations-I must have been too busy making mudpies and cutting down trees with rusty license plates, because my only musical associations from that era are Tina Turner greatest hits, Cyndi Lauper, and CBC's Video Hits. In the words of Aretha Franklin, "Save me. Somebody save me."
My visit to this luscious temple of artistic consumerism secured multiple albums for my increasingly stale cd collection, with an emphasis on live concert recordings. The prizes, in chronological order:
7. Charles Mingus - Mingus AH UM (1958)
6. James Brown - The Apollo Theatre Presents (1962)
5. The Band - Music From Big Pink (1968)
4. Townes Van Zandt - Live at The Old Quarter, Houston, Texas (1973)
3. Alison Krauss & Union Station - Live (2002)
2. Bill Frisell - East/West (2002)
1. Cadence Weapon - Afterparty Babies (2008)
Can you tell I'm excited ??
Before I go to listen to all this great stuff, I have one question: did any substantial music get made in the 80's? Please leave recommendations-I must have been too busy making mudpies and cutting down trees with rusty license plates, because my only musical associations from that era are Tina Turner greatest hits, Cyndi Lauper, and CBC's Video Hits. In the words of Aretha Franklin, "Save me. Somebody save me."
Thursday, August 21, 2008
Thoughts on food
While listening to this podcast about urban agriculture, I began wondering why our local food bank doesn't contract with local farmers to deliver fresh, nutritious, local produce (including meats) to local families in need.
It seems to me that this is a much healthier, environmentally friendly, sustainable and community-minded way to feed people. For the price of 6 boxes of Kraft Dinner or Hamburger Helper, you could buy a good chunk of REAL food from a farmer.
Why should they wait for donations (let's face it-people often give the items they least like to eat) of corporate food when we have any number of struggling farmers right here in the county. That seems silly to me.
It seems to me that this is a much healthier, environmentally friendly, sustainable and community-minded way to feed people. For the price of 6 boxes of Kraft Dinner or Hamburger Helper, you could buy a good chunk of REAL food from a farmer.
Why should they wait for donations (let's face it-people often give the items they least like to eat) of corporate food when we have any number of struggling farmers right here in the county. That seems silly to me.
Wednesday, August 20, 2008
Gold: It's What's for Breakfast
I have finally figured out why I didn't win 8 Olympic gold medals this year. It's because I can't eat a 5-egg omlette, 3 chocolate chips pancakes and 2 pieces of French toast for breakfast (and a partridge in a pear tree. . .). Apparently Michael Phelps drinks a bucket of Gatorade at every meal. The way I figure it, he must have a small army working to feed him. I can only imagine how loud his tummy must be when it growls. Probably that, too, would set a world record of some kind.
On the subject of medals, congratulations to Matt Clark, whose baseball team won bronze at this year's Canada cup. Not bad for a province of less than a million!
Monday, August 18, 2008
Holy subprime, Batman
If you're interested in the US financial situation, read this article. It's a lengthy interview with an economist at New York University who believes that the US "doesn't have a subprime mortgage system, it has a subprime financial system." Ouch.
Sunday, August 17, 2008
The man behind Can-Lit
No, it's not Northrup Frye, though he is mentioned. And it's not Alice Munro either, who cites him as the single greatest champion of her career when she was an isolated suburban mother, writing perhaps one short story each year. Unbeknownst to me, Robert Weaver encouraged dozens of Canadian authors and poets at a time when the idea of "Canadian Literature" was, according to Margaret Atwood, not only unheard of, but "embarrassing." The podcast is the first in a series "Ideas" - the best program on CBC radio - is doing. Well worth a listen.
On the subject of encouragement, I'd like to dedicate this post to Dr. Jane McLean, English teacher at WHS. Congratulations on the PhD. and thanks for introducing me to the wonderful literature and poetry we have in Canada. And finally, here's Paul Wells on the need for a "Canadian canon" of concert music. Say that five times, fast.
On the subject of encouragement, I'd like to dedicate this post to Dr. Jane McLean, English teacher at WHS. Congratulations on the PhD. and thanks for introducing me to the wonderful literature and poetry we have in Canada. And finally, here's Paul Wells on the need for a "Canadian canon" of concert music. Say that five times, fast.
Saturday, August 16, 2008
Culture Coverage in NB - As elusive as the Eastern Cougar?
Holy Cow.
Today I read the following (Irving) publications: Bugle-Observer, HERE (Fredericton), Telegraph Journal. Out of 60+ pages, less than 5 articles contained significant coverage of NB artists and their work. One notable exception was a short feature of Kyle Cunjak, who (pardon the semi-pun) is a very talented jack of all trades. To be fair, the "Salon" section of the Telegraph contained decent local arts journalism, but it's only once a week.
Still, I think we could do much better, considering that one of those articles was merely a reprint of the press release sent out by this lovely little gallery . Check it out, it's worth seeing. But I refuse to accept the premise that weekly coverage is enough, or that "there's nothing going on." I think there are a lot wonderful artists quietly working away in rural studios, doing great work but receiving very little recognition.
New Brunswickers are not known for trumpeting our best and brightest, despite the fact that we've produced our fair share of nationally and internationally significant artists and thinkers: Northrup Frye, David Adams Richards, Peter & Beth Powning, Freeman Patterson, Millar Brittain, Measha Brueggergosman, Douglas Lochhead, John Peters Humphrey, Wendy Nielson, Lord Beaverbrook, Alden Nowlan, George Stanley.
Without these New Brunswickers, we might have lost WWII, had a totally different Canadian flag, have no UN Universal Declaration of Human Rights, have a totally different perspective on literary criticism, poetry, painting, craft and sculpture etc. etc. And those are only the anglophones-please excuse my ignorance of significant First Nations and Acadian people.
How are we supposed to know who comprises the next generation of artists and thinkers if they don't get any exposure? Sheesh.
