A letter for the history books.
One may not agree with his political beliefs or the direction his party sought out for Canada and its people (I did), but you cannot deny the impact he had on Canadians; his unshakable optimism, the vigor he brought to each cause, and the trust and hope he gave the youth of this country. It crossed party lines.
I’m a compulsive dish rinser.
I don’t do dishes daily, as living alone I don’t really ever build up enough to warrant running the dish washer every night, and often times I’ll just do them by hand anyway, but they’ll always sit there for a while before. So, I rinse after using, always.
This morning I was running a bit behind, emptying rubbish bins and all the goodness that goes along with garbage day, so I quickly gobbled down my morning bowl of cereal (this week Special K), placed the bowl on the counter and looked around for my shoes, to finish getting ready. I had my arms all loaded up with my stuff for the day, recycling, etc and headed to the front door when out of the corner of my eye I see the bowl on the counter and the flakes splashed along the side of the plum ceramic, and what do I hear in my head?
“Little beige blisters of air.”
And it’s at that moment I realize George Carlin’s standup bit on Rice Krispies is the reason I rinse my dishes so much. So of course, I emptied my arms, rinsed the bowl and then left for the day.
I couldn’t find the clip on YouTube, they seem to have all been removed, but you can stream the audio here. Click ‘Play Song.’
And speaking of cereal and milk. Here is a cute video to go along with this article So we drink milk out of bags. Does that make us weird? Thanks Ali for alerting me to this. Ah milk in bags, I miss it so.
I haven’t been too vocal here about the upcoming Olympic games in Vancouver. Because once I start in on the subject, it gets me so angry, I can’t even see straight.
The first summer I moved to Vancouver is the summer they got the Olympics, now six years later it’s on our doorstep, and I find myself in an interesting place working in the Arts community, not in Vancouver, but in what is still considered the “metro” area. I am so very lucky to even be here, as provincial cuts to my sector were announced just two weeks after I was offered this job. I know for a fact working where I am now, they would have pulled the posting knowing they were going to lose 35% of their income. To a non-profit organization that is huge.
There are many other issues surrounding the games, that the rest of the country seems to just now be waking up too, and how horribly everything has been handled. From now on when people ask my why I’m upset the situation I’m going to refer them to this clip. Please jump to halfway through, 4.45 to be exact.
When he mentions communities outside of Vancouver (where I live and work), I also I can’t help but think of my time spent in Northern BC and seeing first hand the horribly unequal spread of wealth when it comes to anything really, but especially local schools, heritage organizations, etc. There is Vancouver, which gets 92% of any government funding, and then everything else. Do you know how large this province is?
So more than anything, I’m just frustrated. Frustrated that attention is not being paid where it should be. I knew years ago choosing a career path in heritage would be difficult, but it seems to be getting worse.
Still, I’m hopeful. Why?
Well, I sat tonight, as I do every third Thursday of the month, chairing a programing event that we put on for the members of our historical society, but is also open to the public. It’s a lecture series, different speakers every month, usually draws 40 people tops. Tonight, standing room only as close to 100 people crammed into the hall. After I introduced everything, I got to make my way to the back of the room and stand against the wall and listen to a story about local history, which was actually quite fascinating. Reminding me that it is definitely true; towns make the cities, not the other way around. Yet nobody usually ever stops to ask where it all started.
My friend asked me the other day if I was going to move into Van soon. I smiled and said no, I like my view from here; the fringe.
Filed under canada, curator chronicles, home, politics
I love Rick Mercer.
If you haven’t already, do read his article in the Globe and Mail on the latest stunt everyone’s favourite PM has pulled.
Here’s a little excerpt:
There’s a very good reason why the word prorogue doesn’t come up that often in our society. Why would it? The word has absolutely no resonance with anyone in Canada because the notion that you can shut down anything for months at a time is a total fantasy. That’s the thing about life; it’s relentless. If you are an adult and live in the real world, proroguing isn’t on the agenda, in much the same way levitating isn’t.
God knows I love the idea of proroguing. Everyone in Canada has lain in bed and prayed for the elusive snow day. The idea that while you slept, the heavens opened up and dumped so much snow on the ground that the front door can’t open and the school bus just can’t come. We all remember snow days and that glorious feeling that the deadlines, the tests, the irritating people, the routine and the responsibilities could be avoided for one entire magnificent day with no consequences whatsoever. And if you didn’t do your homework, or you were heading into what you knew was going to be a world of hurt, a snow day meant you dodged the bullet.
But snow days happen to children. If you are an adult, it doesn’t matter how much snow falls – you still have to get to work and you still have to shovel the walk. Snow days don’t apply to adults unless you happen to be the Prime Minister of Canada, who with one phone call has the ability to give every member of Parliament two months off.
We elect these men and women to travel to Ottawa and represent us in the House of Commons. Well, forget that notion – it’s old-fashioned and democratic. Welcome to Canada 2010 – we embark on a brand-new decade as a country that has taxation without representation.
Full article here.
Filed under canada, politics, wankjackets
Gifted Typist’s post, Happy, er, Canada Day? pretty much sums up how I feel about July 1st.
I think I say this every year…so much potential, don’t mess it up.
Having done this road trip myself, this film really hit home.
Especially the nomadic-where-is-my-life-going questioning.
Given the subject matter (this film is not just about a road trip), and what is going on in my life currently, perhaps not the best choice. However, I think my subconscious was trying to tell me something, and it must have worked because I finished watching this film feeling inspired.
I only wish my journey came complete with cameos from Canadian musicians. Joel Plaskett busking was a highlight.
