6/30/2004
Ancients in Utah
This fascinates me. The remains of previously unknown civilization that existed around the time of William the Conqueror in what is now Utah has recently been brought to light.
Cottage Bound for Canada Day
Tomorrow is Canada Day which means a long weekend and I am going to the cottage to hang with Jack. Should be nice weather. I met Roger comet downtown and picked up the forms to put my name on the lease. I will move next Tuesday when I'm back from the cottage. Everyone is very friendly here and extra happy for the summer long weekend.
6/29/2004
My Member of Parliament: Ed Broadbent
For the first time in my life I actually have a political representative that I admire. Mr. Ed Broadbent.
Distinguished as an academic, politician and human rights advocate
Fellow at the School of Policy Studies, Queen's University
Companion of the Order of Canada
Member of the Privy Council of Canada
Recently co-chaired the national inquiry on Canadian Democracy and Corporate Accountability, exploring issue in Canadian democracy
After obtaining a PhD in Political Science at the University of Toronto in 1965, taught at York University until he was elected to Parliament in 1968
Led the New Democratic Party from 1975 to 1989
Known for his work while NDP Leader for an equitable tax system, equality for women, and the constitutional entrenchment of aboriginal rights
In December 1989, moved a motion -- unanimously adopted in the House of Commons -- that committed the government of Canada to end poverty for Canada's children by the year 2000
Served as founding President of the Montreal based International Centre for Human Rights and Democratic Development from 1990 to 1996
Worked with those involved in the struggle for democracy in Haiti and Burma
One of the four international judges to sit on the Tribunal on Violations of Women's Human Rights at the United Nations Conference on Human Rights in Vienna in 1993
Served as a member of the panel of experts on the International Tribunal on Rights in Haiti in 1994
Visiting Fellow at All Souls College, Oxford University, 1996-1997.
Distinguished as an academic, politician and human rights advocate
Fellow at the School of Policy Studies, Queen's University
Companion of the Order of Canada
Member of the Privy Council of Canada
Recently co-chaired the national inquiry on Canadian Democracy and Corporate Accountability, exploring issue in Canadian democracy
After obtaining a PhD in Political Science at the University of Toronto in 1965, taught at York University until he was elected to Parliament in 1968
Led the New Democratic Party from 1975 to 1989
Known for his work while NDP Leader for an equitable tax system, equality for women, and the constitutional entrenchment of aboriginal rights
In December 1989, moved a motion -- unanimously adopted in the House of Commons -- that committed the government of Canada to end poverty for Canada's children by the year 2000
Served as founding President of the Montreal based International Centre for Human Rights and Democratic Development from 1990 to 1996
Worked with those involved in the struggle for democracy in Haiti and Burma
One of the four international judges to sit on the Tribunal on Violations of Women's Human Rights at the United Nations Conference on Human Rights in Vienna in 1993
Served as a member of the panel of experts on the International Tribunal on Rights in Haiti in 1994
Visiting Fellow at All Souls College, Oxford University, 1996-1997.
Splitting the Vote along the Fringe
When I filled out my ballot yesterday I was surprised to see that there was not only a member of the Communist Party of Canada running in my riding but also a member of the Marxist-Leninist Party. Looking at the number of votes cast the Marxist-Leninists are twice as popular as the Communist Party and almost 5 times as popular as the Libertarian Party. The Marijuana party" however outdid them all combined being the third most popular of the fringe parties, ranking just below the Christian Heritage Party (yikes they call for Canada to become a theocracy). The Green Party was the only fringe party who rose above 1% of the popular vote with a significant 4.3%. Oh and we have one more called the Canadian Action Party which seems to be a Canadian Nationalist party.
Intersting note: The Marxist-Leminist Party is the party's registered name but they also call themselves The Communist Party on their web-site. Who says communism doesn't breed competition.
Intersting note: The Marxist-Leminist Party is the party's registered name but they also call themselves The Communist Party on their web-site. Who says communism doesn't breed competition.
Blurp
It's a relief that Harper is not Prime Minister that would have been insufferable. I'm off to the cottage Thursday to have a visit with my parents and my nephew Jack. It's great how close the cottage is from here...45minutes.
Roti
Sunday night Dave and I went out for Roti at a place where his friend, F from Monseratt is cook. F is a really randy old dude who loves garlic and white wine. A sweet guy. He asked Dave if he would introduce him to Sayuri's mother from Japan which would be quite an intersting match.
