Time and time again, I hear people talk about being happy - as in "he makes me so happy" or "I just don't feel happy" or the ubiquitous "do whatever makes you happy." And then, of course, there is the infamous reference to "life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness" in the US Declaration of Independence.
Lately happiness has become a major topic of discussion around here - with some projects completed we have time to reflect on what might be next. As I work further into my adult years (indeed, the big 30 is just around the corner) I can see why people get worn down and start to lose touch with the joy in their lives. Being an adult is tough and sometimes I wonder if my generation is prepared for the realities of adulthood - the necessity of working, whether it be for financial gain or in relationships with those around us, and the realization that bad things often happen to good people.
In any case, here is a great podcast called "Just Say No to Happiness." It begins with an interview with the author of "The Happiness Project," which has been on best-seller lists since 2009, and concludes with great discussions about suffering, the psychology of morality, the necessity of faith and how ultimately, depth and meaning are more important than 'happiness.' So if you're wondering if you'll ever be happy, check this out. It may re-assure that there is much more to human existence than yellow smiley faces.
Monday, September 19, 2011
Saturday, September 03, 2011
What to do with two gigantic zucchinis
It's the most wonderful vegetable time of the year! Late August and September are when I revel in being a vegetarian - so much to eat, so little time. This year our garden hasn't been the greatest but I have been getting some local produce from George at Uphill Garden and also bought a decent supply of winter garlic from my friend RW. Delicious!!
My mom also gave me two gigantic zucchinis - so now everyday we are trying to eat it so it won't go to waste. Below are a couple of recipes I've been using. Maybe you are also faced with a glut of zucchini and don't know what to do with it. Enjoy and happy Labour Day weekend.
Zucchini Bruschetta
Make or buy a pizza dough.
If you make it from scratch (which I like to with 50% Speerville Red Fife Flour), pre-cook it about 15 minutes so it will crisp up better.
In the meantime, thinly slice 2 cups of zucchini and grill them in the oven to eliminate some of the water (big zucchinis are bad this way).
In a bowl, mix: fresh or dried basil, (1/4c fresh or 1 tbsp dry), 1 tsp. dried oregano, 2 tbsp. dried parsley, 1-3 cloves of garlic depending on your love of garlic, 1/4 cup diced onion, 1/2 cup chopped tomato, the zucchini from the oven, 2-3 tbsp. olive oil, salt and pepper. Mix well so oil and spices coat toppings.
When the bread comes out of the oven (or if you bought the dough) cover with toppings and spread out evenly. Add feta or mozzerella cheese to taste. Bake in oven for 15-20 mins. @ 375 degrees. Cool and slice. Great as a group appetizer (makes enough for a 14-16" dough) or with a meal.
Zucchini Muffins - today's project
•2/3 cup vegetable oil
•2 large eggs
•2/3 cup granulated sugar (I will use less)
•1/2 cup light or dark brown sugar, packed
•1 teaspoon vanilla extract
•2 cups all-purpose flour (I will use 50% Red Fife)
•1/2 teaspoon baking soda
•1/2 teaspoon baking powder
•1/2 teaspoon salt
•2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
•1 1/2 cups finely shredded unpeeled zucchini
•1/2 cup finely shredded carrot
I will also add 1/4 cup chopped walnuts
Grease and flour 12 muffin cups. Heat oven to 375°.
In a mixing bowl, beat the oil with eggs, sugars, and vanilla extract.
Combine the flour, soda, baking powder, salt and cinnamon; add to the wet ingredients; stirring until blended. Fold in the shredded zucchini and carrots.
Fill muffin cups about 3/4 full; sprinkle with cinnamon sugar or granulated sugar, if desired. Bake for 20 minutes. Makes 12.
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If all else fails and my zucchini are still around on Monday, I will make a big veg lasagna and could freeze it for later. Enjoy!
My mom also gave me two gigantic zucchinis - so now everyday we are trying to eat it so it won't go to waste. Below are a couple of recipes I've been using. Maybe you are also faced with a glut of zucchini and don't know what to do with it. Enjoy and happy Labour Day weekend.
Zucchini Bruschetta
Make or buy a pizza dough.
If you make it from scratch (which I like to with 50% Speerville Red Fife Flour), pre-cook it about 15 minutes so it will crisp up better.
In the meantime, thinly slice 2 cups of zucchini and grill them in the oven to eliminate some of the water (big zucchinis are bad this way).
In a bowl, mix: fresh or dried basil, (1/4c fresh or 1 tbsp dry), 1 tsp. dried oregano, 2 tbsp. dried parsley, 1-3 cloves of garlic depending on your love of garlic, 1/4 cup diced onion, 1/2 cup chopped tomato, the zucchini from the oven, 2-3 tbsp. olive oil, salt and pepper. Mix well so oil and spices coat toppings.
When the bread comes out of the oven (or if you bought the dough) cover with toppings and spread out evenly. Add feta or mozzerella cheese to taste. Bake in oven for 15-20 mins. @ 375 degrees. Cool and slice. Great as a group appetizer (makes enough for a 14-16" dough) or with a meal.
Zucchini Muffins - today's project
•2/3 cup vegetable oil
•2 large eggs
•2/3 cup granulated sugar (I will use less)
•1/2 cup light or dark brown sugar, packed
•1 teaspoon vanilla extract
•2 cups all-purpose flour (I will use 50% Red Fife)
•1/2 teaspoon baking soda
•1/2 teaspoon baking powder
•1/2 teaspoon salt
•2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
•1 1/2 cups finely shredded unpeeled zucchini
•1/2 cup finely shredded carrot
I will also add 1/4 cup chopped walnuts
Grease and flour 12 muffin cups. Heat oven to 375°.
In a mixing bowl, beat the oil with eggs, sugars, and vanilla extract.
Combine the flour, soda, baking powder, salt and cinnamon; add to the wet ingredients; stirring until blended. Fold in the shredded zucchini and carrots.
Fill muffin cups about 3/4 full; sprinkle with cinnamon sugar or granulated sugar, if desired. Bake for 20 minutes. Makes 12.
-------------
If all else fails and my zucchini are still around on Monday, I will make a big veg lasagna and could freeze it for later. Enjoy!
