Because I'm Always on the Run

So, yesterday the government fell, this morning they dropped the writ and already there are flyers in my mailbox from the incumbent and wishful-incumbent. *Sigh*

On the bright side, at least I'm not an American with my Supreme Court reconsidering a woman's right to choose - more or less. Is it a coincidence that big chunks of the US Supreme Court building are falling off?

Record and play, after years of endless rewind...

Okay, it's not a song title, just a lyric, and it really doesn't have much to do with this post. I've just always liked it, kind of a get on with it, moving forward, taking charge thing. It's cool.

And speaking of the Barenaked Ladies, saw them at Massey Hall on Friday night for one of there Christmukkah-type concerts, which was definitely on my as yet nonexistent list of things that I must do at least once in my life. They were fabulous, as usual. There was one point where I realized that Brian Wilson came out when I was in high school...and that was a long time ago now. But on the upside, I was not caught in a time warp with a bunch of teeny-boppers while at the concert, so it really didn't feel so bad. I'm definitely not their oldest fan, or their youngest, and I think that says a lot about what great entertainers they are. Not to knock the music, but there's very few musicians who can carry off a decent show. Classic example was that televised "Intimate and Interactive" thing of Feist. Wow that was just profoundly bad. And I love her CD "Let it Die".

Another classic example of poor stage presence...maybe that's what it was...was the night's opening act, Buck 65. It wasn't so much bad as completely incomprehensible. And I don't think it was the sound guys' fault. He seems to be some sort of cowboy hiphop rapper that travels with another guy who does interpretive dance and juggles knives behind him while he blathers on and works the turntable. I will say that the chorus portion of "463" was mildly interesting, but only that, and not really entertaining. And yet BNL kept thanking him during their set. I just don't get it.

And yet, here's an odd twist: I like the Barenaked Ladies, the Ladies like Buck 65, and you would think here that Buck 65 would like music that I can't comprehend either, but the list on his website is actually pretty decent, and I can honestly say, he's got good taste. So maybe the only one's with bad taste are BNL? How can this be? This must be why I dropped the section on epistemology in first year philosophy. Bite me Rene Descartes!

Anyway, so I find myself thinking back to the Brian Wilson days, wearing the boots I wore in university because I can't find my new snazzy ones...I can record and play, and handle the rewind as well. It's okay once in awhile.

Takin' Care of Business?

I suppose since I like shopping at Amazon, I wouldn't mind living in Amazon.ca. But then again, there are unfavourable connotations with being an Amazonian. Where does this come from? How about the news that Santa, Idaho is now Secretsanta.com, Idaho. Well, I guess it beats the alternative of raising the tax rate.

Boulevard of Broken Dreams

I've been reading Pierre Berton's Marching as to War and came across this excerpt that made me think of Cindy Sheehan. He's talking about the construction and dedication of cenotaphs across Canada in the post-WW1 era:

It was in the mothers' names that the lies were told, the propaganda machine was oiled up, the demonization of the enemy was carried to insane lengths, and the brutal facts about "the war that will end all wars" (H.G. Wells's unfortunate phrase)were unrevealed in all their naked horror. The mothers who so proudly sent their boys abroad to be sacrificed must never know how their sons really lived and died in the wastes of no man's land, nor must they be exposed to an even more dreadful truth: that the Men Whose Names Will Live Forever died for no good reason in a futile and foolish war that solved nothing.

Also particularly interesting was his description of Canada's role in the Boer War, which I knew next to nothing about before reading the book. As you read the following passage, think about why Cindy Sheehan's son went to war. I don't mean his motivations, but the motivations of George H.W. Bush for stepping right in with Desert Storm. And then think about how other nations might view the U.S.:

As usual, both sides believed in the righteousness of their cause. To the Boers, Great Britain was a greedy, imperialistic nation that had pushed the virtuous Boer farmers out of the Cape Colony. To the British, the policy of the Transvaal government was dictatorship--a brutal denial of basic freedoms to the Queen's subjects--which, incidentally, jeopardized British control over the largest gold-mining complex in the world.

Some things never change. Isn't it depressing? Still, thanks to Mr. Berton for the context.

Take Five

It's been like a marathon lately. And everyone knows that I have never trained for a marathon. This week will be a marathon, too, but with some good stuff thrown in for better balance. Rent the movie on Monday, and the Barenaked Ladies at Massey Hall on Friday.

