There are two celebrations that happen this time of year. There is Christmas™ and there is christmas.
Most of the world is familiar with Christmas™. It is that time of year when we string lights on our homes, install a pine trees in our living room and get up a 4 AM to stand in line for the big pre-Christmas™ sale bargains. It is presents and wrapping paper and gifts that people don't really need. It is television specials about Santa Claus, Rudolph, Frosty and The Grinch. It is Jingle Bells, Let It Snow and We Need A Little Christmas played over and over again. It is overspending, overeating and overindulging in everything else. It is stress and frustration and wondering if it will all get done in time. It is worrying if everyone will be happy and wondering why we are not.
Every year we say the same thing, 'Christmas™ is getting to be too much.' Yet every year the sales start earlier, the expectations grow larger and the pressure to have the perfect holiday increases.
We are somewhat less enamoured with that other celebration, christmas. In some ways this story is the polar opposite of Christmas™. Its central characters, Mary and Joseph, are poor refugees from a foreign land with few resources, facing a dangerous and uncertain future.
It takes place in a time when people believed in angels and visions. So much so that the words of prophets and messengers in dreams were treated as fact.
The young couple have come to a town called Bethlehem, the birthplace of Joseph. A census had been ordered by the region's dictatorial leader, a man called Herod the Great. It was required of all citizens that they must register in the city of their birth or face a harsh punishment. To compound matters, Herod had been informed by his advisers, the prophets, that a great leader was to be born in the region. One who may one day have the power to overthrow his regime. Herod was as vindictive as he was paranoid. On hearing this prophecy he immediately ordered the execution of any child under the age of two.
Mary was pregnant. She and Joseph knew of the decree. They also knew of Mary's strange dream in which a messenger of God proclaimed that their child would become the leader that was prophesied. They were terrified.
The census registry meant Bethlehem was overrun with people, all clambering for places to stay. Everyone wanted to make sure they were not left out in the cold. When Mary and Joseph arrived, it was already too late. There were no places to stay, not even for a young expectant mother. An innkeeper flippantly offered the couple his only remaining shelter, a dark, damp cave where he kept a few pack animals and sheep. To his surprise the couple accepted.
Later that night, Mary gave birth to her son on the floor of a dingy stable as the animals looked on with blank stares. The air was rank with the stench of manure and must. She named the child Jesus, just as the messenger in her dream had instructed. Despite what her beliefs had told her, she feared for this fragile infant. A wave of exhaustion swept over her weary frame as her eyes met with Joseph. They shared their fears without words and from somewhere deep within, hope.
This is christmas.
The lower case 'c' is not meant as an affront to the Christian faith but rather to make a point. This story needs to be told in terms that everyone can understand. It doesn't belong exclusively to a religion or a culture or a society.
Extract the angels and the star and choruses of Silent Night and you have a human story, our story. One with a simple and powerful message.
You don't have to be a Christian or even a person of faith to know that Jesus was a transformational figure in history. His words challenged the secular authorities as well as the religious ones. He spoke of humility, equity among people and that lasting peace comes from the courage to forgive. Despite his renown, he was not born into power and privilege, nor did he aspire to such things. Given the circumstances of his birth, it was remarkable he survived at all.
Christmas™ may seem the polar opposite of christmas, but there is one similarity. Like the people of Bethlehem, Christmas™ finds us focused on our own needs and desires. We are too busy to think about the world around us, and quietly hope that the needs of others won't interfere with our plans. Yet to truly celebrate christmas we are asked to do the opposite. To revisit a place that we would rather not, to befriend poor strangers with nothing to offer. To look into the cold darkness and find hope.
Who will arrive in the midst Christmas™ chaos?
Where will they stay?
Are we prepared to welcome them into our homes?
We don't really Need a Little Christmas™. All we need is a little christmas.
May your celebrations begin with hope.
Wednesday, December 22, 2010
Monday, December 20, 2010
Dust Bunnies on The Brain
The other day my wife said to me: "I need to get those pictures off the camera so I can get them developed."
I looked at her like she had three heads and said, "Developed? Who gets pictures developed any more?"
In response, she offered an appropriate phrase which I cannot reproduce here because there might be children reading.
Our language is full all sorts of antiquated terminology lurking at the fringes of our collective vernacular. The older we get, the more there is. That's not to say that my wife is ... that is to say ... we're both at an age when ... okay, you may insert your appropriate phrase here.
Every once in a while I find myself saying things that cause anyone under the age of twenty to stare at me with a blank look. The problem is language, as a form of communication, is in constant flux. Ever evolving with the latest trend, technology or pop culture reference. These things just collect, like dust bunnies under the sofa, every now and then popping out with embarrassing results.
The ones I particularly resent are those that I had to learn in order to sound somewhat saavy about a particular technology, only to have them jettisoned with the newest innovation. Things like:
Zip drive
Syquest
Floppy disc
In case you hadn't already figured it out, the first two, like that latter, were all forms of digital storage. Long before USB keys were invented, if we're still using those.
Then there are those terms that once related to a specific type of technology:
Ceramic or magnetic cartridge
Rumble or hum
Direct or belt drive
If you're old enough, you'll know what I'm talking about.
I can remember when Dolby technology meant cassette tapes that didn't have a hissing sound. An innovation that I always thought rather dubious. Just press a button and that annoying hissing sound goes away, as well as all of the top end frequencies. But heck, it sounded cool so we bought into it anyway. These days Dolby sound technology is so advanced it actually blows what's left of the hair off my head.
Probably the worst of these verbal dinosaurs are the pop culture references. Those nasty little blurbs crop up all the time, despite all efforts to quell them. Who the hell says:
'10-4, good buddy.'
'Up your nose with a rubber hose.'
'Gag me with a spoon.'
Or those Jurassic descriptors:
Freaky-deaky!
Neat!
Cool-o!
Nobody under twenty, I can guarantee you.
There ought to be a warehouse somewhere in our brains where we can keep these things locked up until needed, like say a retro party. Instead they just loiter around our heads waiting for the right moment to stumble into conversations instantly rendering our credibility moot and leaving the listener wondering if we've suddenly started speaking in tongues.
The problem for me is that unlike normal people, who employ their grey matter to store useful information, my brain is a vast repository of trivial pop-culture references. I remember lines from movies that are older than most kids in college. Song lyrics are probably the worst. I have a dear friend who, at the risk of receiving another appropriate phrase, has more life experience than I. She would frequently quote lyrics from songs that were *ahem* before my time. No matter what subject was discussed, she could produce a lyric that fit. My friends and I used to wonder aloud if there must be a song for everything. To which she would reply "If you're around long enough kid, you'll realize there is."
Dammit, she's right.
These days I can barely get through a conversation without the words of some obscure song from a distant era popping up like a whack-a-mole in my frontal lobe. Be it 60s protest band, 70s rock band, 80s hair band, 90s grunge band or 00s teen-angst-punk band, I got 'em all.
Every once in a while though, when one of those archaic phrases pops out of my mouth someone else's eyes will light up. They got it! Like some kind of secret code has been unlocked, an instant connection is made and a flood of memories are released.
I suppose it's not so bad to have stored up all of those seemingly useless tidbits of data. In some ways that tacky, hodge-podge collection is a sort of trophy case of life's experiences. Without which we would not be who we are.
And that's no jive.
I looked at her like she had three heads and said, "Developed? Who gets pictures developed any more?"
In response, she offered an appropriate phrase which I cannot reproduce here because there might be children reading.
Our language is full all sorts of antiquated terminology lurking at the fringes of our collective vernacular. The older we get, the more there is. That's not to say that my wife is ... that is to say ... we're both at an age when ... okay, you may insert your appropriate phrase here.
Every once in a while I find myself saying things that cause anyone under the age of twenty to stare at me with a blank look. The problem is language, as a form of communication, is in constant flux. Ever evolving with the latest trend, technology or pop culture reference. These things just collect, like dust bunnies under the sofa, every now and then popping out with embarrassing results.
The ones I particularly resent are those that I had to learn in order to sound somewhat saavy about a particular technology, only to have them jettisoned with the newest innovation. Things like:
Zip drive
Syquest
Floppy disc
In case you hadn't already figured it out, the first two, like that latter, were all forms of digital storage. Long before USB keys were invented, if we're still using those.
Then there are those terms that once related to a specific type of technology:
Ceramic or magnetic cartridge
Rumble or hum
Direct or belt drive
If you're old enough, you'll know what I'm talking about.
I can remember when Dolby technology meant cassette tapes that didn't have a hissing sound. An innovation that I always thought rather dubious. Just press a button and that annoying hissing sound goes away, as well as all of the top end frequencies. But heck, it sounded cool so we bought into it anyway. These days Dolby sound technology is so advanced it actually blows what's left of the hair off my head.
Probably the worst of these verbal dinosaurs are the pop culture references. Those nasty little blurbs crop up all the time, despite all efforts to quell them. Who the hell says:
'10-4, good buddy.'
'Up your nose with a rubber hose.'
'Gag me with a spoon.'
Or those Jurassic descriptors:
Freaky-deaky!
Neat!
Cool-o!
Nobody under twenty, I can guarantee you.
There ought to be a warehouse somewhere in our brains where we can keep these things locked up until needed, like say a retro party. Instead they just loiter around our heads waiting for the right moment to stumble into conversations instantly rendering our credibility moot and leaving the listener wondering if we've suddenly started speaking in tongues.
The problem for me is that unlike normal people, who employ their grey matter to store useful information, my brain is a vast repository of trivial pop-culture references. I remember lines from movies that are older than most kids in college. Song lyrics are probably the worst. I have a dear friend who, at the risk of receiving another appropriate phrase, has more life experience than I. She would frequently quote lyrics from songs that were *ahem* before my time. No matter what subject was discussed, she could produce a lyric that fit. My friends and I used to wonder aloud if there must be a song for everything. To which she would reply "If you're around long enough kid, you'll realize there is."
Dammit, she's right.
These days I can barely get through a conversation without the words of some obscure song from a distant era popping up like a whack-a-mole in my frontal lobe. Be it 60s protest band, 70s rock band, 80s hair band, 90s grunge band or 00s teen-angst-punk band, I got 'em all.
Every once in a while though, when one of those archaic phrases pops out of my mouth someone else's eyes will light up. They got it! Like some kind of secret code has been unlocked, an instant connection is made and a flood of memories are released.
I suppose it's not so bad to have stored up all of those seemingly useless tidbits of data. In some ways that tacky, hodge-podge collection is a sort of trophy case of life's experiences. Without which we would not be who we are.