I went and voted today. It turned out all I needed was some ID and a bill with an address in the riding. I voted for Ed Broadbent, the old warhorse of the NDP. It's the first time I've ever voted for a politician that I respected and who won his seat. It felt good. Little Bushman Harper didn't come close to being Prime Minister. Thank you fellow Canadians for your good sense. In fact with the NDP as the Kingmakers we can expect a centrist to left government. Perfect.
To end the evening we watched Throne of Blood. Kurosawa's interpretation of MacBeth in Feudal Japan.
I went and voted today. It turned out all I needed was some ID and a bill with an address in the riding. I voted for Ed Broadbent, the old warhorse of the NDP. It's the first time I've ever voted for a politician that I respected and who won his seat. It felt good. Little Bushman Harper didn't come close to being Prime Minister. Thank you fellow Canadians for your good sense. In fact with the NDP as the Kingmakers we can expect a centrist to left government. Perfect.
To end the evening we watched Throne of Blood. Kurosawa's interpretation of MacBeth in Feudal Japan.
6/27/2004
A Certain Plot
Here's a fascinating little history of New York from the focal point of ground zero, in the NYTimes.
Saturday Night at the Movies
We went to see Farhenheit 911 last night. If anything it falls short of being able to cover the scope of the corruption and deceit that characterizes the Bush legacy. I walked away realizing just how much material there is available from his days as a frat boy through his Governorship of Texas, his appointment as President by the Supreme Court his seemingly willful alienation of the rest of the planet, the fundamental lack of respect for democratic process and open government, his attack on the poor and on and on it goes. Moore seems to imply that there is a connection between Al Qaeda and the Saudi government who definitely are great friends of the Bush dynasty, but what he glosses over is the fact that Islamic fundamentalists would love to throw the Saudi Royal family out of power and break off relations with the USA. He seems to be saying that the Saudi government and the 911 terrorists might be in cahoots.
In anycase the movie is damning of the Bush administration and if you look past the lampooning there are lot's of facts to show what an inept President Bush is. The core message here: Bush is dangerously unqualified to lead the nation.
As to winning the Palme d'Or at Cannes. As a film it's surely not the most accomplished, so one has to see that it's getting the award for it's emotional impact and guttsiness in a political climate that makes it's message more significant than it's artistry. Worth seeing though especially for the footage of Bush putting his feet in his mouth.
In anycase the movie is damning of the Bush administration and if you look past the lampooning there are lot's of facts to show what an inept President Bush is. The core message here: Bush is dangerously unqualified to lead the nation.
As to winning the Palme d'Or at Cannes. As a film it's surely not the most accomplished, so one has to see that it's getting the award for it's emotional impact and guttsiness in a political climate that makes it's message more significant than it's artistry. Worth seeing though especially for the footage of Bush putting his feet in his mouth.
6/26/2004
Settling In
We drove up to Wakefield in the Gatineau last night for dinner. It's all beautiful green hills like in Vermont with lot's of little lakes. You know you are north when you see a sign that says highway ends in 300m. Wakefield is very cool for a rural town there's an inn there on the lake called the Black Sheep (Mouton Noir) where they have alternative folk music etc and there is a veggie friendly café up the street called Chez Eric. It's all very mellow and I'm really loving the clean air, if oxygen had a flavour you could taste it. There is so much undeveloped green space in this area that you are aware that you ride on the cusp of where the great North American sprawl ends and the forests of the North begin.
The federal election takes place on Monday. I won't be able to vote because of the timing of my move. It's a very important election as the direction the country takes is going to be determined. It would be interesting if Canada goes to the right with extremist Stephen Harper (who now pretends he never said "that") and the US throws Bush out on his sorry ass. In any case Kerry isn't that far from Bush in many of his policies and would probably get along well with Harper. I really hope that he does not become Prime Minister but there is a real chance. I don't know why Paul Martin hasn't focused on his own achievements which made Canada a strong economy with low unemployment and zero deficiet instead of focusing on how awful it would be for Harper to win. I suppose he is trying to distance himself from the "sponsorship scandal" of Chretien's government but it has been a poor strategy.
I move to Laurier Street on July 5th near the university. Next weekend it's Grandma MacDougall's 90th Birthday!! Wow. She is still going strong fuelled by righteous indignation I suppose.
The federal election takes place on Monday. I won't be able to vote because of the timing of my move. It's a very important election as the direction the country takes is going to be determined. It would be interesting if Canada goes to the right with extremist Stephen Harper (who now pretends he never said "that") and the US throws Bush out on his sorry ass. In any case Kerry isn't that far from Bush in many of his policies and would probably get along well with Harper. I really hope that he does not become Prime Minister but there is a real chance. I don't know why Paul Martin hasn't focused on his own achievements which made Canada a strong economy with low unemployment and zero deficiet instead of focusing on how awful it would be for Harper to win. I suppose he is trying to distance himself from the "sponsorship scandal" of Chretien's government but it has been a poor strategy.