Friday, September 02, 2011
A Learning Farm
This interview on CBC's Shift tells the story of a 114-acre farm near Woodstock that will become a learning centre for marginalized people. Very exciting, especially considering all the problems I was reading about yesterday. Thank goodness for practical people who actually attempt to solve problems. What a debt we owe these guys.
Never forget that a farmer wrote the Declaration of Independence.
Never forget that a farmer wrote the Declaration of Independence.
Thursday, September 01, 2011
Food, jobs, debt
Debt seems to be a topic-du-jour around here lately. Not only personal debt, mortgages and student loans, but also national debts ceilings and 'bailouts.' We watched "Inside Job" again, which you really need to see. It does a great job explaining how Wall Street bankers made a system 'too big to fail,' pushed it off a cliff, and then collected a huge payout from taxpayers. But I digress.
On the topic of debt, this afternoon on facebook, my friend Dru shared an interview with British activist David Graber entitled "Debt, Slavery and Our Idea of Freedom." In the article, Graeber talks about how we now use the same langugage to talk about debt and morality - for example, that we have a moral duty to be financially responsible and pay our bills, and if we don't, it's because we're 'bad' people. Now, I'm not calling you bad but if you've ever had a phone call from a collection agency, you know what I'm talking about.
Graeber also talks about how very wealthy people often write off each other's debts, and very poor people often give each other 'loans' that are actually gifts, but when the transaction is between a rich person and a poor person, then it becomes a question of 'moral obligations' for the repayment to be made. He also points out that "Sanskrit, Hebrew and Aramaic all use the same words for ‘debt’ as for ‘sin,’" which was interesting, but maybe not too surprising.
Knowing you are highly in debt - or "highly in sin" as Graeber might say, is mentally exhausting. It has a tremendous impact on your day-to-day life and stress levels. Many people are struggling to juggle bills and make ends meet, and when another person posted a link about how school breakfast/nutrition programs are not fixing the problems with child hunger and food insecurity in Canada, I was very disheartened.
The author says that movements towards local and organic have overwhelmed the discussion of policy changes needed to eliminate food insecurity in Canada - that we should also be focused on "housing, employment, childcare, and the protection of staples." She echoes what I have read elsewhere - that gainful employment is increasingly hard to find. Apparently many people who are food insecure are not welfare recipients, they are working poor. In her words:
There are some very important issues emerging now with our working poor, such as the precariousness of employment, the notion of employment protection and eligibility for employment insurance. This means the vast majority of those who are food insecure in Canada are those whose income is almost exclusively from earnings and salary, and not from income support.
It concerns me that we have a system that pays corrupt and morally bankrupt bankers, but working people cannot earn enough to keep an warm apartment and food in the fridge. These are not people laying around watching reality television all day, they are people serving coffee at drive-through windows and caring for the elderly. I couldn't help but think of those famous words from the King James version of the Lord's Prayer.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.
As much as I love to trash facebook sometimes, the links people post really do make me think. Frank McKenna famously stated that in his opinion "the best social program is a job" but you've really gotta reconsider when that won't pay the rent and put food on the table. Methinks this song is due for a revival.
On the topic of debt, this afternoon on facebook, my friend Dru shared an interview with British activist David Graber entitled "Debt, Slavery and Our Idea of Freedom." In the article, Graeber talks about how we now use the same langugage to talk about debt and morality - for example, that we have a moral duty to be financially responsible and pay our bills, and if we don't, it's because we're 'bad' people. Now, I'm not calling you bad but if you've ever had a phone call from a collection agency, you know what I'm talking about.
Graeber also talks about how very wealthy people often write off each other's debts, and very poor people often give each other 'loans' that are actually gifts, but when the transaction is between a rich person and a poor person, then it becomes a question of 'moral obligations' for the repayment to be made. He also points out that "Sanskrit, Hebrew and Aramaic all use the same words for ‘debt’ as for ‘sin,’" which was interesting, but maybe not too surprising.
Knowing you are highly in debt - or "highly in sin" as Graeber might say, is mentally exhausting. It has a tremendous impact on your day-to-day life and stress levels. Many people are struggling to juggle bills and make ends meet, and when another person posted a link about how school breakfast/nutrition programs are not fixing the problems with child hunger and food insecurity in Canada, I was very disheartened.
The author says that movements towards local and organic have overwhelmed the discussion of policy changes needed to eliminate food insecurity in Canada - that we should also be focused on "housing, employment, childcare, and the protection of staples." She echoes what I have read elsewhere - that gainful employment is increasingly hard to find. Apparently many people who are food insecure are not welfare recipients, they are working poor. In her words:
There are some very important issues emerging now with our working poor, such as the precariousness of employment, the notion of employment protection and eligibility for employment insurance. This means the vast majority of those who are food insecure in Canada are those whose income is almost exclusively from earnings and salary, and not from income support.
It concerns me that we have a system that pays corrupt and morally bankrupt bankers, but working people cannot earn enough to keep an warm apartment and food in the fridge. These are not people laying around watching reality television all day, they are people serving coffee at drive-through windows and caring for the elderly. I couldn't help but think of those famous words from the King James version of the Lord's Prayer.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.
As much as I love to trash facebook sometimes, the links people post really do make me think. Frank McKenna famously stated that in his opinion "the best social program is a job" but you've really gotta reconsider when that won't pay the rent and put food on the table. Methinks this song is due for a revival.
Monday, August 29, 2011
Not so fast, funny girl
I used to read the Globe and Mail a lot. A major part of my Saturday student routine involved getting some take-out curry and German pastries, and hunkering down with the massive Saturday paper, to read all afternoon. What luxury! When I was at Mount A., I read some excellent features about the HIV/AIDS epidemic and women, a great piece on Jean Chretien's wiles as a Shawinigan schoolboy, Mark Miller's eminent jazz reviews, not to mention an entire section devoted to book reviews.
Occasionally, I would read Leah McLaren's column, and although sometimes her sarcasm directed at people who take themselves too seriously made me laugh, I never was into her 'cool girl' vibe. I am too much of a nerd at heart, go figure.