And that's no jive.
Friday, December 17, 2010
The Friday Time Waster Surpeme: Headless Kings and Brainless Coaches Edition
Oh, the weather outside is frightful, but this blog is so ... well okay, it is what it is. Just over a week left to find that perfect gift for you loved ones, lest they be disappointed on Christmas morn and resent you for the rest of the year. At least that's what the stores would like you to think. For the rest of us, we're just happy to have an excuse to party. With that in mind, here is yet another Friday Time Waster to put you in a festive mood for the holidays.
Return of The King, At Least Part of Him...
A crack team of scientists say they have positively identified the embalmed head of King Henri IV of France. The head vanished after revolutionaries robbed the graves of French kings in the royal basilica of Saint-Denis near Paris in 1793 during the French revolution. The head had apparently been passed down by generations of private collectors.
Known as "the good King Henry" and as "the green gallant," because of his attractiveness to women, Henri IV was one of the most popular French kings. That is until he was assassinated in Paris by a fanatic.
While it may be a great historical find, I'm still having a bit of an issue with private collectors trading this guys head for nearly three centuries.
Overheard at the French private collector's club: "I hear Pierre is on death's door, I wonder who gets the head?"
***
It's Beginning to Look A Lot Like ... uh, What Time Is It?
A recent EKOS poll revealed that Canadian voters are not impressed with either of the major parties, or their leaders. Indifference might be the better word. On the one hand we've got Michael Ignatieff either changing his mind, shooting off a toe or generally blending into the wallpaper of Canadian politics, on the the other is Prime Minister Stephen Harper who despite Iggy's follies appears unable to convince voters to give his party a majority.
As if to confirm both leaders are out of step with the country, and perhaps reality, Harper's Holiday card features him and his family sitting on the front lawn of 24 Sussex in what looks to be autumn. Iggy's holiday photo features him and his wife at a BBQ sometime around mid-summer.
Maybe we should abandon these two yahoos at the side of the 401 in a snowstorm to see if they can get a handle on what Canadians want.
***
Kloon
Listen carefully. Hear that sound? That is the sound of Brad Marchand's bones still resonating from Subban's hit last night. Ouch.
***
Tell Me Where It Hurts, Scotty
Speaking of the Habs, a tip of the hat to Scott Gomez who addressed the local media concerning his recent 'lower body injury.' The latter term is used by coaching staff to divert the press, and presumably opposing players, from revealing the location of the actual injury.
Gomez began his press scrum on Tuesday by admitting how difficult it was to recover from a broken toe. He went on to tell the next reporter of the difficulty in recovering from a strained calf muscle, before wrapping up his charade by detailing his struggle with an injury to his arse.
Well if the hockey thing doesn't work out, at least he's got comedy. He might want to work on his elocution.
***
Prochaine Arrêt, Parthenais...
If you're a frequent Metro rider you probably already know this. Police have identified the Green Line as having the highest number of crimes in the system, 541 in 2009. Not surprising considering it covers some of the highest traffic areas in the network. The police are refusing to specify which stations have the highest crime incidences of criminal acts, although they did acknowledge increased police presence at the problem areas.
The number of thefts in the Metro system appears to be on the rise, 210 were reported so far this year compared to a total of 175 for all of 2009. Nonetheless, the cops have refused to release further data for fear that it might tip off criminals to police strategy. Looking at the numbers, I think they may be on to you.
***
Future Hall of Shame Coach
A scandal is abrew for the National Football League's New York Jets. You might have heard about this pinhead Sal Alosi the team's strength and conditioning coach. While on the sideline during a game, Alosi stuck out his knee to trip Miami Dolphin's Nolan Carroll during a punt return. Alosi was fined $25K by the league and suspended for the remainder of the year.
Now comes word that Alosi may have invited inactive players to form a blocking line to force Carroll into the path of the impending trip, which makes the transgression appear premeditated. Rumours are swirling in the press that the trip might have been part of a larger plot concocted by the team's coaching staff. According to the league it is the head coach's responsibility to make sure his staff and players are kept back from the sidelines during plays.
The Jets staff are in damage control, adding the words 'indefinite ban' to Alosi's suspension.
Meanwhile the press have dubbed the scandal 'Tripgate' prompting this appropriate tirade from my buddy Johnny Bertolo on Facebook:
Watergate, Spygate, Tripgate?! Could you f**king journalists use some Godd**n f**king imagination? For f**k's sake!
How's that anger management working for you Johnny?
Have a great weekend. Stay out of the malls if you can.
Return of The King, At Least Part of Him...
A crack team of scientists say they have positively identified the embalmed head of King Henri IV of France. The head vanished after revolutionaries robbed the graves of French kings in the royal basilica of Saint-Denis near Paris in 1793 during the French revolution. The head had apparently been passed down by generations of private collectors.
Known as "the good King Henry" and as "the green gallant," because of his attractiveness to women, Henri IV was one of the most popular French kings. That is until he was assassinated in Paris by a fanatic.
While it may be a great historical find, I'm still having a bit of an issue with private collectors trading this guys head for nearly three centuries.
Overheard at the French private collector's club: "I hear Pierre is on death's door, I wonder who gets the head?"
***
It's Beginning to Look A Lot Like ... uh, What Time Is It?
A recent EKOS poll revealed that Canadian voters are not impressed with either of the major parties, or their leaders. Indifference might be the better word. On the one hand we've got Michael Ignatieff either changing his mind, shooting off a toe or generally blending into the wallpaper of Canadian politics, on the the other is Prime Minister Stephen Harper who despite Iggy's follies appears unable to convince voters to give his party a majority.
As if to confirm both leaders are out of step with the country, and perhaps reality, Harper's Holiday card features him and his family sitting on the front lawn of 24 Sussex in what looks to be autumn. Iggy's holiday photo features him and his wife at a BBQ sometime around mid-summer.
Maybe we should abandon these two yahoos at the side of the 401 in a snowstorm to see if they can get a handle on what Canadians want.
***
Kloon
Listen carefully. Hear that sound? That is the sound of Brad Marchand's bones still resonating from Subban's hit last night. Ouch.
***
Tell Me Where It Hurts, Scotty
Speaking of the Habs, a tip of the hat to Scott Gomez who addressed the local media concerning his recent 'lower body injury.' The latter term is used by coaching staff to divert the press, and presumably opposing players, from revealing the location of the actual injury.
Gomez began his press scrum on Tuesday by admitting how difficult it was to recover from a broken toe. He went on to tell the next reporter of the difficulty in recovering from a strained calf muscle, before wrapping up his charade by detailing his struggle with an injury to his arse.
Well if the hockey thing doesn't work out, at least he's got comedy. He might want to work on his elocution.
***
Prochaine Arrêt, Parthenais...
If you're a frequent Metro rider you probably already know this. Police have identified the Green Line as having the highest number of crimes in the system, 541 in 2009. Not surprising considering it covers some of the highest traffic areas in the network. The police are refusing to specify which stations have the highest crime incidences of criminal acts, although they did acknowledge increased police presence at the problem areas.
The number of thefts in the Metro system appears to be on the rise, 210 were reported so far this year compared to a total of 175 for all of 2009. Nonetheless, the cops have refused to release further data for fear that it might tip off criminals to police strategy. Looking at the numbers, I think they may be on to you.
***
Future Hall of Shame Coach
A scandal is abrew for the National Football League's New York Jets. You might have heard about this pinhead Sal Alosi the team's strength and conditioning coach. While on the sideline during a game, Alosi stuck out his knee to trip Miami Dolphin's Nolan Carroll during a punt return. Alosi was fined $25K by the league and suspended for the remainder of the year.
Now comes word that Alosi may have invited inactive players to form a blocking line to force Carroll into the path of the impending trip, which makes the transgression appear premeditated. Rumours are swirling in the press that the trip might have been part of a larger plot concocted by the team's coaching staff. According to the league it is the head coach's responsibility to make sure his staff and players are kept back from the sidelines during plays.
The Jets staff are in damage control, adding the words 'indefinite ban' to Alosi's suspension.
Meanwhile the press have dubbed the scandal 'Tripgate' prompting this appropriate tirade from my buddy Johnny Bertolo on Facebook:
Watergate, Spygate, Tripgate?! Could you f**king journalists use some Godd**n f**king imagination? For f**k's sake!
How's that anger management working for you Johnny?
Have a great weekend. Stay out of the malls if you can.
Thursday, December 16, 2010
Penny Lame
If you were feeling cynical about the state of politics and governance in Ottawa, recent news out of the nation's capital will likely improve your opinion.
Lower taxes? Improved healthcare? Karaoke night with Stephen Harper?
No, no and thank God, no.
The Senate national finance committee is making a recommendation that Canada abolish the penny. This is enough to make economists stand up and take notice, after all who better to analyze issues related to the country's finances than a gaggle of overpaid political brown-nosers with a guaranteed, obscenely cushy, public-service-job-for-life.
Nonetheless, the issue does bear some consideration. The lowly one-cent coin costs the Royal Canadian Mint 1.5 cents to produce and distribute. The mint produces about 1.2 billion of the copper coins each year. Do the math. According to economists, the penny has lost 95% of its value since 1908. This statistic has been splattered all over news articles about the coin. No one can tell me why they picked 1908 when in fact the first Canadian cents was introduced in 1858, but hey I don't run the news ticker.
I think you would be hard pressed (pardon the pun) to find anyone in the country who would miss the coin. As currency goes, the Canadian penny has fallen on seriously hard times. Most people find them useless and annoying. Even the lowest denomination of Canadian Tire Money has more value than a penny. It isn't even made of copper any more. Most of the metal is steel, the copper is just a coating. That's just sad.
Unless you are a numismatic (go ahead Google it ... I'll wait), the end of the penny won't bring much fanfare. As it turns out, Canada is not the first nation to jettison the penny. Australia and New Zealand have already done so. As consumers, we might wonder what will happen at the cash register. Nations who already canned the penny addressed this issue by asking merchants to round up cash purchases to the nearest nickel. Presumably this rounding up calculation would generate a small benefit to vendors, and perhaps a nightmare for accountants, but thus far this has not proven to be the case.
Of course the one cent denomination would not completely disappear from the economy. The tiny little digit would still be necessary to ensure that accounts balance properly. Credit card and debit purchases would not be rounded up.
