Here's what they have to say about that in Finland, the top-ranking country in the world on the latest math/science testing. The best part: they don't standardize-test the heck out of everyone, every year.
Also, a link to the talented Geoffrey Allen Stairs' photos. If you haven't heard, he's running for town council in Woodstock. Vote for him, support heritage, arts and a fresh outlook on the town council.
Wednesday, February 27, 2008
Monday, February 25, 2008
New link
Check out the link on the right to Michael J. McEwing's website. Beautiful photos, prints, painting, more. Another NB'er doing great work...yessir.
Saturday, February 23, 2008
Poverty: a state of mind?
Don't get me wrong, I don't think it's acceptable that anyone has to struggle to feed and clothe him or herself. But oftentimes I hear people complain about being bored, or a lack of good media, or how nobody is engaged anymore.
And then I wonder- how much external 'stuff' is really necessary for us to enjoy ourselves? Call me old school, but I think our imaginations, and 'the social fabric' have suffered as a result of too much technology. It's so easy to be distracted in this "i-universe."
In ages past, people had to entertain themselves. Director Michel Gondry elaborates on why we should still be doing this, saying:
I find it particularly shocking that people work all week long, and then on the weekend they give their money to another big corporation. I remember reading an interview with Walt Disney, and he said how he got the idea to create Disney World. He saw his grandson playing in the sand in a little park, and he assumed he was bored. And he said he could provide him a better alternative. But what you get is, you go in this park and you spend time to queue, you have a little bit of entertainment, and then basically they try to get your money. And I truly believe his grandson was having a great time when he was playing with the sand.
Read the whole interview here...
And then I wonder- how much external 'stuff' is really necessary for us to enjoy ourselves? Call me old school, but I think our imaginations, and 'the social fabric' have suffered as a result of too much technology. It's so easy to be distracted in this "i-universe."
In ages past, people had to entertain themselves. Director Michel Gondry elaborates on why we should still be doing this, saying:
I find it particularly shocking that people work all week long, and then on the weekend they give their money to another big corporation. I remember reading an interview with Walt Disney, and he said how he got the idea to create Disney World. He saw his grandson playing in the sand in a little park, and he assumed he was bored. And he said he could provide him a better alternative. But what you get is, you go in this park and you spend time to queue, you have a little bit of entertainment, and then basically they try to get your money. And I truly believe his grandson was having a great time when he was playing with the sand.
Read the whole interview here...
Wednesday, February 20, 2008
Arts or Cops?
No, really, the city of Saint John thinks they can't co-exist in the same building. Boo on them, if they think artists belong anywhere other than downtown.
Case closed.
Case closed.
Saturday, February 16, 2008
Keeping the Home Fires Burning
The walls have a funny way of closing in this time of year. By that, I mean that I always get the urge to be outside, make plans, feel the sun on my t-shirted arms. Wearing three layers all the time wears me down after a while.
I attempt to ward of the psych ward with plans and more plans, keeping myself busy. Right now I am preoccupied with how to plan a summer concert series, and eventually a festival in 2009 that will turn people's heads around.
I don't know if it will work, or if it will be the last nail in my Carleton County coffin (metaphorically, of course). The arts are seriously undervalued here, and to me that goes hand in hand with our collective identity crisis as New Brunswickers. We can't say for certain who we are because we don't appreciate the uniqueness and value of our history, or our current lives.
Some friends and I remarked that any other province would be fiercely proud to be officially bilingual. Very European, one might say. New Brunswickers of my generation have accepted the fact that half the province communicates in a different language, and lives a different culture. But our population is so 'scattered and small,' to quote one songwriter nominated for an ECMA, that isolation often seems inescapable.
Still, I wish people would stop being so apologetic about being rural, not swimming in a sea of vinyl and concrete. We should celebrate our close families and communities, our compassion for others and the beauty of of the landscape. And I wish our politicians would raise the bar a bit more, get creative with real solutions, and start being proud of the things we have to offer.
The arts have a vital role in calling attention to the fact that we are have a lot of blessings here. Can you identify a song, story, movie or poem that speaks to us as a people? What are the cultural experiences that unite us?