So, when I came across this article in Maisonneuve Magazine - which I love, love, love for its intelligent eclecticism- I wasn't too surprised tolearn that Leah McLaren had written a column about why women aren't funny. Turns out she was opining about a piece by Christopher Hitchens ( here it is too ), who basically says that women aren't funny because we have ovaries, which lead to babies, which leads to a one-way ticket to no-funny-land. How about that.
But although I do think parenting must inevitably make your life more serious, I think that women are funny. I have seen many gatherings of silly women who laugh until the tears stream down their faces. My sisters and I have done this on many occasions - and not just because we were being wooed by a man (do men today still woo? hmmm). And I know some funny, funny girls who have a way of just putting the truth out there, in a roarious, pants-down, how do you like me now kinda way.
So although many of the standard forms of humour may have been originated by men, I do think women use them, and I am thankful for anyone and everyone who can make me laugh. Sometimes it's the only defence I have against this grim world.
Occasionally, I would read Leah McLaren's column, and although sometimes her sarcasm directed at people who take themselves too seriously made me laugh, I never was into her 'cool girl' vibe. I am too much of a nerd at heart, go figure.
So, when I came across this article in Maisonneuve Magazine - which I love, love, love for its intelligent eclecticism- I wasn't too surprised tolearn that Leah McLaren had written a column about why women aren't funny. Turns out she was opining about a piece by Christopher Hitchens ( here it is too ), who basically says that women aren't funny because we have ovaries, which lead to babies, which leads to a one-way ticket to no-funny-land. How about that.
But although I do think parenting must inevitably make your life more serious, I think that women are funny. I have seen many gatherings of silly women who laugh until the tears stream down their faces. My sisters and I have done this on many occasions - and not just because we were being wooed by a man (do men today still woo? hmmm). And I know some funny, funny girls who have a way of just putting the truth out there, in a roarious, pants-down, how do you like me now kinda way.
So although many of the standard forms of humour may have been originated by men, I do think women use them, and I am thankful for anyone and everyone who can make me laugh. Sometimes it's the only defence I have against this grim world.
Wednesday, August 24, 2011
It doesn't fall from the sky, you know
I love watching elections, and I stayed up til the bitter end for the last federal election. Now I am glad, because although I was maddened by the majority government the Conservatives achieved with a minority of the popular vote, I did get to see Jack Layton's speech as incoming Leader of the Opposition. Watching Layton, Harper and Ignatieff that evening (not to mention the jubliant Elizabeth May), it wasn't hard to see why the voters did what they did.
So it's heartbreaking to see Layton's passing without him ever having the chance to put the heat to the PM, in Parliament, as the Leader of the Opposition. There are no guarantees in life, are there? But beyond elections, when I watched Jack Layton speak I could tell that he was a 'man on the move' and that he was the rare sort of leader who pushed his staff, not the other way around.
Here's what Paul Wells said about Jack Layton:
Today everyone will be writing and talking about his last campaign, the one he fought with a cane and a smile, as sustained a feat of physical courage and political agility as any I’ve seen in all my years covering this business. But I think it’s important to recognize that his party’s final breakthrough was no fluke. It was the product of a lifetime’s preparation and a decade’s effort, concentration and adaptation. It was the work of a man who won over his party, then his caucus colleagues, then his party’s traditional voters, then hundreds of thousands of new supporters. Jack Layton promised to build, and he was as good as his word.
So here's to you Jack - well done, good and faithful servant. Thanks for reminding us it can be done.
So it's heartbreaking to see Layton's passing without him ever having the chance to put the heat to the PM, in Parliament, as the Leader of the Opposition. There are no guarantees in life, are there? But beyond elections, when I watched Jack Layton speak I could tell that he was a 'man on the move' and that he was the rare sort of leader who pushed his staff, not the other way around.
Here's what Paul Wells said about Jack Layton:
Today everyone will be writing and talking about his last campaign, the one he fought with a cane and a smile, as sustained a feat of physical courage and political agility as any I’ve seen in all my years covering this business. But I think it’s important to recognize that his party’s final breakthrough was no fluke. It was the product of a lifetime’s preparation and a decade’s effort, concentration and adaptation. It was the work of a man who won over his party, then his caucus colleagues, then his party’s traditional voters, then hundreds of thousands of new supporters. Jack Layton promised to build, and he was as good as his word.
So here's to you Jack - well done, good and faithful servant. Thanks for reminding us it can be done.
Monday, August 22, 2011
"Out of the Mountain of Despair, a Stone of Hope
It has taken nearly 20 years to complete a monument in Washington, DC, in honour of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
Over the summer, I read an excellent biography of Thomas Jefferson. The book details Jefferson's many intellecutal accomplishments: the writing of Notes on Virginia, the Declaration of Independence and Jefferson's remarkable intellectual strengths and his depth of feeling for fellow human beings.
This biography also dealt with the issue of him being a slave owner and maintaining a life-long relationship with his slave Sally Hemings (after the death of his first wife). Since then I have been reading a bit about the British colonization of North America and their attitudes towards the slave trade, all of which has given me a much greater perspective on the struggles of a.) Americans to gain their democratic freedom b.) the descendants of African slaves and their generations-long attempt to win justice and equality for themselves.
Oftentimes, we who are involved in movements for change are too impatient and we sell ourselves short. We think we have not succeeded because tomorrow things will be largely as they are today. But reflecting on the 'long train of history' - from 1948's "I Have a Dream" until today's reality, that a black family lives in the "white house," we see that culture does change, and that individuals do make a difference.
So when I heard they carved on the side of the monument "With this faith we will be able to hew out of the mountain of despair a stone of hope" - which comes from the "I Have a Dream" speech, it reminded me that human beings have the remarkable capacity to change the world for the better.
It's hard to believe that it took so long for a man who did so much for so many to be memorialized (rightfully) among Washington, Jefferson and Lincoln. But some things do change, after all.
Over the summer, I read an excellent biography of Thomas Jefferson. The book details Jefferson's many intellecutal accomplishments: the writing of Notes on Virginia, the Declaration of Independence and Jefferson's remarkable intellectual strengths and his depth of feeling for fellow human beings.
This biography also dealt with the issue of him being a slave owner and maintaining a life-long relationship with his slave Sally Hemings (after the death of his first wife). Since then I have been reading a bit about the British colonization of North America and their attitudes towards the slave trade, all of which has given me a much greater perspective on the struggles of a.) Americans to gain their democratic freedom b.) the descendants of African slaves and their generations-long attempt to win justice and equality for themselves.