There was a time that a penny could actually buy you something. When I was a kid you could get a gumball or some other treat from one of those little shops with aisles of glass containers filled with all sorts of cavity inducing confection. For 25 cents you could fill a small paper bag full of brightly coloured, hardened or chewy, sugary treats. I have fond memories of those days ... so does my dentist. That was several Prime Ministers ago. Today 25 cents won't even get you a call at a payphone (it's 50 cents if you were wondering, the price magically jumps to a dollar if you use a credit card).
A penny-less society would also be left with phrases and idioms that have suddenly lost meaning and relevance in popular culture, like: penny wise, pound foolish or a penny for your thoughts or a penny saved is a penny earned. Well, let's not put the cart before the horse.
Admittedly I feel a tinge of nostalgia for the little coin. It does give one pause to think that they lived long enough to see currency transition from having some value to virtually none. Then again rampant devaluation has been de rigueur from Wall Street to Bay Street in the past couple of years.
So, it looks like it's farewell for our little copper friend. Not sure what to do with my old pennies. Presumably the government and banks will honour the coins value until they have all been cashed in. The upside in cutting off penny production is that it could generate significant savings for the government, and if we're lucky, the taxpayers ...
... ha, ha, ha, ha, ha ... ah, I had ya going there, didn't I?
In the end, perhaps we owe a debt of gratitude to the Senate. Who knew that they could actually identify something more useless and costly than themselves?
Give yourselves a raise and take the rest of the year off.
Lower taxes? Improved healthcare? Karaoke night with Stephen Harper?
No, no and thank God, no.
The Senate national finance committee is making a recommendation that Canada abolish the penny. This is enough to make economists stand up and take notice, after all who better to analyze issues related to the country's finances than a gaggle of overpaid political brown-nosers with a guaranteed, obscenely cushy, public-service-job-for-life.
Nonetheless, the issue does bear some consideration. The lowly one-cent coin costs the Royal Canadian Mint 1.5 cents to produce and distribute. The mint produces about 1.2 billion of the copper coins each year. Do the math. According to economists, the penny has lost 95% of its value since 1908. This statistic has been splattered all over news articles about the coin. No one can tell me why they picked 1908 when in fact the first Canadian cents was introduced in 1858, but hey I don't run the news ticker.
I think you would be hard pressed (pardon the pun) to find anyone in the country who would miss the coin. As currency goes, the Canadian penny has fallen on seriously hard times. Most people find them useless and annoying. Even the lowest denomination of Canadian Tire Money has more value than a penny. It isn't even made of copper any more. Most of the metal is steel, the copper is just a coating. That's just sad.
Unless you are a numismatic (go ahead Google it ... I'll wait), the end of the penny won't bring much fanfare. As it turns out, Canada is not the first nation to jettison the penny. Australia and New Zealand have already done so. As consumers, we might wonder what will happen at the cash register. Nations who already canned the penny addressed this issue by asking merchants to round up cash purchases to the nearest nickel. Presumably this rounding up calculation would generate a small benefit to vendors, and perhaps a nightmare for accountants, but thus far this has not proven to be the case.
Of course the one cent denomination would not completely disappear from the economy. The tiny little digit would still be necessary to ensure that accounts balance properly. Credit card and debit purchases would not be rounded up.
There was a time that a penny could actually buy you something. When I was a kid you could get a gumball or some other treat from one of those little shops with aisles of glass containers filled with all sorts of cavity inducing confection. For 25 cents you could fill a small paper bag full of brightly coloured, hardened or chewy, sugary treats. I have fond memories of those days ... so does my dentist. That was several Prime Ministers ago. Today 25 cents won't even get you a call at a payphone (it's 50 cents if you were wondering, the price magically jumps to a dollar if you use a credit card).
A penny-less society would also be left with phrases and idioms that have suddenly lost meaning and relevance in popular culture, like: penny wise, pound foolish or a penny for your thoughts or a penny saved is a penny earned. Well, let's not put the cart before the horse.
Admittedly I feel a tinge of nostalgia for the little coin. It does give one pause to think that they lived long enough to see currency transition from having some value to virtually none. Then again rampant devaluation has been de rigueur from Wall Street to Bay Street in the past couple of years.
So, it looks like it's farewell for our little copper friend. Not sure what to do with my old pennies. Presumably the government and banks will honour the coins value until they have all been cashed in. The upside in cutting off penny production is that it could generate significant savings for the government, and if we're lucky, the taxpayers ...
... ha, ha, ha, ha, ha ... ah, I had ya going there, didn't I?
In the end, perhaps we owe a debt of gratitude to the Senate. Who knew that they could actually identify something more useless and costly than themselves?
Give yourselves a raise and take the rest of the year off.
Tuesday, December 14, 2010
Shelter From Our Storm
If you really want to know something about a society, you don't need to look at the upper echelons of power, nor its media, art or economy. To truly gauge what makes a society tick, look no further than its least privileged. Those that are marginalized by society can tell us much about its worst qualities such as apathy, avarice and neglect, but also about its capacity for care and compassion.
It is at this time of year that we who are privileged enough to enjoy relative wealth and stability feel most compelled to reach out to those in need. You can be cynical about this spurt of generosity and ascribe it to an attempt to assuage our feelings of guilt for our excess. You can criticize this giving as being too much of an event rather than an ongoing effort. While there is truth in both statements, in the eyes of charitable organizations, who must always see the glass as half full, this giving is an essential part of their service to our community. It may not be perfect, but there is hope in the knowledge that our society still believes in taking care of its own.
A rung or two below human suffering are animals. Specifically those that humanity has domesticated for its personal needs. For centuries we have bred certain qualities in our pets by singling out those that best suited us and discarding those we deemed dysfunctional. Often these were the qualities that best equipped these animals to survive in the wild. As a result, many of these creatures have become increasingly dependent on humans for their basic survival.
There are exceptions of course. Some stray dogs and cats cope rather well on the streets of our cities. But how would they fare in a true wilderness, where food is scarce and the competition fierce? The instincts that remain among domestic pets are likely insufficient to ensure survival.
When we examine the state of animal treatment in our society, the picture is very ugly. Abandonment is all too common, as is abuse and neglect that often borders on the sadistic. We are a society of consumers, impatiently waiting to purchase the latest shiny new thing and tossing aside yesterday's trend when it no longer suits our need or fashion. Sadly, many people do the same with animals. Quick to acquire them when they are cute and cuddly, then ignoring, mistreating or abandoning them when they mature, requiring more commitment than their owners anticipated.
Animals raised by breeders driven by profit has led to a scourge of puppy mills rife with unsanitary, cruel and abhorrent conditions. Shelters and rescue agencies regularly see animals who are victims of random abuse and outright cruelty.
Centuries of breeding and domestication have made these pets an intrinsic part of the human community, but by no means are they treated as our equals. Their greatest disadvantage is that they are unable to express their needs in words. They also lack the power or means to adequately defend themselves against tools of human cruelty. As a result, animals often bear witness to the absolute worst of humanity. Incredibly, they also see our capacity for caring and compassion.
Our family recently adopted a cat from a local animal shelter. To be honest, it wasn't planned, but something about this particular animal connected with us. As we were happy to discover, our instincts, and perhaps his, were absolutely right.
The more profound discovery came in meeting some of the dedicated volunteers who give their time ensuring that abandoned animals find safe shelter and a new home. It was also refreshing to have the agency ask critical questions of us as prospective owners, to be certain the animal would be kept in a safe and caring environment by competent and responsible pet owners.
The sad reality is that many animals taken in by shelters face a grim future. Looking into the eyes of the many dogs and cats whose lives have become a steel cage, very little is needed to interpret their feelings.
The cause of this problem rests squarely on human society, and so too the burden of responsibility. At a time of year when the need among people is great it is easy to ignore those creatures that we have abandoned. If it is true that the least powerful among us see society for what it is, then what message are we sending?
Anyone who has ever shared their lives with a pet will attest to a profound emotional bond. Animals demonstrate a level of unconditional love and trust that can be far deeper than what we experience even among our fellow humans. It is why we often see dogs and cats used for therapy, their affection and calming presence can have a powerful healing effect. They are loyal, forgiving and want for little else than a safe home and affectionate care.
These animals deserve our respect and protection. The government must be more vigilant in dealing with profit hungry breeders, puppy mills and pet stores. Potential pet owners must be properly educated and willing to commit to ownership. We can all do our part, either through pet adoption, volunteering or simply a donation to local shelters. Even the simplest of gestures can make a difference.
For those that have become the least among us it is after all, the least we can do.
It is at this time of year that we who are privileged enough to enjoy relative wealth and stability feel most compelled to reach out to those in need. You can be cynical about this spurt of generosity and ascribe it to an attempt to assuage our feelings of guilt for our excess. You can criticize this giving as being too much of an event rather than an ongoing effort. While there is truth in both statements, in the eyes of charitable organizations, who must always see the glass as half full, this giving is an essential part of their service to our community. It may not be perfect, but there is hope in the knowledge that our society still believes in taking care of its own.
A rung or two below human suffering are animals. Specifically those that humanity has domesticated for its personal needs. For centuries we have bred certain qualities in our pets by singling out those that best suited us and discarding those we deemed dysfunctional. Often these were the qualities that best equipped these animals to survive in the wild. As a result, many of these creatures have become increasingly dependent on humans for their basic survival.
There are exceptions of course. Some stray dogs and cats cope rather well on the streets of our cities. But how would they fare in a true wilderness, where food is scarce and the competition fierce? The instincts that remain among domestic pets are likely insufficient to ensure survival.
When we examine the state of animal treatment in our society, the picture is very ugly. Abandonment is all too common, as is abuse and neglect that often borders on the sadistic. We are a society of consumers, impatiently waiting to purchase the latest shiny new thing and tossing aside yesterday's trend when it no longer suits our need or fashion. Sadly, many people do the same with animals. Quick to acquire them when they are cute and cuddly, then ignoring, mistreating or abandoning them when they mature, requiring more commitment than their owners anticipated.
Animals raised by breeders driven by profit has led to a scourge of puppy mills rife with unsanitary, cruel and abhorrent conditions. Shelters and rescue agencies regularly see animals who are victims of random abuse and outright cruelty.
Centuries of breeding and domestication have made these pets an intrinsic part of the human community, but by no means are they treated as our equals. Their greatest disadvantage is that they are unable to express their needs in words. They also lack the power or means to adequately defend themselves against tools of human cruelty. As a result, animals often bear witness to the absolute worst of humanity. Incredibly, they also see our capacity for caring and compassion.