Sometimes I think NB is ready for its own 'quiet revolution' - the realization that lives here are just as valid as someone in "Upper Canada" or 'out west.' And if history is any indication, cultural revelations like that usually start with works of art that voice feelings people didn't realize they had.
Sorry to ramble but this is the kind of stuff that preoccupies me. There I go, being all apologetic again...
I attempt to ward of the psych ward with plans and more plans, keeping myself busy. Right now I am preoccupied with how to plan a summer concert series, and eventually a festival in 2009 that will turn people's heads around.
I don't know if it will work, or if it will be the last nail in my Carleton County coffin (metaphorically, of course). The arts are seriously undervalued here, and to me that goes hand in hand with our collective identity crisis as New Brunswickers. We can't say for certain who we are because we don't appreciate the uniqueness and value of our history, or our current lives.
Some friends and I remarked that any other province would be fiercely proud to be officially bilingual. Very European, one might say. New Brunswickers of my generation have accepted the fact that half the province communicates in a different language, and lives a different culture. But our population is so 'scattered and small,' to quote one songwriter nominated for an ECMA, that isolation often seems inescapable.
Still, I wish people would stop being so apologetic about being rural, not swimming in a sea of vinyl and concrete. We should celebrate our close families and communities, our compassion for others and the beauty of of the landscape. And I wish our politicians would raise the bar a bit more, get creative with real solutions, and start being proud of the things we have to offer.
The arts have a vital role in calling attention to the fact that we are have a lot of blessings here. Can you identify a song, story, movie or poem that speaks to us as a people? What are the cultural experiences that unite us?
Sometimes I think NB is ready for its own 'quiet revolution' - the realization that lives here are just as valid as someone in "Upper Canada" or 'out west.' And if history is any indication, cultural revelations like that usually start with works of art that voice feelings people didn't realize they had.
Sorry to ramble but this is the kind of stuff that preoccupies me. There I go, being all apologetic again...
Sunday, February 03, 2008
The Pope vs. Galileo, version 2.0
by our love, indeed.
And in other news, Jean Arnold takes the big guns to task for greed, waste and abuse of that now-nauseating phrase: self-sufficiency.
And in other news, Jean Arnold takes the big guns to task for greed, waste and abuse of that now-nauseating phrase: self-sufficiency.
Wednesday, January 23, 2008
eat your heart out, Dr. Evil....
One billion dollars . . . mwhaa haa haa.
Turns out the total defence spending in the USA will (conservatively estimated) top 1.1 TRILLION dollars this year. That's the largest budget since WWII. Unbelievable.
If you make it to the end of this article, you're a better man than me. Here's what Hendrix had to say about stuff like this:
"When the power of love overcomes the love of power, then there will be peace."
Holy cow.
Turns out the total defence spending in the USA will (conservatively estimated) top 1.1 TRILLION dollars this year. That's the largest budget since WWII. Unbelievable.
If you make it to the end of this article, you're a better man than me. Here's what Hendrix had to say about stuff like this:
"When the power of love overcomes the love of power, then there will be peace."
Holy cow.
Valley Young Company un-update
Lots of people are wondering what the VYC show is going to be. So am I, because I am not involved this year. I know you're all going to cry, but there just isn't enough time to do everything, unfortunately. I know the boys have shortlisted a few shows and are working on the production team. When I know, I will let you know...
Monday, January 14, 2008
2008: A Year For Amateurs?
If I had a dollar for every time someone told me “I used to take piano lessons but…” or “I wish I could sing but…” my student loan would be shrinking faster than the polar ice cap.
Most people have a natural desire to express themselves artistically – whether through craft, woodworking, decorating, music, you name it. I wonder how many households in Carleton County had a musical instrument under the tree this Christmas.
Before the mass media age, citizens were forced to entertain themselves, so they did. Europeans wrote waltzes, symphonies and operas; the Scottish and Irish danced the night away with fiddles, drums and guitars. Nearly every home had a guitar or a piano in the parlor.
This musicianship wasn’t motivated by the idea of playing at Carnegie Hall. It was done for the player’s enjoyment and for social reasons. People enjoyed taking lessons and making music with each other. In rural culture especially, music (and food-they often go together) provided a break from hard labour and relief from loneliness.