I move to Laurier Street on July 5th near the university. Next weekend it's Grandma MacDougall's 90th Birthday!! Wow. She is still going strong fuelled by righteous indignation I suppose.
6/23/2004
I took the 16
It's about 15 minutes from Dave and Sayuri's "woodland" home to downtown. I went to meet my new roomate who I'll call Roger Comet. He's a nice guy , a bit intense, but I can deal with that cause he's got a heart. On the way home it was dark and I had because of the lights in the bus I couldn't see where we were. I had to "feel" my way and missed my stop by a block. Ottawa feels like an imaginary place to me. It's not really a city, not really suburban or rural, but some unique amalgamation of all these. Underneath everything is this rich resin of my childhood imagination. It's really fun to see that all come back to me through the lens of all my experience since then. What a great life I've had. I don't think it's random that I came back even though it'sd not clear to me yet why I am here as opposed to some other Ontario city. Sadly I think Stephen's passing has a large role to play. It was a fuse in a sense. Maybe I'm trying to close things that started when i was twelve and chabged dramatically when I we stole away to Saudi Arabia.
6/21/2004
Back in the Saddle Again
I took a slight detour through illness but now that I am healthy I can feel the energy flow and the music is back. What I mean by music is that while I was sick there where no songs going through my head. I only realized this today when the music returned and I felt normal. When I was sick there was a cavernous silence in my thoughts. In any case the projects I'm working on are benefiting greatly from my new locale not to mention Dave's input.
In case you didn't notice the links to the other blogs ar animals. If you don't like your animal or would like another let me know and I'll change it.
In case you didn't notice the links to the other blogs ar animals. If you don't like your animal or would like another let me know and I'll change it.
6/20/2004
Back in Blog
It's been a week since I moved to Ottawa from Montreal. It was a busy time packing and saying goodbyes. Dave K came to MTL and we loaded up the Van last Monday . It's really trippy thinking of myself living here as I was born here but left when I was twelve. All my points of reference are from the 1970's. I'm Rip Van Winkle here. To top it off I came down with the worst flu I've had in a long time. I'm just starting to get some energy back tonight. I feel almost human.
Sayuri's mother arrived from Japan this evening. She doesn't speak any English and I keep finding myself trying to speak French with her.
Went out with some friends last night and lughed ourselves silly. Real fun. So far I'm really liking it he aside from being sick as a dog. Rents are higher than Montreal (of course) but there are lot's of vacancies. I'm hoping to leave fairly central if I can. Probably near Chinatown. There's a lot of possibilities here. It's the kind of place that makes me feel like getting married and having kids. Likely because I was a kid living with a happy family when I did live here last time through.
I'm still feeling weak so it's early to bed.
Sayuri's mother arrived from Japan this evening. She doesn't speak any English and I keep finding myself trying to speak French with her.
Went out with some friends last night and lughed ourselves silly. Real fun. So far I'm really liking it he aside from being sick as a dog. Rents are higher than Montreal (of course) but there are lot's of vacancies. I'm hoping to leave fairly central if I can. Probably near Chinatown. There's a lot of possibilities here. It's the kind of place that makes me feel like getting married and having kids. Likely because I was a kid living with a happy family when I did live here last time through.
I'm still feeling weak so it's early to bed.
New Blog Skin
I'm not sure I'll keep this one. Not exactly what I had in mind feels like a school in the 1950's.
Updates forthcoming on Ottawa life.
Updates forthcoming on Ottawa life.
6/15/2004
6/11/2004
1992
After the Sticky Wicket I went to Owen Sound with Shadow who found a new home on a farm. I went to Milan.
Transition
The black is not for Ronald Reagan's funereal but for the end of my Montreal life. This is the last weekend. An hour earlier I watched as my old furniture was splinterd and ground up in the back of a garbage truck. It was beautiful. I felt such satisfaction. I could feel it's weight leave me. There was no sorrow or attachment. It's been a good decade here and I feel that everything is happening as it should. It feels good and I'm energized by this. One thing that is strange is that I made a bunch of really great friends this winter growing into spring and now summer. People that I will be in touch with to varying degrees. Really interesting and kind people.
So old Ronny goes to where ever well intentioned murdering fools go and I go to the Ottawa Valley where I was born and lived until we moved to Daharan Saudi Arabia when I was twelve, where my good friend Alefia, whom, I met in drawing class was raised, and the setting for the next chapter in the story of global madness that is unfolding and where my new friend Andy served in the Gulf War in 1991. It all comes around.