Thus ends my rant for the evening. Hope you made it to the end-look up some of those names if you don't know them. And if this is getting to be a bit much for you, check out this little NB comic strip. We might not be mighty, but we know how to laugh at ourselves. I vote we elect this guy as our next Premier.
Today I read the following (Irving) publications: Bugle-Observer, HERE (Fredericton), Telegraph Journal. Out of 60+ pages, less than 5 articles contained significant coverage of NB artists and their work. One notable exception was a short feature of Kyle Cunjak, who (pardon the semi-pun) is a very talented jack of all trades. To be fair, the "Salon" section of the Telegraph contained decent local arts journalism, but it's only once a week.
Still, I think we could do much better, considering that one of those articles was merely a reprint of the press release sent out by this lovely little gallery . Check it out, it's worth seeing. But I refuse to accept the premise that weekly coverage is enough, or that "there's nothing going on." I think there are a lot wonderful artists quietly working away in rural studios, doing great work but receiving very little recognition.
New Brunswickers are not known for trumpeting our best and brightest, despite the fact that we've produced our fair share of nationally and internationally significant artists and thinkers: Northrup Frye, David Adams Richards, Peter & Beth Powning, Freeman Patterson, Millar Brittain, Measha Brueggergosman, Douglas Lochhead, John Peters Humphrey, Wendy Nielson, Lord Beaverbrook, Alden Nowlan, George Stanley.
Without these New Brunswickers, we might have lost WWII, had a totally different Canadian flag, have no UN Universal Declaration of Human Rights, have a totally different perspective on literary criticism, poetry, painting, craft and sculpture etc. etc. And those are only the anglophones-please excuse my ignorance of significant First Nations and Acadian people.
How are we supposed to know who comprises the next generation of artists and thinkers if they don't get any exposure? Sheesh.
Thus ends my rant for the evening. Hope you made it to the end-look up some of those names if you don't know them. And if this is getting to be a bit much for you, check out this little NB comic strip. We might not be mighty, but we know how to laugh at ourselves. I vote we elect this guy as our next Premier.
Friday, August 15, 2008
Still marching . . .
"I think goose stepping morons like yourself should try reading books instead of burning them."
Sean Connery, Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade
Even our local paper has noticed the Harper government's contempt for artists. The consensus around our house this morning is that he is okay with Canada failing to win a single medal in Beijing, and he is okay with the rest of the world knowing absolutely nothing about Canada. What a shame. Then again, Harper thought Newfoundland joined confederation in 1867, so it sounds like he could use some serious education about our country. Even on the science front, Harper is criticized.
More cuts to arts and culture programs were announced this morning, on a Friday, when reporters are unlikely to cover the story. What I don't get is how this obviously business-oriented government fails to understand that exposing Canadian artists abroad brings money back into the country and draws tourists - who would like to have something interesting or unique to do while they're here. That would be like the New York City not funding Broadway because they find the language in Avenue Q objectionable.
One final question: So much of the debate on these issues - bill C-10, the PromArts program, the latest cuts, has been spun using people's supposed resistance to that nasty "F" word. What I want to know is: has Harper ever said 'it," and do his MP's get kicked out of caucus for using it? Does he hold his political strategists accountable for uttering it in meetings?
Somehow I doubt it.
Update: "General radical" Avi Lewis defends the PromArts program.
Sean Connery, Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade
Even our local paper has noticed the Harper government's contempt for artists. The consensus around our house this morning is that he is okay with Canada failing to win a single medal in Beijing, and he is okay with the rest of the world knowing absolutely nothing about Canada. What a shame. Then again, Harper thought Newfoundland joined confederation in 1867, so it sounds like he could use some serious education about our country. Even on the science front, Harper is criticized.
More cuts to arts and culture programs were announced this morning, on a Friday, when reporters are unlikely to cover the story. What I don't get is how this obviously business-oriented government fails to understand that exposing Canadian artists abroad brings money back into the country and draws tourists - who would like to have something interesting or unique to do while they're here. That would be like the New York City not funding Broadway because they find the language in Avenue Q objectionable.
One final question: So much of the debate on these issues - bill C-10, the PromArts program, the latest cuts, has been spun using people's supposed resistance to that nasty "F" word. What I want to know is: has Harper ever said 'it," and do his MP's get kicked out of caucus for using it? Does he hold his political strategists accountable for uttering it in meetings?
Somehow I doubt it.
Update: "General radical" Avi Lewis defends the PromArts program.
Thursday, August 14, 2008
Going loopy
I will admit my bias up front here- I don't have a cellphone and hope I never do. Yes, I realize this puts me at odds with many busy people who rely on their phone to 'stay connected.' But I think this article makes some interesting points about how the phone can actually disconnect us from what is happening in the moment.
Everyone reading this has probably experienced attempting a conversation with someone (a teenager, perhaps?) glued to their cellphone, droning "mm, right, I see" only to suddenly look up at you and declare they have no idea what you're talking about. I think the question is "connected to whom?" Is it a 'net loss' for the human race to communicate using only consonants and eight-word sentences?
Monday, August 11, 2008
Harper's Artless Army Marches On
This week the federal government eliminated over 13 million dollars in arts funding, money that was doled out one plane ticket, one exhibition at a time, to promote Canada's image abroad. Apparently the US spends half a billion annually-is it any wonder the world can't tell us apart?
This government has been an utter disaster on the arts. Thinking about it depresses me-for a supposedly nationalist politician, Harper shows no interest in anything authentically Canadian.
He's too busy thinking about how to eliminate equality challenges under the Charter, win votes in Quebec, and destroy the environment. And please note, I am not politically affiliated, this just makes me crazy...
This government has been an utter disaster on the arts. Thinking about it depresses me-for a supposedly nationalist politician, Harper shows no interest in anything authentically Canadian.
He's too busy thinking about how to eliminate equality challenges under the Charter, win votes in Quebec, and destroy the environment. And please note, I am not politically affiliated, this just makes me crazy...