Oftentimes, we who are involved in movements for change are too impatient and we sell ourselves short. We think we have not succeeded because tomorrow things will be largely as they are today. But reflecting on the 'long train of history' - from 1948's "I Have a Dream" until today's reality, that a black family lives in the "white house," we see that culture does change, and that individuals do make a difference.
So when I heard they carved on the side of the monument "With this faith we will be able to hew out of the mountain of despair a stone of hope" - which comes from the "I Have a Dream" speech, it reminded me that human beings have the remarkable capacity to change the world for the better.
It's hard to believe that it took so long for a man who did so much for so many to be memorialized (rightfully) among Washington, Jefferson and Lincoln. But some things do change, after all.
Thanks, kids!
The subject of children seems to be everywhere in my life right now. We can't decide if or when we might want to have our own children but people ask me all the time - people at work, relatives on both sides of our family, even strangers. I love kids and I always have - they are so interesting in the way they look at the world. I find their observations to be so clear at times, they have a way of getting right to the truth, and it's not always the truth we are looking for.
Recently my friend Richard Wetmore completed an album of songs about food and food production. He is an organic farmer and works at Speerville Mill, where you should be buying your grains, if you aren't already. Although Richard's songs have a lot of strong statements about the dangers of industrial agriculture, it is his attitude towards children that stands out for me. When is the last time you saw a fitysomething man state (sing) in public that "childcare should be at the top of our list, because what's more important than that?" Not lately....
I had a wonderful childhood - despite my mom being sick with cancer and despite my family not having a lot of money. But we weren't 'hurried' and we weren't medicated and we ate food straight out of the garden and were very close with our extended family. So looking back I do miss those sunny days of bike rides and swimming and playing on our grandparents farm. And I look at what some kids have to contend with these days (lingerie lines for 8 year olds, princess culture, bullying, etc.) and I don't feel too good about our society.
Here's a great article on the need to protect children from big business and here's a link to a great CBC podcast about the trend towards turning 2 year olds into academic stars. Not kidding, unfortunately. Something to chew on just in time for back to school.
One of the best parts of the Dooryard Festival was watching the kids go nuts with the sidewalk chalk at the mainstage on Saturday. They had that place as vibrant as could be, and they told me they were making a dance floor. Now that's a world I can enjoy. Thank goodness for kids, the world would be a terrible place without them.
Recently my friend Richard Wetmore completed an album of songs about food and food production. He is an organic farmer and works at Speerville Mill, where you should be buying your grains, if you aren't already. Although Richard's songs have a lot of strong statements about the dangers of industrial agriculture, it is his attitude towards children that stands out for me. When is the last time you saw a fitysomething man state (sing) in public that "childcare should be at the top of our list, because what's more important than that?" Not lately....
I had a wonderful childhood - despite my mom being sick with cancer and despite my family not having a lot of money. But we weren't 'hurried' and we weren't medicated and we ate food straight out of the garden and were very close with our extended family. So looking back I do miss those sunny days of bike rides and swimming and playing on our grandparents farm. And I look at what some kids have to contend with these days (lingerie lines for 8 year olds, princess culture, bullying, etc.) and I don't feel too good about our society.
Here's a great article on the need to protect children from big business and here's a link to a great CBC podcast about the trend towards turning 2 year olds into academic stars. Not kidding, unfortunately. Something to chew on just in time for back to school.
One of the best parts of the Dooryard Festival was watching the kids go nuts with the sidewalk chalk at the mainstage on Saturday. They had that place as vibrant as could be, and they told me they were making a dance floor. Now that's a world I can enjoy. Thank goodness for kids, the world would be a terrible place without them.
Wednesday, August 17, 2011
Always building
On days like this, I know I am obsessed. I can't stop thinking about all the possibilities: a great start for our business expansion - now renamed the Centre for Culture and Creativity, a bigger profile for the Dooryard Arts Festival, and better local co-operation on markets and small businesses, among other things.
I did plan a short culture vacation for next weekend - we'll take in a few sites in southern NB (agricultural and cultural), then on to a new production in Parrsboro (Ship's Company Theatre) and Halifax (Shakespeare and Bill Murray on the weekend). When we go on vacation, we are always looking for great ideas we can emulate at home.
One thing I have noticed many times is that we have all the building blocks here to welcome cultural tourists, but we're not organized enough. And we're too damn modest, pardon my backwoods language. The scenery here is absolutely stunning, the people as friendly as any self-respecting Maritimers, the B&B's equally elegant, the concerts just as affordable. But we don't brag about it and we don't use media/advertising properly.
This fall I would like to host a get-together to strategize for next year's summer season. Over 30 million vehicles drive through this valley in a year. New people are moving here and they have great ideas about how to enjoy living in one of the most beautiful parts of North America.
Check out the Golden Unicorn Arts Festival - run by some people from BC who are getting into organic/local food production. Also, I've tested all the links to your right and eliminated the out-of-date or broken links. Take a look, there's more going on here than meets the eye.
Hope you're eating locally! Stay tuned as the craziness of fall unfolds.
I did plan a short culture vacation for next weekend - we'll take in a few sites in southern NB (agricultural and cultural), then on to a new production in Parrsboro (Ship's Company Theatre) and Halifax (Shakespeare and Bill Murray on the weekend). When we go on vacation, we are always looking for great ideas we can emulate at home.
One thing I have noticed many times is that we have all the building blocks here to welcome cultural tourists, but we're not organized enough. And we're too damn modest, pardon my backwoods language. The scenery here is absolutely stunning, the people as friendly as any self-respecting Maritimers, the B&B's equally elegant, the concerts just as affordable. But we don't brag about it and we don't use media/advertising properly.
This fall I would like to host a get-together to strategize for next year's summer season. Over 30 million vehicles drive through this valley in a year. New people are moving here and they have great ideas about how to enjoy living in one of the most beautiful parts of North America.
Check out the Golden Unicorn Arts Festival - run by some people from BC who are getting into organic/local food production. Also, I've tested all the links to your right and eliminated the out-of-date or broken links. Take a look, there's more going on here than meets the eye.