In fact, the word ‘amateur’ comes from the French verb ‘aimer,’ which means ‘to love.’ So an amateur musician is someone who loves music, even if he or she is not specially trained.
Today, the age of amateurs is largely past. We are ‘consumers’ now, prepared to buy a piece of the fun from someone ‘more qualified’. Somewhere along the line, we were convinced to trade participation for a role as a spectator. We expect bigger and flashier shows, but remain hesitant to sing out even in church, where the 100th Psalm commands “Make a joyful noise, all the earth.”
For many people, part of the magic of Christmas is in the music. As the music director at Saint James, I look forward to Christmas Eve because it’s the only day in the church year I can turn up the organ to full volume and still hear the congregation singing.
At Christmas, amateurism is reborn temporarily. Small groups go caroling and a lucky few have a sing-along at home. People proudly display homemade crafts and gifts, and cookies become works of art.
Last Friday night at Fusion, Adam Mahoney and Allie Ross hosted an evening music as a fundraiser for their service-learning trip to Guatemala. The music was provided mostly by amateurs (Will Davidson being the obvious exception). The locals who love music-Richard Wetmore, Ruthie Luff, Lee Kinney, the hosts, provided a wonderful evening: genuine, well-intentioned and a little rough around the edges. This is a reflection of the people around here, who are similarly generous, kind and unpretentious.
Amateurism helps us enrich each other. Friday’s performances were not manipulated in the way most media are – for the profit of a few and often at the expense of the truth. By being brave enough to speak in our own voices, we assert that we have something worthwhile to say. To paraphrase a good source, amateurism is art “by the people of the people, for the people.”
I do believe people in Carleton County have something to say, and my wish for 2008 is that we will encourage each other more. Everyone who tells me they wish they could sing also agrees there is an abundance of natural talent around, if a lack of training opportunities.
So, let’s hope 2008 is a year where amateurs- lovers of food, music, gardening, you name it – get together to enjoy each other’s company and maybe even work together on a project or two. You never know, you might feel more connected, learn something new or simply enjoy the time spent. At the very least, you won’t have to mute the commercials.
Most people have a natural desire to express themselves artistically – whether through craft, woodworking, decorating, music, you name it. I wonder how many households in Carleton County had a musical instrument under the tree this Christmas.
Before the mass media age, citizens were forced to entertain themselves, so they did. Europeans wrote waltzes, symphonies and operas; the Scottish and Irish danced the night away with fiddles, drums and guitars. Nearly every home had a guitar or a piano in the parlor.
This musicianship wasn’t motivated by the idea of playing at Carnegie Hall. It was done for the player’s enjoyment and for social reasons. People enjoyed taking lessons and making music with each other. In rural culture especially, music (and food-they often go together) provided a break from hard labour and relief from loneliness.
In fact, the word ‘amateur’ comes from the French verb ‘aimer,’ which means ‘to love.’ So an amateur musician is someone who loves music, even if he or she is not specially trained.
Today, the age of amateurs is largely past. We are ‘consumers’ now, prepared to buy a piece of the fun from someone ‘more qualified’. Somewhere along the line, we were convinced to trade participation for a role as a spectator. We expect bigger and flashier shows, but remain hesitant to sing out even in church, where the 100th Psalm commands “Make a joyful noise, all the earth.”
For many people, part of the magic of Christmas is in the music. As the music director at Saint James, I look forward to Christmas Eve because it’s the only day in the church year I can turn up the organ to full volume and still hear the congregation singing.
At Christmas, amateurism is reborn temporarily. Small groups go caroling and a lucky few have a sing-along at home. People proudly display homemade crafts and gifts, and cookies become works of art.
Last Friday night at Fusion, Adam Mahoney and Allie Ross hosted an evening music as a fundraiser for their service-learning trip to Guatemala. The music was provided mostly by amateurs (Will Davidson being the obvious exception). The locals who love music-Richard Wetmore, Ruthie Luff, Lee Kinney, the hosts, provided a wonderful evening: genuine, well-intentioned and a little rough around the edges. This is a reflection of the people around here, who are similarly generous, kind and unpretentious.
Amateurism helps us enrich each other. Friday’s performances were not manipulated in the way most media are – for the profit of a few and often at the expense of the truth. By being brave enough to speak in our own voices, we assert that we have something worthwhile to say. To paraphrase a good source, amateurism is art “by the people of the people, for the people.”