Saturday, August 09, 2008
Something in the Water
I am pleased to note that 3 out of 5 acts nominated for CBC's "Galaxie Rising Star" award are connected to Carleton County/Western NB. Excellent work, gentlemen. Must be all those potatoes . . . Check out the nominees - the prize is 1500$ cash and a performance at the Harvest Jazz and Blues Fest in Fredericton this fall.
Thursday, August 07, 2008
Good genes?
Interview with Marie-Monique Robin, who just finished making a documentary about Monsanto. You might remember Monsanto from such experiements as PCB's and Agent Orange. Now they provide 90% of the world's genetically modified crops, which they claim is safe for human consumption and the environment.
As Dr. Vandana Shiva notes in the opener, food is the best way to control populations. Learn about the company that controls a large portion of what you eat, and what's floating in the air you breathe.
The doc is "The World According to Monsanto" and the bigwigs there refused to be interviewed for the film. Must be good. . .
And, in unrelated news, here's a tasty column from the Telegraph, pointing out Shawn Graham's lack of a mandate, and his willingness to enact changes not discussed in an election.
Battle of the Kent County premiers.
As Dr. Vandana Shiva notes in the opener, food is the best way to control populations. Learn about the company that controls a large portion of what you eat, and what's floating in the air you breathe.
The doc is "The World According to Monsanto" and the bigwigs there refused to be interviewed for the film. Must be good. . .
And, in unrelated news, here's a tasty column from the Telegraph, pointing out Shawn Graham's lack of a mandate, and his willingness to enact changes not discussed in an election.
Battle of the Kent County premiers.
Tuesday, August 05, 2008
Monday, August 04, 2008
Happy NB Day
Read this article about Nebraska "public power." If people living in cow country can get ahead for the future, why can't we?
Thursday, July 31, 2008
I quit my job
On the occasion of my 99th post, a collection of bits and pieces about work and life. As the daughter of a hard-working Protestant, working is dear to my soul. But at the same time, it depends who I'm working for, and what kind of work it is.
Lots of people have remarked to me that their jobs are interfering with what they'd really like to be doing. Here's an article about a man who works like crazy, but hasn't had a "straight" job in 20 years. And another about a man so desperate to work and provide for his sons that it drove him to tragedy. And finally, the 182 house classic "I Quit My Job" by Old Man Luedecke.
Enjoy, and don't work to hard (or do).
Lots of people have remarked to me that their jobs are interfering with what they'd really like to be doing. Here's an article about a man who works like crazy, but hasn't had a "straight" job in 20 years. And another about a man so desperate to work and provide for his sons that it drove him to tragedy. And finally, the 182 house classic "I Quit My Job" by Old Man Luedecke.
Enjoy, and don't work to hard (or do).
Wednesday, July 23, 2008
Pesticide Consultation
The NB government is asking for public input on the use of cosmetic pesticides. You can use the online questionnnaire, call or email the office.
It's kind of ironic this link is posted not long after a look at what Agent Orange did to the various communities where it was manufactured, tested and applied. Many of the active agents in today's pesticides are chemical relatives of Agent Orange and its ilk. It's time we stopped poisoning ourselves. Add your voice . . .
Saturday, July 12, 2008
And now, a poem
I try to present the world honestly, flaws included. But I think there is a fine line between describing something with ruthless precision, and bringing people to hopelessness. So now, in reply to the Agent Orange post below, I offer a poem by Don McKay.
Some Functions of a Leaf
To whisper. To applaud the wind
and hide the Hermit thrush.
To catch the light
and work the humble spell of photosynthesis
(excuse me, sir, if I might have one word)
by which it's changed to wood.
To wait
willing to feed
and be food.
To die with style:
as the tree retreats inside itself,
shutting off the valves at its
extremities
to starve in Technicolor, then
having served two hours in a children's leaf pile, slowly
stir its vitamins into the earth.
To be the artist of mortality.
Some Functions of a Leaf
To whisper. To applaud the wind
and hide the Hermit thrush.
To catch the light
and work the humble spell of photosynthesis
(excuse me, sir, if I might have one word)
by which it's changed to wood.
To wait
willing to feed
and be food.
To die with style:
as the tree retreats inside itself,
shutting off the valves at its
extremities
to starve in Technicolor, then
having served two hours in a children's leaf pile, slowly
stir its vitamins into the earth.
To be the artist of mortality.
Gagetown, Elmira, Hanoi
There are a lot of unnerving connections between NB and the Vietnam War, at least where chemical defoliants are concerned. It bothers me to see the suffering Agent Orange caused in these three places. Vietnam was a long time ago, but we're paying the price over and over, in cancer, birth defects, spoiled water supplies and more.
It makes me angry to see how people in rural areas and small towns and 'third world countries' (that's what Vietnam would have been called at the time) are completely expendable to powerful people. Let them test their chemicals on their own men, women and children.
Lately I have been thinking about New Brunwswick and colonialism. I see how removed we are from centres of power, how poor the people are (44% of all households make less than 25 000$ per year), how we struggle to educate ourselves and retain our best and brightest. This could be a description of many 'third world countries,' yet we still see ourselves as 'Canadians,' with all the privilege that entails.
It makes me angry to see how people in rural areas and small towns and 'third world countries' (that's what Vietnam would have been called at the time) are completely expendable to powerful people. Let them test their chemicals on their own men, women and children.
Lately I have been thinking about New Brunwswick and colonialism. I see how removed we are from centres of power, how poor the people are (44% of all households make less than 25 000$ per year), how we struggle to educate ourselves and retain our best and brightest. This could be a description of many 'third world countries,' yet we still see ourselves as 'Canadians,' with all the privilege that entails.
Tuesday, July 08, 2008
In other news
A contest is now underway online to determine the most mediocre Canadian. This is gonna be tough . . . greatness is often viewed as 'too American'.