Hope you're eating locally! Stay tuned as the craziness of fall unfolds.
Monday, August 08, 2011
Charmed, I'm sure
Usually, at this time of year all I can think about is the Dooryard Arts Festival. When you spend a whole year planning something, it's natural to be mildly obsessed when it actually comes to pass. This year, I've taken one year off from the RiVA Board of Directors in order to take care of some house/home/heart projects.
It's been good, but it feels kind of surreal to see the festival I helped begin take place entirely without my input. It's good - it gives me hope that the model we've created will have some longevity, and it feels good to see the broader community taking ownership and even getting excited about having music, art, film and theatre take over their downtown for four days.
Seven years ago, when I moved home from Sackville, there were barely any musical/artistic events to speak of. No exhibits (except at the library), few concerts (attendance was poor), and no drinking outside in public (except at the occasional beer garden or fundraising dance). Young people ages 18-35 were completely invisible in the town landscape - there was no place to hang, and nothing to do. Sometimes things change so slowly we don't perceive the difference. Today ,Woodstock is different, and tonight, on the eve of Dooryard's third edition, it's clear that our little festival has taken on a strength of its own.
It is easy to get depressed about New Brunswick - why don't we have a cultural identity? why are we so poor? why does everyone leave? . . . but on the other hand, if you really observe a place and listen to the things people say, it is possible to create a new culture where people can contribute to something that makes them proud.
Let's face it, it's easy to get depressed about practically anything, given the state of the world today. But it's a heck of a lot more fun to go downtown, celebrate being in the Dooryard for another summer, with people who actually understand what a Dooryard is. And having been 'away,' I can tell you that not everyone has a clue about what a Dooryard is.
So, in honour of the Dooryard Arts Festival's third edition (which starts Wednesday, schedule is here) here is my customary 10 Things Not to Miss at Dooryard 2011 list. Enjoy and see you in the Dooryard!
Ten Things You'd be Foolish to Miss at Dooryard 2011 - the completely biased and subjective edition
10. Free noontime showcases in the Town Square.
9. The return of Charlie Bomb, Ricky 6 and more great NB films at the Dooryard Film Fest (Wedneday, 10pm)
8. 8 FREE Wokshops from makeup to pottery, to t-shirt painting, to ukulele. That's right, ukulele
7. Valley Young Company premieres Step Taylor's new play "Screwjob" Wednesday night at WHS. VYC will take this show on tour across NB after Dooryard is over.
6. Tracy and the Hurtin' Hearts (Wednesday at Connell House). My sister debuts her new CD with a sizzling 5 piece band in a great venue!
5. 5 hours of FREE mainstage music on Saturday (11-4pm)
4. Sally Dibblee with Andrea Dickson (Thursday at Connell House). Two of the most talented classical musicians ever to emerge from Carleton County. Guaranteed to be a stunning collaboration.
3. Longtime Woodstock favourites Transatlantic Zodiac Ensemble close down the Mainstage Thursday evening. Some of the best players I've heard in years are in this band, don't miss it.
.
2. Meghan Smith with Chris Kirby (Saturday 6:15pm). Two of the brightest up-and-comers on the East Coast and Canadian music scene.
1. The Saturday Dooryard Market. A little slice of city, with food, music, vendors and all right here at home.
It's been good, but it feels kind of surreal to see the festival I helped begin take place entirely without my input. It's good - it gives me hope that the model we've created will have some longevity, and it feels good to see the broader community taking ownership and even getting excited about having music, art, film and theatre take over their downtown for four days.
Seven years ago, when I moved home from Sackville, there were barely any musical/artistic events to speak of. No exhibits (except at the library), few concerts (attendance was poor), and no drinking outside in public (except at the occasional beer garden or fundraising dance). Young people ages 18-35 were completely invisible in the town landscape - there was no place to hang, and nothing to do. Sometimes things change so slowly we don't perceive the difference. Today ,Woodstock is different, and tonight, on the eve of Dooryard's third edition, it's clear that our little festival has taken on a strength of its own.
It is easy to get depressed about New Brunswick - why don't we have a cultural identity? why are we so poor? why does everyone leave? . . . but on the other hand, if you really observe a place and listen to the things people say, it is possible to create a new culture where people can contribute to something that makes them proud.
Let's face it, it's easy to get depressed about practically anything, given the state of the world today. But it's a heck of a lot more fun to go downtown, celebrate being in the Dooryard for another summer, with people who actually understand what a Dooryard is. And having been 'away,' I can tell you that not everyone has a clue about what a Dooryard is.
So, in honour of the Dooryard Arts Festival's third edition (which starts Wednesday, schedule is here) here is my customary 10 Things Not to Miss at Dooryard 2011 list. Enjoy and see you in the Dooryard!
Ten Things You'd be Foolish to Miss at Dooryard 2011 - the completely biased and subjective edition
10. Free noontime showcases in the Town Square.
9. The return of Charlie Bomb, Ricky 6 and more great NB films at the Dooryard Film Fest (Wedneday, 10pm)
8. 8 FREE Wokshops from makeup to pottery, to t-shirt painting, to ukulele. That's right, ukulele
7. Valley Young Company premieres Step Taylor's new play "Screwjob" Wednesday night at WHS. VYC will take this show on tour across NB after Dooryard is over.
6. Tracy and the Hurtin' Hearts (Wednesday at Connell House). My sister debuts her new CD with a sizzling 5 piece band in a great venue!
5. 5 hours of FREE mainstage music on Saturday (11-4pm)
4. Sally Dibblee with Andrea Dickson (Thursday at Connell House). Two of the most talented classical musicians ever to emerge from Carleton County. Guaranteed to be a stunning collaboration.
3. Longtime Woodstock favourites Transatlantic Zodiac Ensemble close down the Mainstage Thursday evening. Some of the best players I've heard in years are in this band, don't miss it.
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2. Meghan Smith with Chris Kirby (Saturday 6:15pm). Two of the brightest up-and-comers on the East Coast and Canadian music scene.
1. The Saturday Dooryard Market. A little slice of city, with food, music, vendors and all right here at home.
Tuesday, July 26, 2011
We're our own boss
Haven't been blogging much because we've been too busy working - on the house, on the business, and on Tracy's new live project "Tracy and the Hurtin' Hearts." CD's have arrived, if you haven't heard!!