I do believe people in Carleton County have something to say, and my wish for 2008 is that we will encourage each other more. Everyone who tells me they wish they could sing also agrees there is an abundance of natural talent around, if a lack of training opportunities.
So, let’s hope 2008 is a year where amateurs- lovers of food, music, gardening, you name it – get together to enjoy each other’s company and maybe even work together on a project or two. You never know, you might feel more connected, learn something new or simply enjoy the time spent. At the very least, you won’t have to mute the commercials.
Wednesday, January 09, 2008
Witch's Bloomers and Johnville Luggage
Back in the days of blue scarf and community service, all the Guides from Debec were sent to collect garbage in the spring. Not my favorite event, but a very effective lesson on littering. The amount of plastic that accumulates in a New Brunswick ditch in the run of a year is amazing and disgusting.
Today I read that China is going to outlaw plastic shopping bags. You know, the kind clogging up your house, better known as the "Cape Breton suitcase." The logic is they waste too much petroleum.
The funny part is, every time there is a major climate change conference, the USA and other rich countries complain about China and India not doing enough to curb CO2 emissions. The refusal of the US to get on board is a major obstacle to real progress.
By restricting the use of petroleum-based plastic bags in a nation of over a billion people, China has probably made more of an impact than our silly fixation with compact fluorescent light bulbs. The Chinese government is not known for its reluctance to regulate citizens and industry. If they were more aggressive on the climate change front, we could see some substantive progress for a change...
Today I read that China is going to outlaw plastic shopping bags. You know, the kind clogging up your house, better known as the "Cape Breton suitcase." The logic is they waste too much petroleum.
The funny part is, every time there is a major climate change conference, the USA and other rich countries complain about China and India not doing enough to curb CO2 emissions. The refusal of the US to get on board is a major obstacle to real progress.
By restricting the use of petroleum-based plastic bags in a nation of over a billion people, China has probably made more of an impact than our silly fixation with compact fluorescent light bulbs. The Chinese government is not known for its reluctance to regulate citizens and industry. If they were more aggressive on the climate change front, we could see some substantive progress for a change...
Friday, January 04, 2008
The Light of Day, indeed
Those who know me never say the words "NB Power." It leads to ranting and outrage. Well, turns out my favorite folks are on their back on best behaviour, letting petroleum coke blow in the wind outside of Saint John.
Of course, during the Environmental Impact Assessment the public was assured this wouldn't happen. To put this in perspective, petroleum coke is a by-product of oil refineries and is one of the most polluting fossil fuels available. And NB Power execs are the highest paid civil servants in our province (more than the Premier, even).
It's a good thing they know what they're doing. See-ranting, I told you. Where' s Bob Dylan when you need him?
Of course, during the Environmental Impact Assessment the public was assured this wouldn't happen. To put this in perspective, petroleum coke is a by-product of oil refineries and is one of the most polluting fossil fuels available. And NB Power execs are the highest paid civil servants in our province (more than the Premier, even).
It's a good thing they know what they're doing. See-ranting, I told you. Where' s Bob Dylan when you need him?
Wednesday, January 02, 2008
Adios 2007
Well, I know nobody would expect the standard year-in-review post, so here it is. I know you've all been waiting for it (I don't know which punctuation marks are used for sarcasm...)
It seems 2007 was a year of loss and of possibilities. We lost some wonderful artists, especially Canadians. Oscar Peterson, Doug Riley, Richard Bradshaw, Celia Franca (founder of the National Ballet) - people who put Canada on the artistic map.
Maybe I'm naive, but these people excelled at the arts during a time when there wasn't a lot of prestige to be had-playing 7 nights a week in rough bars, enduring racism, obscurity and the challenge of being an artist in a country without a well-supported artistic network. They did it because they loved it, and we have been enriched by their contributions.
As for possibilities, the arts are on the local radar. Talk is afoot of a major civic project including some kind of theatre renovation/arts centre and in 2008 I will be returning to council to follow up on the arts coordinator positition I advocated for last June.
A couple more thoughts to chew on- first a great article by our Lieutenant Governor (Hermenegilde Chiasson) who is also a poet, playwright and visual artist.