Hot enough for ya?
I don't usually think too much about opinion polls. But this one I found interesting. Despite the fear campaign of Big Oil and their consume! consume! consume! friends, more Canadians believe that 'agressive' action on climate change outweighs the importance of paying less for gasoline.
I think deep down, we know on a global scale we're rich and that we will adjust. If anything, Canadians know what it's like to be taxed. If it's for the general good they will whine but pay up anyway.
That, and I think we are ready for the big governments to step up to the plate and make changes that only they have the power to enforce. Like fuel-efficiency regulations, and mandated emissions reductions, real investments in public transit and incentives for sustainable housing.
The idea that citizens are somehow going to solve this problem with flourescent bulbs is laughable. Governments are the largest actors in most economies, and they know it. We give them powers like taxation to solve problems like this. If only they'd get started. . .
I think deep down, we know on a global scale we're rich and that we will adjust. If anything, Canadians know what it's like to be taxed. If it's for the general good they will whine but pay up anyway.
That, and I think we are ready for the big governments to step up to the plate and make changes that only they have the power to enforce. Like fuel-efficiency regulations, and mandated emissions reductions, real investments in public transit and incentives for sustainable housing.
The idea that citizens are somehow going to solve this problem with flourescent bulbs is laughable. Governments are the largest actors in most economies, and they know it. We give them powers like taxation to solve problems like this. If only they'd get started. . .
Not quite Elizabeth
I have a feeling a mild obsession with photo galleries might be headed my way. You have to admit, the internet has made the text-and-photo display possible in a way that newspapers and books can't. It's much more affordable and isn't like photo books, which are lovely, but how many times will you look at it, really?
So, here's one of a Korean author dressed up in fine English costumes, a la Tudor or Rose or Windsor. As you like it . . .
So, here's one of a Korean author dressed up in fine English costumes, a la Tudor or Rose or Windsor. As you like it . . .
Sunday, June 29, 2008
Cultural Ambassadors
Check out this great slideshow from the New York Times. It's photos from the Cold War when jazz musicians were sent to play music and build rapport with people in other countries, especially countries with strong Soviet influence.
What a fantastic example of diplomacy-sending ordinary musicians to talk about their experiences as citizens. Certainly, as Black Americans, these people weren't going to pretend everything was all bread and roses. Apparently, when the State Department tried to instruct Gillespie about how to respond to questions, he replied "I’ve got 300 years of briefing. I know what they’ve done to us, and I’m not going to make any excuses."
Musicians occupy a special place in society- they transcend a lot of class boundaries and the non-verbal nature of music gives it the potential to unite people across langauge and cultural barriers.
We should be promoting New Brunswick this way - send out our musicians as ambassadors, without any beauraucrats. I bet that would be far more effective than any waving at the border, or flyers at gas stations. Hot Toddy, Isaac and Blewett, Jens Jeppesen, the New Brunswick Youth Orchestra, these are the people I'd like to represent us.
What a fantastic example of diplomacy-sending ordinary musicians to talk about their experiences as citizens. Certainly, as Black Americans, these people weren't going to pretend everything was all bread and roses. Apparently, when the State Department tried to instruct Gillespie about how to respond to questions, he replied "I’ve got 300 years of briefing. I know what they’ve done to us, and I’m not going to make any excuses."
Musicians occupy a special place in society- they transcend a lot of class boundaries and the non-verbal nature of music gives it the potential to unite people across langauge and cultural barriers.
We should be promoting New Brunswick this way - send out our musicians as ambassadors, without any beauraucrats. I bet that would be far more effective than any waving at the border, or flyers at gas stations. Hot Toddy, Isaac and Blewett, Jens Jeppesen, the New Brunswick Youth Orchestra, these are the people I'd like to represent us.
Saturday, June 28, 2008
Growing and growing
Had a great chat last night about agriculture, corn, and population growth. Basically, the only reason we can have 6 billion people on the planet is because we produced enough food to feed them.
Now we are faced with feeding many more mouths without the 'revolutionary' increase in food yields made possible by synthetic pesticides and oil-based fertilizers. With the cancer epidemic being what it is, and with oil prices continuing to climb, it's time to look past petro-chemical farming.
But that transition is going to be painful, and not everyone sees the situation this way. This article explains the huge gains being made by 'agribusiness' companies, and how they plan to invest 1.5 billion dollars in coming years to continue increasing crop yields.
I know it's political suicide to say it, but what we really need is not 1/3 more food. It's 1/3 less people, especially if all those people are eating meat twice a day and commuting to work.
Now we are faced with feeding many more mouths without the 'revolutionary' increase in food yields made possible by synthetic pesticides and oil-based fertilizers. With the cancer epidemic being what it is, and with oil prices continuing to climb, it's time to look past petro-chemical farming.
But that transition is going to be painful, and not everyone sees the situation this way. This article explains the huge gains being made by 'agribusiness' companies, and how they plan to invest 1.5 billion dollars in coming years to continue increasing crop yields.
I know it's political suicide to say it, but what we really need is not 1/3 more food. It's 1/3 less people, especially if all those people are eating meat twice a day and commuting to work.
Wednesday, June 25, 2008
Another blow to freedom of expression
First there was the Senate bill to censor movie funding. Now, this. What is the world coming to?
Tuesday, June 24, 2008
That old time environmentalism
One of the strangest things about my grandparent's house was that it had no garbage can. It had compost, a woodstove, and plastic bags so well re-used they were as soft as cashmere. I know I could never run my house without a garbage can (although we do recycle and compost), although maybe that's a goal to keep in mind for the near future.
Here's Judith Timson debating which generation is really the greenest.
Here's Judith Timson debating which generation is really the greenest.
Tuesday, June 17, 2008
We prefer the term "tailings impoundment areas"
Most people refer to these as a "lake." You know, the large body of standing water suitable for habitat and recreation . . .