Our family recently adopted a cat from a local animal shelter. To be honest, it wasn't planned, but something about this particular animal connected with us. As we were happy to discover, our instincts, and perhaps his, were absolutely right.
The more profound discovery came in meeting some of the dedicated volunteers who give their time ensuring that abandoned animals find safe shelter and a new home. It was also refreshing to have the agency ask critical questions of us as prospective owners, to be certain the animal would be kept in a safe and caring environment by competent and responsible pet owners.
The sad reality is that many animals taken in by shelters face a grim future. Looking into the eyes of the many dogs and cats whose lives have become a steel cage, very little is needed to interpret their feelings.
The cause of this problem rests squarely on human society, and so too the burden of responsibility. At a time of year when the need among people is great it is easy to ignore those creatures that we have abandoned. If it is true that the least powerful among us see society for what it is, then what message are we sending?
Anyone who has ever shared their lives with a pet will attest to a profound emotional bond. Animals demonstrate a level of unconditional love and trust that can be far deeper than what we experience even among our fellow humans. It is why we often see dogs and cats used for therapy, their affection and calming presence can have a powerful healing effect. They are loyal, forgiving and want for little else than a safe home and affectionate care.
These animals deserve our respect and protection. The government must be more vigilant in dealing with profit hungry breeders, puppy mills and pet stores. Potential pet owners must be properly educated and willing to commit to ownership. We can all do our part, either through pet adoption, volunteering or simply a donation to local shelters. Even the simplest of gestures can make a difference.
For those that have become the least among us it is after all, the least we can do.
Friday, December 10, 2010
The Friday Time Waster Supreme: The Sex and Saints Edition
We've reached the end of a snowy and chilly winter's week ... and it's not even officially winter yet. Welcome to Canada. To warm your cockles and prepare you for two days of relaxation and merriment (read: trapped in your car in a mall parking lot on the verge of tears) here is yet another Friday Time Waster Supreme.
Oh, Christmas tree...
Canadian researchers, always on the cutting edge of vital scientific research, have discovered what causes Christmas trees to shed their needles. The white coat crowd from Nova Scotia Agricultural College and Université de Laval, said ethylene is the culprit behind balsam fir trees shedding their needles on your living room carpet. The ethylene is released naturally by the trees when under stress and is also part of their natural decaying process. Scientists believe that some sort of mutant chemical compound could be developed to block the ethylene release which would significantly extend the life of the average yule tree.
I'm no university researcher, but I'm fairly certain the best and least toxic way to keep the needles from falling off is to not cut down the tree.
***
Gunning for Ron Hextall
Spotted by Dave Stubbs of The Gazette recently, Carey Price taking ice-length shots at an empty net at the Habs' practice facility in Brossard. Price told Stubbs he and buddy Josh Gorges were just clowning around.
Mark my words, it will happen this season. Bets anyone?
***
Killing Off Another Toronto Power Play
Speaking of Price ... it seems the morons in charge of the NHL have been busy watching other sports lately. It's the only explanation as to why four Maple Leafs players made it on this year's All-Star Game fan ballot, compared to only three players from the Canadiens, you know that team that went all the way to last year's Eastern Conference finals while the Laffs were three-putting their way around the GTA. Price was one of the more notable Habs left off the ballot.
Fortunately, Price is leading the write-in portion of the balloting for goaltenders and should be in the lineup for the 2011 All-Star game in Raleigh, North Carolina. Did I also mention that Tomas Plekanec isn't on the ballot? Well he isn't, but is also among the leaders in write-in votes, well ahead of Phil Kessel who was on the ballot. Nice try Toronto, even when you try to fix the vote you still suck.
***
I know John Lennon was all about peace and love, but seeing Stephen Harper perform Imagine on the news this week made me want to vomit.
***
Robbing Banks Not Thrilling Enough for You?
A 31-year-old woman was arrested for attempting to rob a police station in St. Laurent. The woman allegedly showed up at the station after it had closed and convinced a city employee outside that she was a police officer who had forgotten something. The employee opened the door for her, and she entered the station alone.
Minutes later, two real cops showed up and discovered the woman inside.
"She was unable to explain her presence there," a police spokesperson later said. "She tried to tell them the same thing ... that she was a police officer."
The officers searched the woman's bag and found an official police jacket. They proceeded to search the rest of the building but did not find anything else missing. The woman was arrested then and there.
One the one hand, that woman needs to find a better vocation than theft, and on the other isn't it good to know our police stations are protected by Slacky the Swivel Servant?
***
Hard-Earned Tax Dollars?
It had to happen eventually. Like many cities in these hard economic times, the city of Dortmund, Germany is faced with mounting deficit. In response to this problem the city has launched a new "pleasure tax."
What is a "pleasure tax" you ask?
Well, if you didn't already know, prostitution is legal in Germany, so the town of Dortmand came up with a scheme that requires prostitutes to purchase a 6 euro "day ticket" for every day they work, or face a potential fine. The city estimates that the new tax will generate about 750,000 euros a year.
Wouldn't it have been easier to just deduct that amount from all the male city councillors?
***
Unmentionable Holiday Humour
Overheard on the Team 990's drive show with Mitch Melnick. Three men arrive at the gates of heaven on Christmas eve. Saint Peter greets them, holding a clip board which he suddenly tosses aside.
"You know what?" he says, "it's Christmas eve. So I'm going to forget about the standard questions and just ask you for one thing. I want each one of you to reach into you pockets and show me a symbol, any symbol, of Christmas."
The men look at each other, then one suddenly digs into his pants pocket, pulls out a lighter and fires it up.
"What is that supposed to be?" St. Peter asks.
"A candle." The man answers confidently.
"Good one," St. Peters says, "you can go ahead."
The next man starts rifling through his coat pocket, pulls out a set of keys and proceeds to rattle them. St. Peter eyes the keys sceptically, "And those are ...?"
"Bells." The man replies.
St. Peter smiles. "Well done, you can go ahead."
The last man has been staring at the tops of his shoes the entire time, unable to make eye contact. St. Peter prods him, "Well?"
After a long awkward pause, the man suddenly looks up, his eyes wide with excitement. He digs deep into his pocket. His hand emerges holding a pair of women's underwear.
St. Peter frowns at the frilly panties, then looks at the man with a raised eyebrow.
"What exactly are those supposed to be?"
The man grins. "Why, these are Carol's of course.
Have a great weekend everyone.
Oh, Christmas tree...
Canadian researchers, always on the cutting edge of vital scientific research, have discovered what causes Christmas trees to shed their needles. The white coat crowd from Nova Scotia Agricultural College and Université de Laval, said ethylene is the culprit behind balsam fir trees shedding their needles on your living room carpet. The ethylene is released naturally by the trees when under stress and is also part of their natural decaying process. Scientists believe that some sort of mutant chemical compound could be developed to block the ethylene release which would significantly extend the life of the average yule tree.
I'm no university researcher, but I'm fairly certain the best and least toxic way to keep the needles from falling off is to not cut down the tree.
***
Gunning for Ron Hextall
Spotted by Dave Stubbs of The Gazette recently, Carey Price taking ice-length shots at an empty net at the Habs' practice facility in Brossard. Price told Stubbs he and buddy Josh Gorges were just clowning around.
Mark my words, it will happen this season. Bets anyone?
***
Killing Off Another Toronto Power Play
Speaking of Price ... it seems the morons in charge of the NHL have been busy watching other sports lately. It's the only explanation as to why four Maple Leafs players made it on this year's All-Star Game fan ballot, compared to only three players from the Canadiens, you know that team that went all the way to last year's Eastern Conference finals while the Laffs were three-putting their way around the GTA. Price was one of the more notable Habs left off the ballot.
Fortunately, Price is leading the write-in portion of the balloting for goaltenders and should be in the lineup for the 2011 All-Star game in Raleigh, North Carolina. Did I also mention that Tomas Plekanec isn't on the ballot? Well he isn't, but is also among the leaders in write-in votes, well ahead of Phil Kessel who was on the ballot. Nice try Toronto, even when you try to fix the vote you still suck.
***
I know John Lennon was all about peace and love, but seeing Stephen Harper perform Imagine on the news this week made me want to vomit.
***
Robbing Banks Not Thrilling Enough for You?
A 31-year-old woman was arrested for attempting to rob a police station in St. Laurent. The woman allegedly showed up at the station after it had closed and convinced a city employee outside that she was a police officer who had forgotten something. The employee opened the door for her, and she entered the station alone.
Minutes later, two real cops showed up and discovered the woman inside.
"She was unable to explain her presence there," a police spokesperson later said. "She tried to tell them the same thing ... that she was a police officer."
The officers searched the woman's bag and found an official police jacket. They proceeded to search the rest of the building but did not find anything else missing. The woman was arrested then and there.
One the one hand, that woman needs to find a better vocation than theft, and on the other isn't it good to know our police stations are protected by Slacky the Swivel Servant?
***
Hard-Earned Tax Dollars?
It had to happen eventually. Like many cities in these hard economic times, the city of Dortmund, Germany is faced with mounting deficit. In response to this problem the city has launched a new "pleasure tax."
What is a "pleasure tax" you ask?
Well, if you didn't already know, prostitution is legal in Germany, so the town of Dortmand came up with a scheme that requires prostitutes to purchase a 6 euro "day ticket" for every day they work, or face a potential fine. The city estimates that the new tax will generate about 750,000 euros a year.
Wouldn't it have been easier to just deduct that amount from all the male city councillors?
***
Unmentionable Holiday Humour
Overheard on the Team 990's drive show with Mitch Melnick. Three men arrive at the gates of heaven on Christmas eve. Saint Peter greets them, holding a clip board which he suddenly tosses aside.
"You know what?" he says, "it's Christmas eve. So I'm going to forget about the standard questions and just ask you for one thing. I want each one of you to reach into you pockets and show me a symbol, any symbol, of Christmas."
The men look at each other, then one suddenly digs into his pants pocket, pulls out a lighter and fires it up.
"What is that supposed to be?" St. Peter asks.
"A candle." The man answers confidently.
"Good one," St. Peters says, "you can go ahead."
The next man starts rifling through his coat pocket, pulls out a set of keys and proceeds to rattle them. St. Peter eyes the keys sceptically, "And those are ...?"
"Bells." The man replies.
St. Peter smiles. "Well done, you can go ahead."
The last man has been staring at the tops of his shoes the entire time, unable to make eye contact. St. Peter prods him, "Well?"