Second, I read this book called "the Creative Class." The basic idea is that the real source of economic growth is creativity-from research, artistic work and technological innovation. And in order to attract these kinds of people, an area needs access to higher education, good street-level culture (nightlife, music, cafes etc.), an atmosphere of tolerance, diversity and respect, and access to good outdoor recreation.
The wheels have started turning again-woke up at 3:45 a.m. yesterday deluged by plans and ideas. I guess that means it's time to get back to work...
It seems 2007 was a year of loss and of possibilities. We lost some wonderful artists, especially Canadians. Oscar Peterson, Doug Riley, Richard Bradshaw, Celia Franca (founder of the National Ballet) - people who put Canada on the artistic map.
Maybe I'm naive, but these people excelled at the arts during a time when there wasn't a lot of prestige to be had-playing 7 nights a week in rough bars, enduring racism, obscurity and the challenge of being an artist in a country without a well-supported artistic network. They did it because they loved it, and we have been enriched by their contributions.
As for possibilities, the arts are on the local radar. Talk is afoot of a major civic project including some kind of theatre renovation/arts centre and in 2008 I will be returning to council to follow up on the arts coordinator positition I advocated for last June.
A couple more thoughts to chew on- first a great article by our Lieutenant Governor (Hermenegilde Chiasson) who is also a poet, playwright and visual artist.
Second, I read this book called "the Creative Class." The basic idea is that the real source of economic growth is creativity-from research, artistic work and technological innovation. And in order to attract these kinds of people, an area needs access to higher education, good street-level culture (nightlife, music, cafes etc.), an atmosphere of tolerance, diversity and respect, and access to good outdoor recreation.
The wheels have started turning again-woke up at 3:45 a.m. yesterday deluged by plans and ideas. I guess that means it's time to get back to work...
Saturday, November 17, 2007
David, then and now
Good old existentialism, it sneaks up on me precisely when I've forgotten about it.
Jean Paul Sartre thought that 'existence precedes essence.' In other words, we are born and then grow into who we are, instead of being pre-programmed for any certain fate.
Check out this photo essay on David(s), photos of the same people taken ten years apart. Are we always the same?
Is the 10 year old me still me when I'm 80?
Maybe.
Jean Paul Sartre thought that 'existence precedes essence.' In other words, we are born and then grow into who we are, instead of being pre-programmed for any certain fate.
Check out this photo essay on David(s), photos of the same people taken ten years apart. Are we always the same?
Is the 10 year old me still me when I'm 80?
Maybe.
Wednesday, October 31, 2007
All the News That's Fit to Print
Apparently that includes this whole Langdon-Brunswick News affair. In the New York Times. Wow-Carleton County is in the "paper of record." (Thanks for the link on FB, Geoff.)
I'd like to know what people thought of the first edition of the Carleton Free Press. I saw it last night and thought it looked good, if a little tabloid-y because of the layout.
I was very encouraged by the number of local advertisers congratulating the new paper. The fact of the matter is, if people believe a non-Irving paper is valuable, they need to support it with their money.
And if the paper can provide similar or better quality coverage than the B-O, why not support an enterprise that makes the local economy a priority? It's the farmer's market of papers, you might say.
I'd like to know what people thought of the first edition of the Carleton Free Press. I saw it last night and thought it looked good, if a little tabloid-y because of the layout.
I was very encouraged by the number of local advertisers congratulating the new paper. The fact of the matter is, if people believe a non-Irving paper is valuable, they need to support it with their money.
And if the paper can provide similar or better quality coverage than the B-O, why not support an enterprise that makes the local economy a priority? It's the farmer's market of papers, you might say.
Saturday, October 27, 2007
Jeannot who?
Jeannot Volpe, leader of the conservative party, has stated that the Irvings control too many of the messages in our media. This was a bit of a shocker, as he was very pro-industrial forestry during his time as Natural Resources Minister. The Langon-Brunswick News trial continues this week in Woodstock. It will be interesting to see what the court has to say about all of this.
Thursday, October 25, 2007
Met Opera simulcasts
Here's the schedule of performances for the Metropolitain Opera's upcoming season. The performances will be broadcast live into movie theatres across Canada. Definitely worth checking out, assuming you are unable to jet to NYC for the weekend...