It turns out the Harper government is reclassifying 16 lakes in 4 provinces and territories as toxic waste destinations for mining by-products.
This is beyond insane.
It turns out the Harper government is reclassifying 16 lakes in 4 provinces and territories as toxic waste destinations for mining by-products.
This is beyond insane.
Monday, June 16, 2008
Don Wright's tips for jingle-writers.
It's not Shakespeare, but it pays the bills . . .
Don Wright earned his nickname, the Jingle King, by composing catchy ditties for such products as Coffee Crisp, Tide and Carlings Ale.
Before his death in 2006 at age 97, he gave away millions of dollars to support music education at Canadian universities. Here are Mr. Wright's tips for successful jingle writing:
1) The melody line is most important.
2) The bass line is next in importance.
3) These two lines should imply the chord structure.
4) The words must come through. Study grand opera!
5) Keep the mood of the words. 6) Support, not hinder.
7) Do not fill until necessary.
8) No fill should cover the initial syllable, or any other important part of the word.
Enjoy~
Don Wright earned his nickname, the Jingle King, by composing catchy ditties for such products as Coffee Crisp, Tide and Carlings Ale.
Before his death in 2006 at age 97, he gave away millions of dollars to support music education at Canadian universities. Here are Mr. Wright's tips for successful jingle writing:
1) The melody line is most important.
2) The bass line is next in importance.
3) These two lines should imply the chord structure.
4) The words must come through. Study grand opera!
5) Keep the mood of the words. 6) Support, not hinder.
7) Do not fill until necessary.
8) No fill should cover the initial syllable, or any other important part of the word.
Enjoy~
Saturday, June 14, 2008
Thinking About Residential Schools
I've been reading a lot about the Residential School Apology. Most people seem to feel the weight of the words uttered in the Commons, although some feel that the issue of genocide needs to be addressed. I will put a collection of links at the bottom if you feel like investigating.
Personally, I was stunned by the power of Native leaders on the floor of Canada's law-making house. Phil Fontaine, in his headress, addressing the Prime Minister nearly face to face, made me realize that as a European Canadian I have no idea what it means to negotiate with First Nations on a "nation-to-nation" basis. Jack Layton (like him or not) even acknowledged that the Residential School policy was 'racist,' calling us all to take a deep look at our own views towards Native people and our government's dealings with them.
On a local note, I came across a photo of a residential school near Woodstock. I would like to know how long this went on, and whether those survivors are still in the area. Given that Woodstock First Nation recently settled a land claim with the federal government, and that they have been involved in litigation about Native people and their right to cut wood on "Crown" land, it's not possible for us to pretend that quiet old Carleton County is not affected. People tend to ignore these topics because it means confronting their role as participants, however slight.
I'm not saying that absolutely everything is the fault of Europeans, but it's time to look at the situation with new eyes. We have begun the "truth" part of the "Truth and Reconciliation" commission. The "reconciliation" will take honesty and courage - let's hope we can find it.
Links: Quebec Native Women's Response
Rex Murphy "The Day The House Stood Still"
Ward Churchill "Healing Begins When the Wounding Stops"
Globeandmail.com "School-abuse apology widely backed"
Personally, I was stunned by the power of Native leaders on the floor of Canada's law-making house. Phil Fontaine, in his headress, addressing the Prime Minister nearly face to face, made me realize that as a European Canadian I have no idea what it means to negotiate with First Nations on a "nation-to-nation" basis. Jack Layton (like him or not) even acknowledged that the Residential School policy was 'racist,' calling us all to take a deep look at our own views towards Native people and our government's dealings with them.
On a local note, I came across a photo of a residential school near Woodstock. I would like to know how long this went on, and whether those survivors are still in the area. Given that Woodstock First Nation recently settled a land claim with the federal government, and that they have been involved in litigation about Native people and their right to cut wood on "Crown" land, it's not possible for us to pretend that quiet old Carleton County is not affected. People tend to ignore these topics because it means confronting their role as participants, however slight.
I'm not saying that absolutely everything is the fault of Europeans, but it's time to look at the situation with new eyes. We have begun the "truth" part of the "Truth and Reconciliation" commission. The "reconciliation" will take honesty and courage - let's hope we can find it.
Links: Quebec Native Women's Response
Rex Murphy "The Day The House Stood Still"
Ward Churchill "Healing Begins When the Wounding Stops"
Globeandmail.com "School-abuse apology widely backed"
Thursday, June 12, 2008
What's a jingle-writin' lady to do?
It's a man's world, in music and especially in hockey. But that didn't matter to Delores Claman, who cranked out arguably the most culturally important tune in Canada. And it's an exciting bit of music, too.
Wednesday, June 11, 2008
Honeymoon Waning
According to Celtic myth, the Gods used to get married in May. That meant mortals had to wait until June, when the full moon was referred to as "the honeymoon." Lovers were married, and used to go for midnight picnics.
At 182 Houlton, we're writing a musical about this, interwoven with stories of murder, resurrection, betrayal and the search for "the Good Life." We will give one backyard performance next Friday, June 20th, which is the summer solstice (and the honeymoon will be waning). If you would like to attend, please email guestlist@honeymoonwaning.com. And bring a lawnchair and fly spray. The show starts at 9:30 pm. Bring your friends and family.
At 182 Houlton, we're writing a musical about this, interwoven with stories of murder, resurrection, betrayal and the search for "the Good Life." We will give one backyard performance next Friday, June 20th, which is the summer solstice (and the honeymoon will be waning). If you would like to attend, please email guestlist@honeymoonwaning.com. And bring a lawnchair and fly spray. The show starts at 9:30 pm. Bring your friends and family.
Monday, June 09, 2008
Long dusty thoughts for a warm day . . .
I have no thoughts of my own to offer this week, so here's a transcription of Doris Lessing's speech at the Nobels.
When she was awarded the prize, she commented that it was likely because the literary establishment suspected she might soon"pop off." Let's just say the lady has a way with words. . .