But do not despair, here's a fabulous piece by my friend Dru, who attended a conference in Baltimore about "Workplace Democracy." He talked to dozens of people who are building co-operative businesses - businesses that are owned by the people who work there. An excerpt:
Finally, an interest of mine that seems to be lurking beneath the surface of a lot of discussions is our societally-limited sense of self which seems to interfere with non-
hierarchical cooperation. At least one other person is having similar thoughts:
I think worker co-ops need to change mantra from "I'm my own boss" to "we're our own boss"" - throw off the mantra of individualism.
As a (north american non-indigenous) rule, we're trained culturally to be either subservient automatons or ego-visionary individual celebrities. A major obstacle to collective management is that there's an empty space where the in-between option of cooperation should be. The lack of positive examples of building trust in a collective vision and the accompanying day to day practices seems to be one of the main impediments to building workplace democracy. I've recently been privy to some experiences that are both inspiring in terms of people's ability to overcome these issues, but which have simultaneously confirmed the need for significant steps in terms of addressing this cultural deficit.
Dru paints a great picture of the types of work people are doing in co-ops, from dog-walking to brush manufacturing, to IT work. Check it out!
But do not despair, here's a fabulous piece by my friend Dru, who attended a conference in Baltimore about "Workplace Democracy." He talked to dozens of people who are building co-operative businesses - businesses that are owned by the people who work there. An excerpt:
Finally, an interest of mine that seems to be lurking beneath the surface of a lot of discussions is our societally-limited sense of self which seems to interfere with non-
hierarchical cooperation. At least one other person is having similar thoughts:
I think worker co-ops need to change mantra from "I'm my own boss" to "we're our own boss"" - throw off the mantra of individualism.
As a (north american non-indigenous) rule, we're trained culturally to be either subservient automatons or ego-visionary individual celebrities. A major obstacle to collective management is that there's an empty space where the in-between option of cooperation should be. The lack of positive examples of building trust in a collective vision and the accompanying day to day practices seems to be one of the main impediments to building workplace democracy. I've recently been privy to some experiences that are both inspiring in terms of people's ability to overcome these issues, but which have simultaneously confirmed the need for significant steps in terms of addressing this cultural deficit.
Dru paints a great picture of the types of work people are doing in co-ops, from dog-walking to brush manufacturing, to IT work. Check it out!
Saturday, July 09, 2011
You won't read this on the TV news
A rising star of Quebec journalism quits his job and reflects on his despair at where Canada is headed politically, at home and internationally.
Thursday, July 07, 2011
My real major? Student loan repayment!
Finally, an article about student debt in the Globe and Mail. I cannot tell you how many hopeless conversations I've had when the "how am I ever going to repay my student loan?" remark comes up at parties. It is one of the most instantly demoralizing topics to discuss with people between the ages of 20-40.
I think student debt is the unifying issue for young Canadians right now. The current interest rate on my loan is prime plus 2% if I let it float (ie. 4.5%) or prime plus 5% (7.5%) if I lock it in. For some people with large loans (and I know people who owe 40-50k plus), the daily interest alone is more than gas or groceries. I know some people who don't even open their student loan statements because it is too demoralizing. I wouldn't recommend this but it's true.
With real wages in decline and good jobs harder to find, it's no wonder many young people can't afford to leave their parents' nest. I can't see how many people afford to buy a house, car or condo without their parents' financial assistance. People wonder why the Canadian birth rate is so low, but who could afford to have kids when they haven't even finished paying for their first degree?
As a result, there are a lot of semi-employed, highly educated young Canadians out there right now. Which might be good for the "teaching English abroad" companies, but isn't doing much to better Canadian society. It's a shame more adults don't encourage high schoolers to consider a skilled trade, when a university degree is no longer a guarantee for a good job.
The number one reason I chose not to apply to grad school was the uncertainty of landing a job afterwards. Five more years, then slug it out to become a university prof and live far away from my family? Non, merci.
As a result, I moved home and spent three years walking before I got a hand-me-down car when my grandmother passed away. During those mornings when I would walk in the freezing cold to work, I would tell myself, "you're walking off your student loan, you're walking off your student loan." I'm not whining, there are many people in the world who deal with much worse on a daily basis.
But I find it disheartening that a society which claims to value 'education' would place such a tremendous financial burden on young people seeking to get an education.
I think student debt is the unifying issue for young Canadians right now. The current interest rate on my loan is prime plus 2% if I let it float (ie. 4.5%) or prime plus 5% (7.5%) if I lock it in. For some people with large loans (and I know people who owe 40-50k plus), the daily interest alone is more than gas or groceries. I know some people who don't even open their student loan statements because it is too demoralizing. I wouldn't recommend this but it's true.
With real wages in decline and good jobs harder to find, it's no wonder many young people can't afford to leave their parents' nest. I can't see how many people afford to buy a house, car or condo without their parents' financial assistance. People wonder why the Canadian birth rate is so low, but who could afford to have kids when they haven't even finished paying for their first degree?
As a result, there are a lot of semi-employed, highly educated young Canadians out there right now. Which might be good for the "teaching English abroad" companies, but isn't doing much to better Canadian society. It's a shame more adults don't encourage high schoolers to consider a skilled trade, when a university degree is no longer a guarantee for a good job.
The number one reason I chose not to apply to grad school was the uncertainty of landing a job afterwards. Five more years, then slug it out to become a university prof and live far away from my family? Non, merci.
As a result, I moved home and spent three years walking before I got a hand-me-down car when my grandmother passed away. During those mornings when I would walk in the freezing cold to work, I would tell myself, "you're walking off your student loan, you're walking off your student loan." I'm not whining, there are many people in the world who deal with much worse on a daily basis.
But I find it disheartening that a society which claims to value 'education' would place such a tremendous financial burden on young people seeking to get an education.
Wednesday, July 06, 2011
Berries on the web
Haynes' berry farm is now on the web. I was there yesterday and there were lots of berries to be had. $1.75 for U-pick berries and $3.00 for all picked. Forget those California golf balls dressed up like strawberries and go get some of the real thing. They freeze well too and are delicious in smoothies all year long.