The politics of work have been sort of overtaking things lately, but I've been able to be a bystander for most, luckily. I have not always had such restraint. Although for the stuff of late I have exercised restraint largely because circumstance has allowed me to, so I can't really say I have more willpower than before. But I am a bit more circumspect about it, I think. I can't tell you how many time I thought to myself, or said outloud, "I just want to do my job". And then go home.

Ah ha...and then go home, but I've done a lot of coming in early and working late.

Hopefully the fun stuff this week will be my reward.

Time to take five.

Come fly with me...let's fly, let's fly away

Now I haven't really been a big fan of the West Wing since the early years, but I have been catching it recently and was looking forward to Sunday's "Live Debate" episode. Live, and a debate, but scripted, which is a guess not that weird for political debates, really. But whoa nelly, this isn't a reality show right? So why was a real life journalist, Forest Sawyer, moderating the "debate" with the NBC News logo in the corner?

Ever hear of journalistic integrity Forest?

And speaking of integrity...great that there were less commercials, but there was one big mother of a commercial the whole way through, carefully woven into the happenings by none other than Ellen DeGeneres. And I'm sorry, but I don't think she's using her Amex card to save for her retirement. And then I went to the NBC site and it was hard to find out anything beyond Amex Amex Amex and "campaign" websites for Santos and Vinick. Too bad they aren't real, since they did articulate some interesting ideas. Too bad that their proposals are so far from the reality of politics in America that it gives an unreal picture. Nevermind that no one in the horserace is quite as pretty as Jimmy Smits.

"News"flash!! According to NBC "News", Santos is in the lead in the post debate spin.

But wait a minute, he's not actually running for President.

Did they learn nothing from Dan Rather and the 2000 Presidential Election. Or maybe I'm confused and that hanging chad thing was all a bad dream...

Cool/Photograph

Two song titles today...

Went to a meeting in Caledon on Friday for work and ran into people I used to work with. Felt kinda like old times...the good and fun parts at least. The best parts. Got caught up on all the happenings. Driving home through beautiful King I feel like perspective may have finally found me. I actually started to think about the things I learned, the things I came away with, and not just about the pain in the ass moments.

Driving through Caledon and King City and Whitchurch-Stouffville I missed having my camera because there is just so much to see: falling leaves/leaves in fall, farms, old houses and places for which time seems to have had minimal impact. Can't imagine that will last much longer. It took me 25 minutes to get out of the populated part of Caledon. The edges are moving farther and farther away. Hell, I used to live on the edges. That was a long time ago.

The high point of Friday's meeting for me was a talk from a European Union Observer on his experiences of the recent Palestinian election. Definitely a real view of the situation. Democracy is imperfect, and that's what makes it so beautiful, in my opinion. However, sometimes it's a little more imperfect than we'd like. Still, I suppose there are worse conditions under which to hold an election that military checkpoints and suicide bombers. Say abject apathy for example. My favourite quote, which speaks all to well to bureaucracy: "At least we can all agree on mediocrity". On the other hand, it was a bit like the Stephen Lewis thing too. This guy passionately believes in "the universal rights of the elector" and put his money where his mouth is, spending time away from his family during the holidays. Inspiring--not necessarily the part about being away for the holidays, but having a sense of the greater good that is left to be done in this crazy world.

Tomorrow will not be too guilty. I painted my first wall today. It was a pain in the ass (*grrr* I hate crown molding) and not great when it dried (needed a second coat), but at least I gave it a try!

Mais Feliz?

Seven and a half years ago I was sitting in an uncomfortably well used chair on the 8th floor of a dorm at the University of Ottawa listening to "Iris" by the Goo Goo Dolls on the radio. My feet were propped up on the window sill, the night was dark but the lights were bright and I was feeling deliciously melacholic. "When everything seems like the movies, yeah you bleed just to know you're alive".

Around the same time, in the summer days' heat, we got this brilliant idea to go to the grocery store for relief. "Poets" by the Tragically Hip was also on the top ten the night before. "He's been getting reprieve from the heat in the frozen food section, ya".

I'm feeling like naming all my posts after songs. We'll see if it works. I've already sort of started with "f train" and "Mushaboom". And now you've read "Mais Feliz".