When she was awarded the prize, she commented that it was likely because the literary establishment suspected she might soon"pop off." Let's just say the lady has a way with words. . .
Saturday, May 31, 2008
Music hath such charms
Utah Phillips, American folk singer, passed away recently. Asked about his living as a travelling musician, he said: The trade is a fine, elegant, beautiful, very fruitful trade. In that trade, I can make a living and not a killing.
So many times I've felt this too, and although I haven't been playing shows all over the continent, I am so thankful for the music in my life. Last night some friends were in a low mood. We started working on our backyard musical and it sorted itself out, laughs were had and people felt better. I've seen this with students countless times, with myself nearly everyday. Mostly I am in love with the peacefulness inherent in music-making, when so many jobs involve destruction.
I read an article about Joni Mitchell where she recounted that a fan once told her he used her music instead of taking anti-depressants. I think that's a better plan for all of us. Our brains are already wired for the dopamine, it's free, it fosters strong social connections, and it doesn't have a hangover.
Yep, of all the ways to make ends meet, making music is the best. Sorry to all you people who do something else, but I couldn't trade it, even if I wanted to.
Audience participation: leave the name of a song that cheers you up. Could make a great cd . . .
So many times I've felt this too, and although I haven't been playing shows all over the continent, I am so thankful for the music in my life. Last night some friends were in a low mood. We started working on our backyard musical and it sorted itself out, laughs were had and people felt better. I've seen this with students countless times, with myself nearly everyday. Mostly I am in love with the peacefulness inherent in music-making, when so many jobs involve destruction.
I read an article about Joni Mitchell where she recounted that a fan once told her he used her music instead of taking anti-depressants. I think that's a better plan for all of us. Our brains are already wired for the dopamine, it's free, it fosters strong social connections, and it doesn't have a hangover.
Yep, of all the ways to make ends meet, making music is the best. Sorry to all you people who do something else, but I couldn't trade it, even if I wanted to.
Audience participation: leave the name of a song that cheers you up. Could make a great cd . . .
Friday, May 23, 2008
Chew on this for the weekend...
Came across this online and froze in my tracks...metaphorically, of course.
Marshall McLuhan once called on us to notice that all machines are merely extensions of the human nervous system, artifices which improve on natural apparatus, each a utopianization of some physical function. Once you understand the trick, utopian prophecy isn’t so impressive. Equally important, says McLuhan, the use of machinery causes its natural flesh and blood counterpart to atrophy, hence the lifeless quality of the utopias. Machines dehumanize, according to McLuhan, wherever they are used and however sensible their use appears.
I think there is definitely some truth in there - I am a piano player and whenever I stop and think about how complicated my hands really are, it blows my mind. And even computers, for all their processing power, can't outperform the human brain. Humans can integrate all information and evaluate it simultaneously, but computers can only trudge away, mechanically finishing one task at a time. Compared to my hand, the piano is a simpleton's toy.
Thinking about this also makes me think that the crises of modern life - obesity, diabetes, depression - are precisely those examples of "atrophy" that McLuhan is talking about. Of course, the good new in all this is that recovering our humanity is as simple as manual labour and real thinking.
Marshall McLuhan once called on us to notice that all machines are merely extensions of the human nervous system, artifices which improve on natural apparatus, each a utopianization of some physical function. Once you understand the trick, utopian prophecy isn’t so impressive. Equally important, says McLuhan, the use of machinery causes its natural flesh and blood counterpart to atrophy, hence the lifeless quality of the utopias. Machines dehumanize, according to McLuhan, wherever they are used and however sensible their use appears.
I think there is definitely some truth in there - I am a piano player and whenever I stop and think about how complicated my hands really are, it blows my mind. And even computers, for all their processing power, can't outperform the human brain. Humans can integrate all information and evaluate it simultaneously, but computers can only trudge away, mechanically finishing one task at a time. Compared to my hand, the piano is a simpleton's toy.
Thinking about this also makes me think that the crises of modern life - obesity, diabetes, depression - are precisely those examples of "atrophy" that McLuhan is talking about. Of course, the good new in all this is that recovering our humanity is as simple as manual labour and real thinking.
Thursday, May 22, 2008
Hoo-boys and girls!!
An eighth grade class at a school in the Bronx refused to take another round of standardized tests. Consider their teacher fired, although he denies being involved in planning the protest.
Remember what happened to Socrates when he was accused of "corrupting the youth?" Here's an interesting account of how the debate and trial probably went down. Interesting to note the emphasis on piety in the Athenian situation when the religion plays such a prominent role in US politics.
Remember what happened to Socrates when he was accused of "corrupting the youth?" Here's an interesting account of how the debate and trial probably went down. Interesting to note the emphasis on piety in the Athenian situation when the religion plays such a prominent role in US politics.
Arts vs. Gangs
Here's what Kardinall Offishall has to say on the subject.
Also, is it June yet? I am exhausted (hence the lack of posts).
Also, is it June yet? I am exhausted (hence the lack of posts).
Monday, May 05, 2008
Sunday, May 04, 2008
Newspapers
I used to really enjoy the Saturday Globe and Mail. Yesterday I read it for the first time in six months, and remembered why I stopped buying it. The book section used to be 20+ pages and this week had less than 8 reviews. Here's what a blogger has to say about the demise of newspapers-interesting viewpoint on the need for LOCAL coverage.
Saturday, May 03, 2008
Happy Anniversary, with books
Realized this morning: I have been posting here for 2 years. Wow, time flies . . .
Thursday night some friends and I went to see the newest photographs by Thaddeus Holownia, a prof at Mt. A. Outside, the Saint John was rolling, and rivers were on everybody's mind. Fittingly, the exhibit featured pictures of the salmon rivers of eastern Canada.