Venues
Empire Studio 12, St. John's
Empire 10 Cinemas, Fredericton
Empire 8 Park Lane, Halifax
Empire Studio 10, Saint John
Empire Studio 10, Sydney
Empire 8 Trinity Drive, Moncton
Empire Theatres Dartmouth Crossing
Empire Studio 8, Charlottetown
Gounod: Romeo et Juliette
Sat Dec 15/07
1:00pm ET / 10:00am PT
Humperdinck: Hansel and Gretel
Tues Jan 1/08
1:00pm ET / 10:00am PT
Gounod: Romeo et Juliette ENCORE PERFORMANCE
Sat Jan 5/08
1:30pm ET / 10:30am PT
Verdi: Macbeth
Sat Jan 12/08
1:30pm ET / 10:30am PT
Humperdinck: Hansel and Gretel ENCORE PERFORMANCE
Sat Jan 26/08
1:30pm ET / 10:30am PT
Verdi: Macbeth ENCORE PERFORMANCE
Sat Feb 9/08
1:30pm ET / 10:30am PT
Puccini: Manon Lescaut
Sat Feb 16/08
1:00pm ET / 10:00am PT
Puccini: Manon Lescaut ENCORE PERFORMANCE
Sat Mar 1/08
1:30pm ET / 10:30am PT
Britten: Peter Grimes
Sat Mar 15/08
1:30pm ET / 10:30am PT
Wagner: Tristan and Isolde
Sat Mar 22/08
12:30pm ET / 9:30am PT
Britten: Peter Grimes ENCORE PERFORMANCE
Sat Mar 29/08
1:30pm ET / 10:30am PT
Puccini: La Boheme
Sat Apr 5/08
1:30pm ET / 10:30am PT
Wagner: Tristan and Isolde ENCORE PERFORMANCE
Sat Apr 12/08
1:30pm ET / 10:30am PT
Donizetti: La Fille du Regiment
Sat Apr 26/08
1:30pm ET / 10:30am PT
Puccini: La Boheme ENCORE PERFORMANCE
Sat May 3/08
1:30pm ET / 10:30am PT
Donizetti: La Fille du Regiment ENCORE PERFORMANCE
Sat May 10/08
1:30pm ET / 10:30am PT
Venues
Empire Studio 12, St. John's
Empire 10 Cinemas, Fredericton
Empire 8 Park Lane, Halifax
Empire Studio 10, Saint John
Empire Studio 10, Sydney
Empire 8 Trinity Drive, Moncton
Empire Theatres Dartmouth Crossing
Empire Studio 8, Charlottetown
Gounod: Romeo et Juliette
Sat Dec 15/07
1:00pm ET / 10:00am PT
Humperdinck: Hansel and Gretel
Tues Jan 1/08
1:00pm ET / 10:00am PT
Gounod: Romeo et Juliette ENCORE PERFORMANCE
Sat Jan 5/08
1:30pm ET / 10:30am PT
Verdi: Macbeth
Sat Jan 12/08
1:30pm ET / 10:30am PT
Humperdinck: Hansel and Gretel ENCORE PERFORMANCE
Sat Jan 26/08
1:30pm ET / 10:30am PT
Verdi: Macbeth ENCORE PERFORMANCE
Sat Feb 9/08
1:30pm ET / 10:30am PT
Puccini: Manon Lescaut
Sat Feb 16/08
1:00pm ET / 10:00am PT
Puccini: Manon Lescaut ENCORE PERFORMANCE
Sat Mar 1/08
1:30pm ET / 10:30am PT
Britten: Peter Grimes
Sat Mar 15/08
1:30pm ET / 10:30am PT
Wagner: Tristan and Isolde
Sat Mar 22/08
12:30pm ET / 9:30am PT
Britten: Peter Grimes ENCORE PERFORMANCE
Sat Mar 29/08
1:30pm ET / 10:30am PT
Puccini: La Boheme
Sat Apr 5/08
1:30pm ET / 10:30am PT
Wagner: Tristan and Isolde ENCORE PERFORMANCE
Sat Apr 12/08
1:30pm ET / 10:30am PT
Donizetti: La Fille du Regiment
Sat Apr 26/08
1:30pm ET / 10:30am PT
Puccini: La Boheme ENCORE PERFORMANCE
Sat May 3/08
1:30pm ET / 10:30am PT
Donizetti: La Fille du Regiment ENCORE PERFORMANCE
Sat May 10/08
1:30pm ET / 10:30am PT
Monday, October 15, 2007
no TV for you . . .