Tuesday, June 28, 2011
The pressure's on
The government was going to reduce the amount of wood allowed to be cut from Crown lands. Then the forest industry (I won't say Irving because they're not the only ones) started lobbying for more wood.
Read about it here. Apparently the forest hasn't been regenerating as quickly as the computer models predicted.
Read about it here. Apparently the forest hasn't been regenerating as quickly as the computer models predicted.
Monday, June 27, 2011
Sound Off
The forestry battle is on again - though it's so quiet, you can't hear it if you aren't listening closely.
I noticed in last Friday's edition of the Bugle (our local Irving-owned paper) that there was a press release dressed up as an editorial from a JDI spokesman. The spokesman was accusing David Coon of the Conservation Council of NB of manipulating the amount of wood that was cut from Crown Land last year.
I don't know enough about the documents to weigh in, but the Irving attack dog was clearly trying to put conservationists on the defensive, with the old line that we need to cut as many trees as possible in order to keep people working. Omitted from this line of reasoning is that NB employs steadily less and less people working ''in the woods" because of large forest-clearing machines favoured by companies such as JDI.
In the same edition of the paper (which isn't online so I can't link to it!), Jean Arnold of the Falls Brook Centre cited government figures that the Province of New Brunswick actually lost money on Crown Lands last year, by compensating companies for wood they were not allowed to cut. That's right, our largest collective resource actually cost the taxpayers money.
There is a constant conflict over Crown Land in New Brunswick - about which companies get to cut it, and how much, and for what price. And most of what really goes on is never fully explained - the story is told in cancelled press conferences, recommendations on 'wood supply' and commissions whose reports may never be implemented.
Here is a story from the Telegraph Journal (which this morning was trying to change the channel on the repeated calls for a shale gas moratorium, and instead encourage the peasants of NB to think about the royalties our government will get) about the debate over forestry in Millinocket, Maine.
People there are debating about whether to take land formerly used for logging and convert it to a national park. The thinking from the conservation side is that eco-tourism could potentially be a bigger economic boost than continuing to try your luck in the race-to-the-bottom of the global wood industry.
I noticed in last Friday's edition of the Bugle (our local Irving-owned paper) that there was a press release dressed up as an editorial from a JDI spokesman. The spokesman was accusing David Coon of the Conservation Council of NB of manipulating the amount of wood that was cut from Crown Land last year.
I don't know enough about the documents to weigh in, but the Irving attack dog was clearly trying to put conservationists on the defensive, with the old line that we need to cut as many trees as possible in order to keep people working. Omitted from this line of reasoning is that NB employs steadily less and less people working ''in the woods" because of large forest-clearing machines favoured by companies such as JDI.
In the same edition of the paper (which isn't online so I can't link to it!), Jean Arnold of the Falls Brook Centre cited government figures that the Province of New Brunswick actually lost money on Crown Lands last year, by compensating companies for wood they were not allowed to cut. That's right, our largest collective resource actually cost the taxpayers money.
There is a constant conflict over Crown Land in New Brunswick - about which companies get to cut it, and how much, and for what price. And most of what really goes on is never fully explained - the story is told in cancelled press conferences, recommendations on 'wood supply' and commissions whose reports may never be implemented.
Here is a story from the Telegraph Journal (which this morning was trying to change the channel on the repeated calls for a shale gas moratorium, and instead encourage the peasants of NB to think about the royalties our government will get) about the debate over forestry in Millinocket, Maine.
People there are debating about whether to take land formerly used for logging and convert it to a national park. The thinking from the conservation side is that eco-tourism could potentially be a bigger economic boost than continuing to try your luck in the race-to-the-bottom of the global wood industry.
Signed, sealed, delivered
I have mixed feelings about unions, probably because I hate beauraucracy and unnecessary rules with a passion. However, I think in general that unions are a big step forward for workers, who used to be bullied into taking whatever they could get for wages and forced into working in unsafe conditions. Lots of people seem to be of the opinion that the Canada Post workers, who are getting legislated back to work soon, are 'lazy' and 'spoiled.'
Like many, I have never enjoyed the (lack of) service that I have received from Canada Post. They've lost some things I shipped and are generally slower than slow. The Canada Post Corporation has been trying to take away the mailboxes of rural Canadians (claiming they are unsafe) and my parents had a particularly frustrating time dealing with an unnecessary change to their postal code - at an address they have lived at for more than 25 years.
This being said, I find the whole strike/lock-out and accompanying public debate is really missing the point. Whether letter carriers for Canada Post get paid x amount or work x amount of hours is a sideshow compared to the fact that Stephen Harper and his majority government are about to eliminate the right to collective bargaining in this case.
I never really understood what was going on until I read this column. Imagine the government being involved in your wage negotiations with your boss, and then telling you you must accept less than what your boss offered to begin with. Read the comments too, if you're inclined. Very interesting stuff.
Like many, I have never enjoyed the (lack of) service that I have received from Canada Post. They've lost some things I shipped and are generally slower than slow. The Canada Post Corporation has been trying to take away the mailboxes of rural Canadians (claiming they are unsafe) and my parents had a particularly frustrating time dealing with an unnecessary change to their postal code - at an address they have lived at for more than 25 years.
This being said, I find the whole strike/lock-out and accompanying public debate is really missing the point. Whether letter carriers for Canada Post get paid x amount or work x amount of hours is a sideshow compared to the fact that Stephen Harper and his majority government are about to eliminate the right to collective bargaining in this case.
I never really understood what was going on until I read this column. Imagine the government being involved in your wage negotiations with your boss, and then telling you you must accept less than what your boss offered to begin with. Read the comments too, if you're inclined. Very interesting stuff.
Tuesday, June 21, 2011
Fail again and fail better
My sister loves Tavis Smiley - and I love this video. Tavis is right, that failure is unavoidable, and it makes us who we are today. I think this is a message young people need to hear, and a message our school system ought to think long and hard about. I read once that nobody in Silicon Valley takes you seriously until you've had at least three failed businesses - by then you might know what you're doing.