After a long awkward pause, the man suddenly looks up, his eyes wide with excitement. He digs deep into his pocket. His hand emerges holding a pair of women's underwear.
St. Peter frowns at the frilly panties, then looks at the man with a raised eyebrow.
"What exactly are those supposed to be?"
The man grins. "Why, these are Carol's of course.
Have a great weekend everyone.
Wednesday, December 8, 2010
If We Want It...
I remember the night. I was just 15. I lay in my bed listening to a voice crackling through a cheap clock radio, at a time when I probably should have been asleep.
"Former Beatle John Lennon is dead."
The news was incomprehensible. It is still incomprehensible.
We come around this anniversary every December still feeling that sense of emptiness. Wondering what might have been, what should have been, had Lennon not been taken away so soon.
Lennon's legacy is often discussed among popular media this time of year mostly from the perspective of his ideals of peace and love. His iconic song Imagine, with its simple tune and lyrics, communicate a deeply profound and thoughtful message. We are reminded once again of his efforts to change society's view of war, the famous bed-in and his defiance against the establishment.
As with all great figures in history, we tend to overlook the negatives. Lennon himself admitted that in his early years he was prone to jealousy and fits of anger. He later looked upon himself as a chauvinist. His relationship with his first wife Cynthia and son Julian took a distant back seat to his career. It eventually ended in a bitter divorce. He lost custody of Julian, who for many years Lennon all but ignored. Lennon's relationship with Beatles manager Brian Epstien is well documented. He frequently made fun of the former manager's homosexuality and his Jewish heritage, with oft times cruel and derisive language. There are many other accounts of Lennon's bad behaviour and poor judgement which I need not get into here.
The point is, Lennon was human. The iconic rock star, musical genius and the embodiment of peace and love are creations of our own perceptions, and perhaps to an extent, his own desire to shape our impressions of him. His journey was unique in that it was one lived out in the unforgiving light of the public eye, with the absurd expectations and pressure of fame.
In many ways, Lennon's life story is a far more powerful message than his greatest words or music. His is a story of youthful arrogance, failure, redemption, discovery, humility, excess and finally peace.
There will be much talk about Lennon's legacy on this day. Among those who admired and revered him, there is a growing sense that the ideals he put forth in his music and actions, died on that horrible night in the streets of New York city.
While many will gather with candles and impromptu song to remember the life of John Lennon, I wonder if perhaps we have missed something.
There is a scene in the documentary film Imagine: John Lennon in which a dishevelled young man is found wandering the grounds of Lennon's Tittenhurst Park estate in Berkshire, England. The man wants to meet Lennon because he sees him as something of a prophet, offering guidance through his music. Lennon tells the man:
"Don't confuse the songs with your own life. I mean, they might have relevance to your own life, you know, but a lot of things do. And so we've met, you know? I'm just a guy, man, who writes songs."
It was a revealing insight into what must have been an ongoing internal conflict. On the one hand an international celebrity, on the other, a regular person with dreams, fears, passions and doubts.
We might feel otherwise about Lennon, but it seems that over time he came to understand that success didn't define who he was, though it did provide a powerful platform. Nonetheless he certainly didn't think he had all the answers.
What he did know, by virtue perhaps of his own fallibility, was that each of us regardless of status are called to much greater things than can be found in fame or fortune. The words to Imagine spell out this revelation in plain yet poetic language. Before you can change the world, first you have to change your mind.
"War is over," Lennon wrote, "if we want it."
What if we could look beyond the artist, the icon, the revolutionary, and just consider those words? What if on this anniversary we pay tribute instead to the many unknown heroes among us who demonstrate compassion, acceptance and peace? What if we could find more of those qualities in ourselves?
Imagine letting go of the man who was John Lennon and make his ideals a reality instead.
I wonder if we can.
"Former Beatle John Lennon is dead."
The news was incomprehensible. It is still incomprehensible.
We come around this anniversary every December still feeling that sense of emptiness. Wondering what might have been, what should have been, had Lennon not been taken away so soon.
Lennon's legacy is often discussed among popular media this time of year mostly from the perspective of his ideals of peace and love. His iconic song Imagine, with its simple tune and lyrics, communicate a deeply profound and thoughtful message. We are reminded once again of his efforts to change society's view of war, the famous bed-in and his defiance against the establishment.
As with all great figures in history, we tend to overlook the negatives. Lennon himself admitted that in his early years he was prone to jealousy and fits of anger. He later looked upon himself as a chauvinist. His relationship with his first wife Cynthia and son Julian took a distant back seat to his career. It eventually ended in a bitter divorce. He lost custody of Julian, who for many years Lennon all but ignored. Lennon's relationship with Beatles manager Brian Epstien is well documented. He frequently made fun of the former manager's homosexuality and his Jewish heritage, with oft times cruel and derisive language. There are many other accounts of Lennon's bad behaviour and poor judgement which I need not get into here.
The point is, Lennon was human. The iconic rock star, musical genius and the embodiment of peace and love are creations of our own perceptions, and perhaps to an extent, his own desire to shape our impressions of him. His journey was unique in that it was one lived out in the unforgiving light of the public eye, with the absurd expectations and pressure of fame.
In many ways, Lennon's life story is a far more powerful message than his greatest words or music. His is a story of youthful arrogance, failure, redemption, discovery, humility, excess and finally peace.
There will be much talk about Lennon's legacy on this day. Among those who admired and revered him, there is a growing sense that the ideals he put forth in his music and actions, died on that horrible night in the streets of New York city.
While many will gather with candles and impromptu song to remember the life of John Lennon, I wonder if perhaps we have missed something.
There is a scene in the documentary film Imagine: John Lennon in which a dishevelled young man is found wandering the grounds of Lennon's Tittenhurst Park estate in Berkshire, England. The man wants to meet Lennon because he sees him as something of a prophet, offering guidance through his music. Lennon tells the man:
"Don't confuse the songs with your own life. I mean, they might have relevance to your own life, you know, but a lot of things do. And so we've met, you know? I'm just a guy, man, who writes songs."
It was a revealing insight into what must have been an ongoing internal conflict. On the one hand an international celebrity, on the other, a regular person with dreams, fears, passions and doubts.
We might feel otherwise about Lennon, but it seems that over time he came to understand that success didn't define who he was, though it did provide a powerful platform. Nonetheless he certainly didn't think he had all the answers.
What he did know, by virtue perhaps of his own fallibility, was that each of us regardless of status are called to much greater things than can be found in fame or fortune. The words to Imagine spell out this revelation in plain yet poetic language. Before you can change the world, first you have to change your mind.
"War is over," Lennon wrote, "if we want it."
What if we could look beyond the artist, the icon, the revolutionary, and just consider those words? What if on this anniversary we pay tribute instead to the many unknown heroes among us who demonstrate compassion, acceptance and peace? What if we could find more of those qualities in ourselves?
Imagine letting go of the man who was John Lennon and make his ideals a reality instead.
I wonder if we can.
Monday, December 6, 2010
Bob The Builder
What a difference a year makes.
There is perhaps no better example of this truism than the 2010-2011 Montreal Canadiens. The team currently sits atop the Northeast division at 17-8-2, five points ahead of second place Boston. The once maligned Carey Price is enjoying a league-leading .935 save percentage, with 4 shoutouts, and has already surpassed his total number of wins from last year.
Of course, it didn't quite start out that way. The preseason debut of the post-Halak era Habs played out with the spotlight firmly and perhaps unfairly glaring into the face-mask of Price. The shadow he cast that night was less than stellar. What came next proved to be an appalling display of classlessness and derision on behalf of a few disgruntled Canadiens fans. It was cruel and ignorant behaviour and frankly an embarrassment to this city.
Price's response? A cool and measured chill out everybody, it's just the preseason.
For a fan base still smarting from the loss of Halak, a player with whom many had come to expect miracles, the notion of chilling out didn't sit too well. But then, how could they know?
Indeed, the expectations on the young Price were ponderous. Tapped as the team's goalie of the future and thrust into that role while still very fresh in the league, Price has shouldered far more adversity than virtually anyone on the team. P.K. Subban, by contrast, emerged from his time in the Hab's farm team, the Hamilton Bulldogs, seemingly inheriting the role of fan favourite. To his credit, Subban has delivered, proving to be every bit the skilled, competitive defenceman we were told about and hoped for.
That is until his overly stylish play put him squarely (although not officially) in the team's doghouse. One might have thought that banishing arguably the best rookie defenceman in the league to the press box was a bit of a risk. Particularly considering that the team is once again without its number one defenceman in Andrei Markov, but that is not how the puck is bouncing this year for the Habs.
Both Yaroslav Spacek and Roman Hamrlik have somehow turned back the clock on their veteran years. Then there has been the surprisingly solid play of two other rookie defencemen in Yannick Weber and Alexandre Picard. Picard is more the veteran at 25, but still, the two are playing far beyond their billing. All of this has resulted in one of the best controversies the team has had to face in years. Too many good players and not enough room on the roster. Reinserting Subban into the lineup means either Weber, Picard or possibly Mathieu Darche would be forced upstairs. Too bad it couldn't be Scott Gomez, but that's another can-o-worms.
Even coach Jacques Martin is being viewed in a new and refreshing light. No longer considered by fans and the media as a one dimensional, puck-possession coach, Martin is showing a remarkable strategic vision. The program, whatever it is, has been bought heart and soul by the team, and thus far it has produced impressive results.
All of this is nice. Nice for the fans, nice for the players, nice for the organization. Even the normally raucous debates on L'Antichambre seem tempered by the team's success.
Unfortunately, the person to whom the fans and organization owe most of the credit is no longer at the helm. Make no mistake, with very few exceptions, the true architect of this team is Bob Gainey. You can be as critical as you like of the former general manager, but take a good hard look at the decisions he has made, particularly towards the end of his tenure, to reshape this team virtually from the ground up. Was he perfect? No. Were his decisions always the right ones? No. But forget the negatives for the moment and consider what has gone right. Moreover, contrast Gainey's success in hockey crazy Montreal versus Brian Burke's success in hockey obsessed Toronto.
Yes, it took time. Yes, there were setbacks. Building, and then rebuilding a team is no easy task. It takes lots of time, lots of patience, and the occasional gamble. To be successful at this process means looking much further down the road than the impatient fans and media are willing to embrace. It also means enduring an insane amount of criticism from people who really have no idea of the challenges most GMs face, or even a good understanding of the process of team building.