They took me back to the quiet stillness I felt watching the brook out back of mom and dad's house. There is a lot to see in this world if we can hold still long enough to see it. The Saint John used to be a salmon river, until the dams went in. We pay a high price for "progress," I think.
Holownia also runs a printing press. I'm realizing more and more that Chapters is the supermarket of book stores - a lot of over-processed books but not much sustenance. Especially if you've seen the Gaspereau books and breathed in their beauty.
At the reading, Thaddeus talked about the beauty of books - how producing one is democratic, as it involves contributions from many people, how people can take it home and come back to it at many times during their lives, and how having a great book in a library means it is accessible to a range of people, not just those who can afford it.
This makes me think of Gutenburg's Bible - his press gave people the most powerful book in Europe in a time of kings and serfs. What an electrifying moment: imagine those readers pomndering at the kitchen table, free from the dictated words of the priest for the first time.
Thursday night some friends and I went to see the newest photographs by Thaddeus Holownia, a prof at Mt. A. Outside, the Saint John was rolling, and rivers were on everybody's mind. Fittingly, the exhibit featured pictures of the salmon rivers of eastern Canada.
They took me back to the quiet stillness I felt watching the brook out back of mom and dad's house. There is a lot to see in this world if we can hold still long enough to see it. The Saint John used to be a salmon river, until the dams went in. We pay a high price for "progress," I think.
Holownia also runs a printing press. I'm realizing more and more that Chapters is the supermarket of book stores - a lot of over-processed books but not much sustenance. Especially if you've seen the Gaspereau books and breathed in their beauty.
At the reading, Thaddeus talked about the beauty of books - how producing one is democratic, as it involves contributions from many people, how people can take it home and come back to it at many times during their lives, and how having a great book in a library means it is accessible to a range of people, not just those who can afford it.
This makes me think of Gutenburg's Bible - his press gave people the most powerful book in Europe in a time of kings and serfs. What an electrifying moment: imagine those readers pomndering at the kitchen table, free from the dictated words of the priest for the first time.
Saturday, April 26, 2008
The long winter
Everyone is thankful that winter is finally over. It was brutal, in more ways than one. This morning I read about a diabetic man who died because NB Power cut his power last February.
I cannot imagine what it must have been like to be him, frozen and alone, in those last days and hours. What a disgrace. It breaks my heart to know this happened here . . .
I cannot imagine what it must have been like to be him, frozen and alone, in those last days and hours. What a disgrace. It breaks my heart to know this happened here . . .
Wednesday, April 23, 2008
Tuesday, April 22, 2008
Factory Language on Earth Day
For almost six years, I have been preoccupied with industrialism and how it dictates the subtext of our lives: the houses we build, the clothes we wear, the food we grow and eat, how we educate ourselves and even how we speak and think.
In Politics and the English Language, Orwell translates part of Ecclesiastes into dead modern language. The original:
I returned and saw under the sun, that the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, neither yet bread to the wise, nor yet riches to men of understanding, nor yet favour to men of skill; but time and chance happeneth to them all.
becomes
Objective considerations of contemporary phenomena compel the conclusion that success or failure in competitive activities exhibits no tendency to be commensurate with innate capacity, but that a considerable element of the unpredictable must invariably be taken into account.
Awful, isn't it? It is so scientific, but tells us nothing. He continues:
The whole tendency of modern prose is away from concreteness . . . Orthodoxy, of whatever color, seems to demand a lifeless, imitative style.
Think about the natural world, in all its rich diversity. The average human can name a thousand brands (e.g. Tide) and less than ten trees. Why are so many people talking about nothing, and taking so many syllables to do it?
The destruction of habitat, the meaningless quest for more 'stuff,' the standardization and mechanization of everything - we are becoming lifeless and orthodox, unused to seeing, thinking and experiencing things for ourselves.
I realize this all seems pretty bleak, but it is if you stop and think about it. Even flowers no longer attract as many bees because the air is too full of pollutants.
When everyone lives in one of four identical boxes and all meals and thoughts have been standardized, will we rest on our laurels and revel in a job well done?
In Politics and the English Language, Orwell translates part of Ecclesiastes into dead modern language. The original:
I returned and saw under the sun, that the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, neither yet bread to the wise, nor yet riches to men of understanding, nor yet favour to men of skill; but time and chance happeneth to them all.
becomes
Objective considerations of contemporary phenomena compel the conclusion that success or failure in competitive activities exhibits no tendency to be commensurate with innate capacity, but that a considerable element of the unpredictable must invariably be taken into account.
Awful, isn't it? It is so scientific, but tells us nothing. He continues:
The whole tendency of modern prose is away from concreteness . . . Orthodoxy, of whatever color, seems to demand a lifeless, imitative style.
Think about the natural world, in all its rich diversity. The average human can name a thousand brands (e.g. Tide) and less than ten trees. Why are so many people talking about nothing, and taking so many syllables to do it?
The destruction of habitat, the meaningless quest for more 'stuff,' the standardization and mechanization of everything - we are becoming lifeless and orthodox, unused to seeing, thinking and experiencing things for ourselves.
I realize this all seems pretty bleak, but it is if you stop and think about it. Even flowers no longer attract as many bees because the air is too full of pollutants.
When everyone lives in one of four identical boxes and all meals and thoughts have been standardized, will we rest on our laurels and revel in a job well done?
Tuesday, April 15, 2008
Late Night Blog
It's very unusual for me to be awake after 10pm. Teaching and the music festival keep me very busy, but spring is always a time for hectic activity. Since my brain won't shut up long enough for me to sleep, here goes . . .
I am thinking a lot these days about small towns and their limitations, and whether we are on the verge of enabling some meaningful changes here in Woodstock. Many projects on the horizon lead me to believe it is possible - the upcoming municipal elections (Geoff Stairs is running for council), a third Valley Young Company production, a third season for Music on the Meduxnekeag, our backyard musical, and the upcoming arts forum, new possibilities for arts journalism, discussion of the Civic Centre expansion, the success of downtown shops such as Fusion, Freshmart, Owl Book Shop etc.