Sunday, June 19, 2011
Tarring us all with the same brush
I couldn't believe my ears this morning when I found out that the Vancouver Police Chief has described the Stanley Cup rioters as "anarchists and criminals who appeared to be the same people involved in the pre-Olympic demonstrations and noted police saw many equipped with goggles, gasoline and other tools to create damage."
It is incomprehensible to me that the police chief would associate these drunken, testosterone crazed young men with people who had legitimate grounds to protest the Olympics. Protesting a decision to displace poor people and spend billions of dollars on militarizing the city of Vancouver is not the same as trashing a police car because your team lost the final hockey game of the season.
So far, the charges stemming from the Vancouver riot include: 101 arrests, with 85 charged with breach of the peace, eight charged with public intoxication and eight charged with Criminal Code offences including theft, mischief, assault with a weapon and breaking and entering.
I have been to legitimate political protests. As I wrote here, I think protest has a very legitimate place at the heart of our democracy.
When police shut down a hockey riot and then attempt to confuse the public by stating that hockey rioters are 'the same no-good types' as G20 protesters and anti-Olympic demonstrators, they are attempting to dis-empower people and manipulate honest, law-abiding people into viewing all protests as events 'like those hocket riots in Vancouver." What this does is de-legitimize protests, leaving people to conclude that all protesters are 'thugs', and that mass demonstrations are 'dangerous.'
The other reason I find this offensive is that many of the hockey rioters are obviously white and middle-class. The story of the privileged athlete lighting the police car on fire is one easy example. But, as one commenter on this newspaper story pointed out, anarchists don't buy $150 trademarked NHL jerseys.
Then when the police chief comments, he doesn't (accurately) point out that the people arrested were mainly middle-class kids who probably don't even know who the current leader of the Liberal Party is. Instead, he tars them with the 'anarchist' tag, implying that rioters are probably lower-class rabble who don't deserve Charter rights anyway.
Take for example a group of cyclists arrested during the Toronto G-20 protests. As you read this, ask yourself if hockey rioters were treated this way:
About 80 people were detained and some were seen being strip-searched in front of Parkdale Community Legal Services on Queen Street West. About 40 of them had been preparing to board a bus bound for Quebec when the police surrounded them, freelance journalist Rebecca Granofvsky-Larsen told CBC News.
The police even arrested people for having a peaceful pro-cycling demonstration.
Over the weekend, I attended the Richard Olmstead Sustainable Living Tradeshow here in Woodstock. The keynote speaker was David Coon of the Conservation Council of NB. He spoke about whether it was possible to live 'sustainably' in a world that is ecologically unsustainable.
The crux of his speech was that meaningful change can only be achieved through politics, and that our democracy is in a sorry, sorry state at present. Looking at the lack of initiative shown by our current local, provincial and national governments, I am inclined to agree with him that we have to get our politics re-assembled into something functional before we can fix our problems.
The difficulty with this is that some people benefit from a broken system, and I think we need to challenge statements like "people who were part of the Vancouver hockey riot are the same as anarchists and anti-Olympic demonstrators." In addition to being factually incorrect, statements like these lead to a further erosion of the democratic rights and process that so desperately needs revitalizing.
It is incomprehensible to me that the police chief would associate these drunken, testosterone crazed young men with people who had legitimate grounds to protest the Olympics. Protesting a decision to displace poor people and spend billions of dollars on militarizing the city of Vancouver is not the same as trashing a police car because your team lost the final hockey game of the season.
So far, the charges stemming from the Vancouver riot include: 101 arrests, with 85 charged with breach of the peace, eight charged with public intoxication and eight charged with Criminal Code offences including theft, mischief, assault with a weapon and breaking and entering.
I have been to legitimate political protests. As I wrote here, I think protest has a very legitimate place at the heart of our democracy.
When police shut down a hockey riot and then attempt to confuse the public by stating that hockey rioters are 'the same no-good types' as G20 protesters and anti-Olympic demonstrators, they are attempting to dis-empower people and manipulate honest, law-abiding people into viewing all protests as events 'like those hocket riots in Vancouver." What this does is de-legitimize protests, leaving people to conclude that all protesters are 'thugs', and that mass demonstrations are 'dangerous.'
The other reason I find this offensive is that many of the hockey rioters are obviously white and middle-class. The story of the privileged athlete lighting the police car on fire is one easy example. But, as one commenter on this newspaper story pointed out, anarchists don't buy $150 trademarked NHL jerseys.
Then when the police chief comments, he doesn't (accurately) point out that the people arrested were mainly middle-class kids who probably don't even know who the current leader of the Liberal Party is. Instead, he tars them with the 'anarchist' tag, implying that rioters are probably lower-class rabble who don't deserve Charter rights anyway.
Take for example a group of cyclists arrested during the Toronto G-20 protests. As you read this, ask yourself if hockey rioters were treated this way:
About 80 people were detained and some were seen being strip-searched in front of Parkdale Community Legal Services on Queen Street West. About 40 of them had been preparing to board a bus bound for Quebec when the police surrounded them, freelance journalist Rebecca Granofvsky-Larsen told CBC News.
The police even arrested people for having a peaceful pro-cycling demonstration.
Over the weekend, I attended the Richard Olmstead Sustainable Living Tradeshow here in Woodstock. The keynote speaker was David Coon of the Conservation Council of NB. He spoke about whether it was possible to live 'sustainably' in a world that is ecologically unsustainable.
The crux of his speech was that meaningful change can only be achieved through politics, and that our democracy is in a sorry, sorry state at present. Looking at the lack of initiative shown by our current local, provincial and national governments, I am inclined to agree with him that we have to get our politics re-assembled into something functional before we can fix our problems.
The difficulty with this is that some people benefit from a broken system, and I think we need to challenge statements like "people who were part of the Vancouver hockey riot are the same as anarchists and anti-Olympic demonstrators." In addition to being factually incorrect, statements like these lead to a further erosion of the democratic rights and process that so desperately needs revitalizing.
Coming Soon
A post about the differences between last summer's G-8 protest in Toronto (which resulted in the larges mass arrests in Canadian history), and last week's hockey riot in Vancouver is in the making.
Here's last summer's post if you want to read it. Feel free to post comments in advance. Happy Father's Day to all the Dads out there.
Here's last summer's post if you want to read it. Feel free to post comments in advance. Happy Father's Day to all the Dads out there.
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