Regardless, from my spot in the bleachers there is really only one person who deserves long overdue recognition for the team's success, and without reservation do I give Gainey full credit. It's a shame he no longer holds the position of general manager to enjoy the fruits of his hard work and vision. Knowing Gainey, he's sitting back and enjoying the peace and quiet outside of the spotlight with the satisfaction of knowing he did what he always did best for the Canadiens, whatever it takes to win.
There is perhaps no better example of this truism than the 2010-2011 Montreal Canadiens. The team currently sits atop the Northeast division at 17-8-2, five points ahead of second place Boston. The once maligned Carey Price is enjoying a league-leading .935 save percentage, with 4 shoutouts, and has already surpassed his total number of wins from last year.
Of course, it didn't quite start out that way. The preseason debut of the post-Halak era Habs played out with the spotlight firmly and perhaps unfairly glaring into the face-mask of Price. The shadow he cast that night was less than stellar. What came next proved to be an appalling display of classlessness and derision on behalf of a few disgruntled Canadiens fans. It was cruel and ignorant behaviour and frankly an embarrassment to this city.
Price's response? A cool and measured chill out everybody, it's just the preseason.
For a fan base still smarting from the loss of Halak, a player with whom many had come to expect miracles, the notion of chilling out didn't sit too well. But then, how could they know?
Indeed, the expectations on the young Price were ponderous. Tapped as the team's goalie of the future and thrust into that role while still very fresh in the league, Price has shouldered far more adversity than virtually anyone on the team. P.K. Subban, by contrast, emerged from his time in the Hab's farm team, the Hamilton Bulldogs, seemingly inheriting the role of fan favourite. To his credit, Subban has delivered, proving to be every bit the skilled, competitive defenceman we were told about and hoped for.
That is until his overly stylish play put him squarely (although not officially) in the team's doghouse. One might have thought that banishing arguably the best rookie defenceman in the league to the press box was a bit of a risk. Particularly considering that the team is once again without its number one defenceman in Andrei Markov, but that is not how the puck is bouncing this year for the Habs.
Both Yaroslav Spacek and Roman Hamrlik have somehow turned back the clock on their veteran years. Then there has been the surprisingly solid play of two other rookie defencemen in Yannick Weber and Alexandre Picard. Picard is more the veteran at 25, but still, the two are playing far beyond their billing. All of this has resulted in one of the best controversies the team has had to face in years. Too many good players and not enough room on the roster. Reinserting Subban into the lineup means either Weber, Picard or possibly Mathieu Darche would be forced upstairs. Too bad it couldn't be Scott Gomez, but that's another can-o-worms.
Even coach Jacques Martin is being viewed in a new and refreshing light. No longer considered by fans and the media as a one dimensional, puck-possession coach, Martin is showing a remarkable strategic vision. The program, whatever it is, has been bought heart and soul by the team, and thus far it has produced impressive results.
All of this is nice. Nice for the fans, nice for the players, nice for the organization. Even the normally raucous debates on L'Antichambre seem tempered by the team's success.
Unfortunately, the person to whom the fans and organization owe most of the credit is no longer at the helm. Make no mistake, with very few exceptions, the true architect of this team is Bob Gainey. You can be as critical as you like of the former general manager, but take a good hard look at the decisions he has made, particularly towards the end of his tenure, to reshape this team virtually from the ground up. Was he perfect? No. Were his decisions always the right ones? No. But forget the negatives for the moment and consider what has gone right. Moreover, contrast Gainey's success in hockey crazy Montreal versus Brian Burke's success in hockey obsessed Toronto.
Yes, it took time. Yes, there were setbacks. Building, and then rebuilding a team is no easy task. It takes lots of time, lots of patience, and the occasional gamble. To be successful at this process means looking much further down the road than the impatient fans and media are willing to embrace. It also means enduring an insane amount of criticism from people who really have no idea of the challenges most GMs face, or even a good understanding of the process of team building.
Regardless, from my spot in the bleachers there is really only one person who deserves long overdue recognition for the team's success, and without reservation do I give Gainey full credit. It's a shame he no longer holds the position of general manager to enjoy the fruits of his hard work and vision. Knowing Gainey, he's sitting back and enjoying the peace and quiet outside of the spotlight with the satisfaction of knowing he did what he always did best for the Canadiens, whatever it takes to win.
December 6th, 1989
In the life of this city there are few anniversaries that are as difficult and painful as December 6th. It was on this day that 25 year-old Marc Lépine walked through the doors of École Polytechnique de Montréal carrying a semi-automatic rifle and proceeded to murder 14 young women before taking his own life. His motive, as declared in a suicide note, was to seek vengeance against the "feminists who ruined his life."
That was twenty-one years ago.
For most Montrealers, as much as we are still horrified by this event, we have moved beyond the question of how it could happen here. It did, and very little we can do or think will change that. We still feel wounded and angry by the events of that day, and perhaps even a modicum of shame.
For the media, today will be an opportunity to revisit this story, searching for a new angle, a tidbit of information that perhaps the public didn't know. They will stir up issues surrounding gun control, violence against women and gender equality. They will send reporters to École Polytechnique to cover events taking place to mark the anniversary. They will try to secure a sound-bite from those who witnessed the event and the parents who lost their child on that tragic day.
For the politicians it will be a time to align themselves on the right side of the related issues. To stand with family members and parents who lost their children. To make speeches and promises and perhaps steal a positive photo-op. For those politicians who oppose legislation created in the wake of those murders, they will skulk through the shadows of power, offering their sympathies when cornered, but little in the way of contrition. They will lay low, hoping that the next 24 hours will pass without having to offer a substantive explanation of their position.
Long after the reporters have moved on to their next story. The cameras no longer flash, the television crews have packed up their equipment. The politicians have returned to Ottawa, Quebec or City Hall to games of polemics and endless debate. When the candles have long since burned out, and the flowered wreaths lie beneath a thin layer of snow on a cold and dark winters night, one indelible fact will remain.
Mothers and fathers will awake to another day when their child is no longer there. The child they once held in their arms, nurtured, protected, loved. They will live yet another day faced with the hollow reality that every parent fears most, they have outlived their child. To know that their most precious gift was wrenched from their lives in an act devoid of reason, or justification, or compassion.
There is no right way to mark this occasion. That we commemorate it with what has become at times a predictable, almost routine order of events seems a terrible injustice, and yet what else can we do? We owe at least a moment of our time this day to consider the pain of those affected by this tragedy. Not to pontificate, to ask questions, to assign blame, to make promises we cannot keep. Simply to hold them in our hearts, to carry the weight of their grief upon our shoulders, to mourn and remember their children as if they were our own. For that is what they have become.
Geneviève Bergeron
Hélène Colgan
Nathalie Croteau
Barbara Daigneault
Anne-Marie Edward
Maud Haviernick
Maryse Laganière
Maryse Leclair
Anne-Marie Lemay
Sonia Pelletier
Michèle Richard
Annie St-Arneault
Annie Turcotte
Barbara Klucznik-Widajewicz
That was twenty-one years ago.
For most Montrealers, as much as we are still horrified by this event, we have moved beyond the question of how it could happen here. It did, and very little we can do or think will change that. We still feel wounded and angry by the events of that day, and perhaps even a modicum of shame.
For the media, today will be an opportunity to revisit this story, searching for a new angle, a tidbit of information that perhaps the public didn't know. They will stir up issues surrounding gun control, violence against women and gender equality. They will send reporters to École Polytechnique to cover events taking place to mark the anniversary. They will try to secure a sound-bite from those who witnessed the event and the parents who lost their child on that tragic day.
For the politicians it will be a time to align themselves on the right side of the related issues. To stand with family members and parents who lost their children. To make speeches and promises and perhaps steal a positive photo-op. For those politicians who oppose legislation created in the wake of those murders, they will skulk through the shadows of power, offering their sympathies when cornered, but little in the way of contrition. They will lay low, hoping that the next 24 hours will pass without having to offer a substantive explanation of their position.
Long after the reporters have moved on to their next story. The cameras no longer flash, the television crews have packed up their equipment. The politicians have returned to Ottawa, Quebec or City Hall to games of polemics and endless debate. When the candles have long since burned out, and the flowered wreaths lie beneath a thin layer of snow on a cold and dark winters night, one indelible fact will remain.
Mothers and fathers will awake to another day when their child is no longer there. The child they once held in their arms, nurtured, protected, loved. They will live yet another day faced with the hollow reality that every parent fears most, they have outlived their child. To know that their most precious gift was wrenched from their lives in an act devoid of reason, or justification, or compassion.
There is no right way to mark this occasion. That we commemorate it with what has become at times a predictable, almost routine order of events seems a terrible injustice, and yet what else can we do? We owe at least a moment of our time this day to consider the pain of those affected by this tragedy. Not to pontificate, to ask questions, to assign blame, to make promises we cannot keep. Simply to hold them in our hearts, to carry the weight of their grief upon our shoulders, to mourn and remember their children as if they were our own. For that is what they have become.
Geneviève Bergeron
Hélène Colgan
Nathalie Croteau
Barbara Daigneault
Anne-Marie Edward
Maud Haviernick
Maryse Laganière
Maryse Leclair
Anne-Marie Lemay
Sonia Pelletier
Michèle Richard
Annie St-Arneault
Annie Turcotte
Barbara Klucznik-Widajewicz
Friday, December 3, 2010
The Friday Time Waster Supreme: Holiday Eels and Happy Penguins Edition
It's the end of yet another busy week ... busy celebrating a Grey Cup that is. With so much revelry, I hardly had time to write anything substantive, or at least worth publishing. I usually save those dregs for today. Did I say dregs? I meant insightful and witty commentary on the issues of the day... naw it's the dregs. Who cares? It's Friday, so let's kill some time before punching the clock.
Sorry, my bad
Kudos to rookie P.K. Subban for admitting to multiple brain cramps in Wednesday's overtime loss to the Edmonton Oilers. A surprising lemon to veteran Mike Cammalleri for not admitting to at least one.
***
Congratulations, it's a ... penguin
The Montreal Biodome is looking like a nursery these days as officials announced the recent hatching of two gentoo penguin chicks. They are one of four new chicks to hatch in recent weeks. The Biodome has been closed for renovations for several months as workers installed new interactive displays, improved access for visitors and better lighting.
Now you know what penguins get up to when the lights are out.
***
Overheard in the hallways of hell
"What? Some guy stole a bunch of Pat Burn's stuff from his widow's car?"
"Man, is he in shit."