So old Ronny goes to where ever well intentioned murdering fools go and I go to the Ottawa Valley where I was born and lived until we moved to Daharan Saudi Arabia when I was twelve, where my good friend Alefia, whom, I met in drawing class was raised, and the setting for the next chapter in the story of global madness that is unfolding and where my new friend Andy served in the Gulf War in 1991. It all comes around.
6/10/2004
Ray Gun
Ronald Reagan was my first political "foe". Way back in 1980 when he was elected president I remember my Uncle Peter saying Reagan was a 'warmonger'. Lennon was shot that fall, and then RR himself, soon followed by the Pope. The same Pope who scolded Bush the other day saying that Capital Punishment isn't compatible with "the right to life". Why Bush was probably snorting back a line about the same time John Paul bit lead.
Reagan was a hollow-headed muppet. The first, president to master the sound bite. He also sponsored the death squads of Guatemala and fucked Nicaragua's elected government over (although they did originally come to power through a popular revolution, but so did the US after all). He made sure the "Contras" had plenty of bullets and were accountable to no-one on the other end of the barrel.
He's now being celebrated for making America feel good. McDonald's, Nicotine and Porn keep the tradition alive, although McDonald's and nicotine may soon join him.
Reagan was a hollow-headed muppet. The first, president to master the sound bite. He also sponsored the death squads of Guatemala and fucked Nicaragua's elected government over (although they did originally come to power through a popular revolution, but so did the US after all). He made sure the "Contras" had plenty of bullets and were accountable to no-one on the other end of the barrel.
He's now being celebrated for making America feel good. McDonald's, Nicotine and Porn keep the tradition alive, although McDonald's and nicotine may soon join him.
6/08/2004
6/07/2004
Packing Time
So I've cleaned out the office, kitchen and other rooms except for the essentials and I still am one week away from the actual move. It feels good to have unburdened myself of a lot of crapola that's accumulated over the years. I'm exhausted mind you. Tonight's the Cup final game so I'm obliged to watch it. Oh so tired... fading...
6/05/2004
Movietime
I always knew that I could make short movies with my digital camera, but I didn't figure it out until recently. Nothing special here, just Annick pretending not be a star.
( 4mb )
( 4mb )
6/04/2004
Situation in Sudan
The situation with displacement and state sponsered terrorism in the Sudan is now reaching into the realm of genocide. Decribed as "the world's worst unfolding humanitarian crisis" in the Guardian, 300,000 people are expected to die if food isn't provideded soon. A Un plan is in place to deal with the situation which would include the following:
The basis of the problem however lies with the Sudanese government. Contact them as follows:
- feeding 1 million people;
- drilling boreholes and providing water pumps and tanks for the camps;
- providing basic health care for 90% of the displaced;
- helping the displaced build temporary shelters;
- distributing seeds and tools to 78,000 families;
- deploying ceasefire monitors and human rights observers.
The basis of the problem however lies with the Sudanese government. Contact them as follows:
USA:
Embassy of the Republic of the Sudan
2210 Massachusetts Ave. NW
Washington, DC 20008
Tel: (202) 338-8565
Fax: (202) 667-2406
info@sudanembassy.org
UK:
Embassy of the Republic of the Sudan
3 Cleveland Row
St. James’s
London, SW1A 1DD
United Kingdom
Telephone: 020 7839 8080
Fax: 020 7839 7560
Email: admin@sudanembassy.co.uk
Canada:
354 Stewart St
K1N 6K8
Fax: 613-265-6880
E-mail: sudanembassy-canada@rogers.com
1996
One of the interesting things to me about moving is discovering old notebooks. I don't remember doing this drawing in 1996, but I did. It would have been when Nikki and I lived on Edouard-Charles.
6/03/2004
6/01/2004
Steven Harper leader of the Brand Spanking New Traditional Conservatives now explains that when he said that Atlantic Canada was a "culture of defeat" that what he meant was that the Liberal Government had dumped a bucket of sorrow upon the Maritimes and that is what turned them into said culture. He also now explains that when he said Canada should have supported the US in it's Big Iraq Attack that he really meant we should have patted Bush on the shoulder and whispered, "It's gonna be okay." No soldiers. God no. You see how different he is than other politicians. By God this man has made backtracking into a spectator sport.
In other words he's just another politician puppy begging for whatever scraps and treats you throw him.
In other words he's just another politician puppy begging for whatever scraps and treats you throw him.