It turns out that in 2011, most television in Canada will be digital. Which means if you don't buy the receiver, no more Mansbridge or HNIC for you.
I never thought I would be defending the right to television in this blog: however, I can't decide whether this will be good for very poor people (the only ones likely to go without) or whether tv, in this day and age, vaguely qualifies as a human right. Strange...
One thing's for sure, this is the end of 'country cable' as we knew it.
I never thought I would be defending the right to television in this blog: however, I can't decide whether this will be good for very poor people (the only ones likely to go without) or whether tv, in this day and age, vaguely qualifies as a human right. Strange...
One thing's for sure, this is the end of 'country cable' as we knew it.
Saturday, October 13, 2007
Langdon, the Bugle and media in NB
An unbelievable story is unfolding here in Woodstock-Ken Langdon has resigned from the Bugle to start a competing paper. To put this in perspective, only 2 English language papers in the entire province are not part of the Irving media empire (and one in French, I believe).
In the words of Senator Joan Fraser "we didn't find anywhere else in the developed world a situation like the situation in New Brunswick."
You can read the background info from CBC here and here. Robert Jones' audio report on the rare legal order used to search Langdon's home at is posted cbc.ca/nb (down on the right).
To me, the most telling aspect of the case is that J.K Irving's rep, Victor Mlodecki, has basically refused to comment, only reiterating the arguments made in court documents. The Irving companies are normally agressive and spin everything as positively as possible. The fact that they are silent on this one probably means they want it to blow over quickly, with a minimum of controversy over the rare use of a private (ie. non-criminal) search warrant.
Regardless of all the mud-slinging, the fact remains that New Brunswick faces a very serious problem with media concentration (not to mention the concentration of political power). It is not healthy to have all the media in one province towing the same line. We need a diversity of viewpoints. Debate is at the heart of democracy, and good debate depends on freedom of information.
Last week mayors in Northern NB complained that the Irving papers no longer maintain offices to cover their communities. They are left without a voice, like many communities whose coverage comes 'from away'. Why shouldn't people have access to good quality local news? Because it's not good for the corporate bottom line?
The right to speak freely and be heard is essential. I sincerely hope the Carleton Free Press is successful, and at very least encourages people to think, discuss and take action to ensure we have access to all viewpoints.
In the words of Senator Joan Fraser "we didn't find anywhere else in the developed world a situation like the situation in New Brunswick."
You can read the background info from CBC here and here. Robert Jones' audio report on the rare legal order used to search Langdon's home at is posted cbc.ca/nb (down on the right).
To me, the most telling aspect of the case is that J.K Irving's rep, Victor Mlodecki, has basically refused to comment, only reiterating the arguments made in court documents. The Irving companies are normally agressive and spin everything as positively as possible. The fact that they are silent on this one probably means they want it to blow over quickly, with a minimum of controversy over the rare use of a private (ie. non-criminal) search warrant.
Regardless of all the mud-slinging, the fact remains that New Brunswick faces a very serious problem with media concentration (not to mention the concentration of political power). It is not healthy to have all the media in one province towing the same line. We need a diversity of viewpoints. Debate is at the heart of democracy, and good debate depends on freedom of information.
Last week mayors in Northern NB complained that the Irving papers no longer maintain offices to cover their communities. They are left without a voice, like many communities whose coverage comes 'from away'. Why shouldn't people have access to good quality local news? Because it's not good for the corporate bottom line?
The right to speak freely and be heard is essential. I sincerely hope the Carleton Free Press is successful, and at very least encourages people to think, discuss and take action to ensure we have access to all viewpoints.
Tuesday, October 02, 2007
Housing
Interesting article on housing artists and development in Toronto. The most important factor in developing an artistic enclave is affordable rent.
http://www.dominionpaper.ca/articles/1295
http://www.dominionpaper.ca/articles/1295
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