***
Oh Those Wacky Japanese
An aquarium in Japan has found a weird yet eco-friendly solution for the holidays. The aquarium located in Kamakura, just south of Tokyo, uses an electric eel to illuminate its Christmas tree. Every time the eel moves some sort of high tech gadget collects the electricity to light up the tree.
Of course it wouldn't be a true Japanese display unless it involved a robot. This year the aquarium has added a Santa droid that sings and dances using kinetic energy collected from visitors stomping on a pad.
While the display is an interesting example of eco-energy innovation, I'm not sure a tank of electric eels is necessarily the best way to run my dishwasher. I do like the idea of the stomping pad, though. If we could convince our six year-old to use it every time he has a tantrum we'd be off-the-grid in no time.
***
A Kick in The Grass...
England recently lost its bid to host the 2018 World Cup (of soccer, if you have to ask). The announcement came just days after a BBC program called Panorama aired a news report accusing football's (that is soccer's) governing board FIFA, of rampant corruption. England not only lost the 2018 World Cup, they also failed to get a shot at the 2022 World Cup, which went to the oil rich nation of Qatar where the midsummer temperature hovers around 400º Celsius.
Thankfully, FIFA dispelled any suggestion of corruption and favouritism by selecting Russia for 2018 ... ya, that should do it.
***
Well, I guess the cat is out of the bag. I confess, in grade five I cheated on my math quiz by copying answers from Billy Thompson when the teacher wasn't looking. Damn you Wikileaks!
***
Chew on that...
In the days leading up to the CFL Eastern Conference final between the Toronto Argonauts and the Alouettes, Argos defensive lineman Adriano Belli proclaimed to the media: “This team does two things well — kick ass and chew bubble gum, and we’re out of bubble gum.”
The Als trounced the Argos 48 - 17 on their way to their second Grey Cup.
Now that the confetti has settled I think it's fair to say the Alouettes do two things well - and the other one involves a parade.
Enjoy your weekend.
Sorry, my bad
Kudos to rookie P.K. Subban for admitting to multiple brain cramps in Wednesday's overtime loss to the Edmonton Oilers. A surprising lemon to veteran Mike Cammalleri for not admitting to at least one.
***
Congratulations, it's a ... penguin
The Montreal Biodome is looking like a nursery these days as officials announced the recent hatching of two gentoo penguin chicks. They are one of four new chicks to hatch in recent weeks. The Biodome has been closed for renovations for several months as workers installed new interactive displays, improved access for visitors and better lighting.
Now you know what penguins get up to when the lights are out.
***
Overheard in the hallways of hell
"What? Some guy stole a bunch of Pat Burn's stuff from his widow's car?"
"Man, is he in shit."
***
Oh Those Wacky Japanese
An aquarium in Japan has found a weird yet eco-friendly solution for the holidays. The aquarium located in Kamakura, just south of Tokyo, uses an electric eel to illuminate its Christmas tree. Every time the eel moves some sort of high tech gadget collects the electricity to light up the tree.
Of course it wouldn't be a true Japanese display unless it involved a robot. This year the aquarium has added a Santa droid that sings and dances using kinetic energy collected from visitors stomping on a pad.
While the display is an interesting example of eco-energy innovation, I'm not sure a tank of electric eels is necessarily the best way to run my dishwasher. I do like the idea of the stomping pad, though. If we could convince our six year-old to use it every time he has a tantrum we'd be off-the-grid in no time.
***
A Kick in The Grass...
England recently lost its bid to host the 2018 World Cup (of soccer, if you have to ask). The announcement came just days after a BBC program called Panorama aired a news report accusing football's (that is soccer's) governing board FIFA, of rampant corruption. England not only lost the 2018 World Cup, they also failed to get a shot at the 2022 World Cup, which went to the oil rich nation of Qatar where the midsummer temperature hovers around 400º Celsius.
Thankfully, FIFA dispelled any suggestion of corruption and favouritism by selecting Russia for 2018 ... ya, that should do it.
***
Well, I guess the cat is out of the bag. I confess, in grade five I cheated on my math quiz by copying answers from Billy Thompson when the teacher wasn't looking. Damn you Wikileaks!
***
Chew on that...
In the days leading up to the CFL Eastern Conference final between the Toronto Argonauts and the Alouettes, Argos defensive lineman Adriano Belli proclaimed to the media: “This team does two things well — kick ass and chew bubble gum, and we’re out of bubble gum.”
The Als trounced the Argos 48 - 17 on their way to their second Grey Cup.
Now that the confetti has settled I think it's fair to say the Alouettes do two things well - and the other one involves a parade.
Enjoy your weekend.
Monday, November 29, 2010
Second and Long Road Ahead
For those of you who remember, 1970's popular culture was profoundly influenced by the the difficulty of the era. The end of the Vietnam war, the energy crisis, Nixon's resignation, even the break up of the Beatles had led to an entrenched sense of cynicism in popular culture. Sardonic wit drawn from a growing mistrust of authority and established institutions became chic. Much of this was reflected in popular films of the era like M*A*S*H, Smokey and The Bandit, Convoy even Star Wars. These were movies that pitted their heroes against the established authority.
Standing apart from this trend was Superman The Movie. The big screen rendition of the idyllic comic book superhero turned the box office on its ear. In a time when heroes were anything but clean cut, morally centred men in tights, the film seemed to strike a chord with audiences. The tenor of the story pitted the acrimony of the day against bright-eyed optimism and a veneration of core values such as courtesy, respect and humility. One of the most telling moments in the film came when Margo Kidder's Lois Lane asked Superman what he believed.
He replied without hesitation, "I stand for truth, justice and the American way."
That line universally drew titters and sometimes outright laughter from the audience. It also caused more than a few viewers to pause and ponder why such a statement had become so laughable.
In the moments after last night's Grey Cup victory, Anthony Calvillo was pulled aside by a television reporter to comment on his team's success. Calvillo began, as he had in similar occasions by saying, "First of all I want to thank my Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ."
That line drew more than a few laughs among the Alouettes faithful with whom I had gathered to watch the game. As a person who has devoted much of my own life to a local church, admittedly the statement drew a mild cringe.
The euphoria of the Alouettes Grey Cup win soon turned to shock and surprise when Calvillo later admitted that he had been keeping a health related issue a secret. In August of this year, when doctors examined him after suffering a bruised sternum, it was discovered that the Als' quarterback had a lesion on the thyroid gland in his neck. A biopsy was inconclusive, so surgery to remove the lesion became necessary. Despite the gravity of the discovery, physicians told Calvillo he would be able to complete the season prior to the operation. Thyroid cancer is among the more treatable forms of the disease, with a 97% success rate, but until any one of us has to face such unimaginable news, percentages don't have much meaning.
Calvillo has known about his condition since August, but virtually no one on the team was aware. This makes the Grey Cup victory all the more incredible and somewhat bittersweet. It is also a testament to his faith.
Cynicism is easy. It's been said that it's better to be an pessimist than an optimist because most of the time you are right, and even when you're wrong, it's a pleasant surprise. Faith is hard. To believe in something so deeply is one thing, but to profess it publicly is another thing entirely. You risk mockery and derision. Your credibility is called into question as is your judgement.
The mixture of faith and sports has never been a comfortable one. There have been players in the past who have accredited their success on the playing field to their relationship with the divine. In Calvillo's case, he has never given credit to God for his success, but he has always taken the opportunity to thank God. There is a difference.
Humility is the cornerstone of many faiths. Secular society has often regarded this quality as weakness, but true humility requires significant courage and strength. Humility comes from accepting that much of what we experience and have received in our lives does not come from us. That our lives, our abilities, our talents, are all gifts, things that we did not acquire on our own, that help define who we are. This is not to say that humility cannot coexist with confidence and determination. In many ways, those qualities are enhanced by humility. What we achieve in life is dependant mostly on what we do with the gifts we have. It is those choices that determine how we are perceived by the world. Do we use them solely for the benefit of ourselves or do we share them for the benefit of others?
Calvillo himself is nonplussed about reactions to his public acknowledgements of grace. It is a reflection of his character that is in part fierce and determined competitor and a humble, thankful human being. Whether we find his statement to be laughable or cringeworthy, to borrow a line from a lesser known movie, "you don't have to believe." Whatever we might think of his chosen faith, or religion in general, Calvillo has consistently demonstrated exceptional qualities both on and off the playing field. Any one who might want to question his priorities ought to recall his decision to walk away from the game in 2007 to support his wife Alexia in her battle with B-cell lymphoma cancer.
I suspect that back in August, when he first learned of his condition, Calvillo's first thought was not why me? Knowing what we know of him, he was probably thinking it was a good thing he got injured, otherwise he might not have known about the lesion sooner. These things we will likely never know, but one thing is certain, he spent the rest of the season, and playoffs, keeping the news from his team-mates so as not to become a distraction. It doesn't get much more selfless than that. Although typical of Calvillo, he was honest enough to admit that playing the game had kept him from thinking of the road ahead. Still, it would have been easy to use his condition as a rallying point for the team, making the season all about him, or perhaps to build-in an excuse if the season didn't end well. Clearly, that was not how he wanted this to play out.
Winning a second straight Grey Cup, under circumstances that we now know were significantly more challenging than any of us saw on the field, Calvillo could have been forgiven for wanting to take at least a modicum of credit. Instead, he did as he has always done, shown grace for his blessings ahead of everything else, including his own remarkable courage.
In a society in which professional athletes brag and trash talk one another, where celebrities are exalted and bask in the limelight for achieving little else than being born into a good gene pool, Calvillo's attitude is refreshing and much needed. I firmly believe his faith will carry him through the challenges ahead, and because of the strength of his character built upon a foundation of humility, each and every one of us touched by his life will carry the weight as well.
Blessings, Anthony.
Standing apart from this trend was Superman The Movie. The big screen rendition of the idyllic comic book superhero turned the box office on its ear. In a time when heroes were anything but clean cut, morally centred men in tights, the film seemed to strike a chord with audiences. The tenor of the story pitted the acrimony of the day against bright-eyed optimism and a veneration of core values such as courtesy, respect and humility. One of the most telling moments in the film came when Margo Kidder's Lois Lane asked Superman what he believed.
He replied without hesitation, "I stand for truth, justice and the American way."
That line universally drew titters and sometimes outright laughter from the audience. It also caused more than a few viewers to pause and ponder why such a statement had become so laughable.
In the moments after last night's Grey Cup victory, Anthony Calvillo was pulled aside by a television reporter to comment on his team's success. Calvillo began, as he had in similar occasions by saying, "First of all I want to thank my Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ."