I think people are beginning to realize that the arts are for everyone, that they are the core of a welcoming and growing community. Now we need a solid "people network," to reach out to audiences and supporters to speak clearly with a voice that articulates our needs. If we can work together and agree on some common values, we will have the power to changes our little town for the better.
I am thinking a lot these days about small towns and their limitations, and whether we are on the verge of enabling some meaningful changes here in Woodstock. Many projects on the horizon lead me to believe it is possible - the upcoming municipal elections (Geoff Stairs is running for council), a third Valley Young Company production, a third season for Music on the Meduxnekeag, our backyard musical, and the upcoming arts forum, new possibilities for arts journalism, discussion of the Civic Centre expansion, the success of downtown shops such as Fusion, Freshmart, Owl Book Shop etc.
I think people are beginning to realize that the arts are for everyone, that they are the core of a welcoming and growing community. Now we need a solid "people network," to reach out to audiences and supporters to speak clearly with a voice that articulates our needs. If we can work together and agree on some common values, we will have the power to changes our little town for the better.
Monday, April 07, 2008
Arts forum April 24th
Even if you can't make it, leave some feedback, okay? And don't pretend like nobody ever asks your opinion, because I'm askin' . . .
Arts Forum: Towards a United Voice Developing a Provincial Arts Organization
DATE: Thursday, April 24 TIME: 7:00PM LOCATION:NBCC Woodstock Theatre, 100 Broadway St.
For more information contact: Mandy Ginson 392-6769, mginson@yahoo.ca Over the years, there have been several discussions around creating a provincial arts organization complimentary to l’Association acadienne des artistes professionnel.le.s du N-B (AAAPNB) that would serve the Arts Community by providing a network of resources, information and support. Artists, by the nature of their work, tend to be isolated in their communities and may lack the opportunities for professional development, networking, sharing of best practices and promotion.
The purpose of a new provincial organization would be to further the interests of the arts in New Brunswick by unifying arts organizations and artists. Thepotential opportunities generated by the development of a provincial organization are: advocacy for arts issues promotion of the Arts in education creation of a community culture, milieu and environment that acknowledges the Arts profession with worth and respect public awareness of the arts in communities and in the province promotion of the value of arts in society guidance, resources and assistance for artists and their organizations connection for individual artists in their communities, regions and province growth and prosperity socially, economically, artistically and culturally.
In the Spring of 2007 the Adjustment Committee for the Creation of a Provincial Arts Organization was created. It is comprised of Arts Representatives from different regions of the provincial who also represent various arts disciplines. It also has several advisors including l’Association acadienne des artistes professionnel.le.s du N-B (AAAPNB). The purpose of this committee is to assist in the development of the new association. One of the jobs of the committee, with the help of a consultant, is to conduct a needs assessment. The process involves gathering information from two main sources; individual artists and arts groups. Two different data collection methods were suggested in order to ensure a broad scope of the target audience is involved; surveys and community forums.
There will be an Arts Community Forum in Woodstock designed to discuss the development of a NB Provincial Arts Organization. The organization’s proposed intent is to operate in the English language, represent professional artists from all cultures, all disciplines and focus on their needs, be inclusive of emerging artists, amateur artists and friends of the Arts and work in partnership with the sister francophone provincial organization, AAAPNB (association acadienne des artistes professionnelles du Nouveau-Brunswick).
Following the Provincial Arts Association meeting there will be a discussion regarding the possibilites of a civic centre expansion and arts centre. Members of the Needs Assessment Committee will be present to gather feedback from the community.
Arts Forum: Towards a United Voice Developing a Provincial Arts Organization
DATE: Thursday, April 24 TIME: 7:00PM LOCATION:NBCC Woodstock Theatre, 100 Broadway St.
For more information contact: Mandy Ginson 392-6769, mginson@yahoo.ca Over the years, there have been several discussions around creating a provincial arts organization complimentary to l’Association acadienne des artistes professionnel.le.s du N-B (AAAPNB) that would serve the Arts Community by providing a network of resources, information and support. Artists, by the nature of their work, tend to be isolated in their communities and may lack the opportunities for professional development, networking, sharing of best practices and promotion.
The purpose of a new provincial organization would be to further the interests of the arts in New Brunswick by unifying arts organizations and artists. Thepotential opportunities generated by the development of a provincial organization are: advocacy for arts issues promotion of the Arts in education creation of a community culture, milieu and environment that acknowledges the Arts profession with worth and respect public awareness of the arts in communities and in the province promotion of the value of arts in society guidance, resources and assistance for artists and their organizations connection for individual artists in their communities, regions and province growth and prosperity socially, economically, artistically and culturally.
In the Spring of 2007 the Adjustment Committee for the Creation of a Provincial Arts Organization was created. It is comprised of Arts Representatives from different regions of the provincial who also represent various arts disciplines. It also has several advisors including l’Association acadienne des artistes professionnel.le.s du N-B (AAAPNB). The purpose of this committee is to assist in the development of the new association. One of the jobs of the committee, with the help of a consultant, is to conduct a needs assessment. The process involves gathering information from two main sources; individual artists and arts groups. Two different data collection methods were suggested in order to ensure a broad scope of the target audience is involved; surveys and community forums.
There will be an Arts Community Forum in Woodstock designed to discuss the development of a NB Provincial Arts Organization. The organization’s proposed intent is to operate in the English language, represent professional artists from all cultures, all disciplines and focus on their needs, be inclusive of emerging artists, amateur artists and friends of the Arts and work in partnership with the sister francophone provincial organization, AAAPNB (association acadienne des artistes professionnelles du Nouveau-Brunswick).
Following the Provincial Arts Association meeting there will be a discussion regarding the possibilites of a civic centre expansion and arts centre. Members of the Needs Assessment Committee will be present to gather feedback from the community.
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