That line drew more than a few laughs among the Alouettes faithful with whom I had gathered to watch the game. As a person who has devoted much of my own life to a local church, admittedly the statement drew a mild cringe.
The euphoria of the Alouettes Grey Cup win soon turned to shock and surprise when Calvillo later admitted that he had been keeping a health related issue a secret. In August of this year, when doctors examined him after suffering a bruised sternum, it was discovered that the Als' quarterback had a lesion on the thyroid gland in his neck. A biopsy was inconclusive, so surgery to remove the lesion became necessary. Despite the gravity of the discovery, physicians told Calvillo he would be able to complete the season prior to the operation. Thyroid cancer is among the more treatable forms of the disease, with a 97% success rate, but until any one of us has to face such unimaginable news, percentages don't have much meaning.
Calvillo has known about his condition since August, but virtually no one on the team was aware. This makes the Grey Cup victory all the more incredible and somewhat bittersweet. It is also a testament to his faith.
Cynicism is easy. It's been said that it's better to be an pessimist than an optimist because most of the time you are right, and even when you're wrong, it's a pleasant surprise. Faith is hard. To believe in something so deeply is one thing, but to profess it publicly is another thing entirely. You risk mockery and derision. Your credibility is called into question as is your judgement.
The mixture of faith and sports has never been a comfortable one. There have been players in the past who have accredited their success on the playing field to their relationship with the divine. In Calvillo's case, he has never given credit to God for his success, but he has always taken the opportunity to thank God. There is a difference.
Humility is the cornerstone of many faiths. Secular society has often regarded this quality as weakness, but true humility requires significant courage and strength. Humility comes from accepting that much of what we experience and have received in our lives does not come from us. That our lives, our abilities, our talents, are all gifts, things that we did not acquire on our own, that help define who we are. This is not to say that humility cannot coexist with confidence and determination. In many ways, those qualities are enhanced by humility. What we achieve in life is dependant mostly on what we do with the gifts we have. It is those choices that determine how we are perceived by the world. Do we use them solely for the benefit of ourselves or do we share them for the benefit of others?
Calvillo himself is nonplussed about reactions to his public acknowledgements of grace. It is a reflection of his character that is in part fierce and determined competitor and a humble, thankful human being. Whether we find his statement to be laughable or cringeworthy, to borrow a line from a lesser known movie, "you don't have to believe." Whatever we might think of his chosen faith, or religion in general, Calvillo has consistently demonstrated exceptional qualities both on and off the playing field. Any one who might want to question his priorities ought to recall his decision to walk away from the game in 2007 to support his wife Alexia in her battle with B-cell lymphoma cancer.
I suspect that back in August, when he first learned of his condition, Calvillo's first thought was not why me? Knowing what we know of him, he was probably thinking it was a good thing he got injured, otherwise he might not have known about the lesion sooner. These things we will likely never know, but one thing is certain, he spent the rest of the season, and playoffs, keeping the news from his team-mates so as not to become a distraction. It doesn't get much more selfless than that. Although typical of Calvillo, he was honest enough to admit that playing the game had kept him from thinking of the road ahead. Still, it would have been easy to use his condition as a rallying point for the team, making the season all about him, or perhaps to build-in an excuse if the season didn't end well. Clearly, that was not how he wanted this to play out.
Winning a second straight Grey Cup, under circumstances that we now know were significantly more challenging than any of us saw on the field, Calvillo could have been forgiven for wanting to take at least a modicum of credit. Instead, he did as he has always done, shown grace for his blessings ahead of everything else, including his own remarkable courage.
In a society in which professional athletes brag and trash talk one another, where celebrities are exalted and bask in the limelight for achieving little else than being born into a good gene pool, Calvillo's attitude is refreshing and much needed. I firmly believe his faith will carry him through the challenges ahead, and because of the strength of his character built upon a foundation of humility, each and every one of us touched by his life will carry the weight as well.
Blessings, Anthony.
Friday, November 26, 2010
The Friday Time Waster Supreme: Big Mouth Bishops and Broomstick Underpants Edition
Another busy week has passed and I have left you blogless yet again, well almost. In my defence, I am hip-deep in a project that is sapping all of my creative energy (such as it is), and frankly I'm just too damn lazy. Fortunately for you, not lazy enough to let a Friday pass without another collection of thoughts and commentary to massage the kinks out of your brain in time for the weekend. With prose like that, it could mean only one thing ... I'm a crappy writer ... no, silly-pants, it's the Friday Time Waster Supreme.
Lazy Liars
A study published recently in my favourite academic rag Social Psychological and Personality Science concluded that people are more likely to lie or cheat if it's easy. The study conducted by the University of Toronto gave 84 participants a computer-based math test, but warned them that there was a glitch in the system. Half were told that hitting the space bar would display the answer. The rest were told that by not pressing the enter key quickly enough, the answer would appear on the screen. In other words do nothing - get it right.
Most did not cheat, but of those who did, like the no enter-key cheaters, it happened 1.5 times in 15. The space-bar cheaters did so an average of 0.18 times.
Rimma Teper, a PhD student overseeing the study, claims the distinction is in the action required. The first group have to intentionally cheat, the second group can argue that they didn't do anything and the answer appeared, which can be interpreted as somewhat less of a transgression. In laymen's terms "oopsie, my bad."
So, scientific evidence that people are more likely to lie if it's easy. Can't wait for Teper's next breakthrough study: Are men thinking about their feelings during game seven of the Stanley Cup playoffs?
...and they hand out PhD's for this.
***
The Rock's Rock
Newfoundland and Labrador's ass-kicking premier Danny Williams surprised the province, and the country, by announcing that he was stepping down this week. The Rock's notorious leader stood up to Prime Minister Harper, Quebec Premier Jean Charest and even big oil, to turn the fortunes of his province to profit and success. His reason for leaving politics are personal, noting a desire to return to the business sector. The Premier described his tenure as a roller coaster ride. Many feel it was Williams' tough demeanour and powers of influence that helped generate much needed, and long overdue, prosperity for the province.
It is an abrupt and perplexing decision, and one can't help but speculate if perhaps he is taking a break before setting his sights on a bigger political stage.
We could sure do with a few asses being kicked in Ottawa. Stay tuned.
***
How to Scratch Yourself From The Guest List
Who the heck is Pete Broadbent? He probably wishes no one knew. He is the Bishop of Willesden in northwest London, England.
Yes, and...
Well, evidently the saintly Bishop made some rather *ahem* unkind comments on his Facebook page regarding the pending nuptuals of Prince William and Kate (sorry, Katherine) Middleton. Such as:
"I don't care about the Royals ... there are more broken marriages and philanderers among these people than not. They cost us an arm and a leg. As with most shallow celebrities they will be set up to fail by the gutter press ... I give the marriage seven years,"
The gutter press nearly chewed one another's legs off in a feeding frenzy to report the Bishop's comments.
Broadbent has since apologized, acknowledging that his comments were "deeply offensive" and he added "I wish Prince William and Kate Middleton a happy and lifelong marriage, and will hold them in my prayers."
Okay:
A: How did this a-hole become a Bishop? Is there some sort of ordination by mail-order?
and
B: Bishop's on Facebook?! Okay, it's officially not cool anymore.
***
I got your trademark right here...
What is the sure sign of success? Wads of cash? Gold plumbing fixtures? Naw, that's all window dressing. The real sign you've achieved ultimate fame and fortune is when you are surrounded by a gaggle of trademark lawyers. Such is the case for Warner Brothers' Harry Potter franchise. The stupefyingly profitable series has made the film company uber-mega-giga-billions of dollars. And like every other savvy business, Warner is securing future profit by busily slapping trademarks on everything attached to the wizardly tale.
Including, and I'm not making this up, Quidditch lingerie.
So far, no one has decided to produce undergarments named after a fictional sport that involves Chasers, Beaters, a Keeper and a Seeker, but Warner is taking no chances. From a marketing perspective, advertisers could easily pitch Quidditch underpants as the perfect thing to cover your Golden Snitch.
Enjoy the weekend. Go Als, go.
Lazy Liars
A study published recently in my favourite academic rag Social Psychological and Personality Science concluded that people are more likely to lie or cheat if it's easy. The study conducted by the University of Toronto gave 84 participants a computer-based math test, but warned them that there was a glitch in the system. Half were told that hitting the space bar would display the answer. The rest were told that by not pressing the enter key quickly enough, the answer would appear on the screen. In other words do nothing - get it right.
Most did not cheat, but of those who did, like the no enter-key cheaters, it happened 1.5 times in 15. The space-bar cheaters did so an average of 0.18 times.
Rimma Teper, a PhD student overseeing the study, claims the distinction is in the action required. The first group have to intentionally cheat, the second group can argue that they didn't do anything and the answer appeared, which can be interpreted as somewhat less of a transgression. In laymen's terms "oopsie, my bad."
So, scientific evidence that people are more likely to lie if it's easy. Can't wait for Teper's next breakthrough study: Are men thinking about their feelings during game seven of the Stanley Cup playoffs?
...and they hand out PhD's for this.
***
The Rock's Rock
Newfoundland and Labrador's ass-kicking premier Danny Williams surprised the province, and the country, by announcing that he was stepping down this week. The Rock's notorious leader stood up to Prime Minister Harper, Quebec Premier Jean Charest and even big oil, to turn the fortunes of his province to profit and success. His reason for leaving politics are personal, noting a desire to return to the business sector. The Premier described his tenure as a roller coaster ride. Many feel it was Williams' tough demeanour and powers of influence that helped generate much needed, and long overdue, prosperity for the province.
It is an abrupt and perplexing decision, and one can't help but speculate if perhaps he is taking a break before setting his sights on a bigger political stage.
We could sure do with a few asses being kicked in Ottawa. Stay tuned.
***
How to Scratch Yourself From The Guest List
Who the heck is Pete Broadbent? He probably wishes no one knew. He is the Bishop of Willesden in northwest London, England.
Yes, and...
Well, evidently the saintly Bishop made some rather *ahem* unkind comments on his Facebook page regarding the pending nuptuals of Prince William and Kate (sorry, Katherine) Middleton. Such as:
"I don't care about the Royals ... there are more broken marriages and philanderers among these people than not. They cost us an arm and a leg. As with most shallow celebrities they will be set up to fail by the gutter press ... I give the marriage seven years,"
The gutter press nearly chewed one another's legs off in a feeding frenzy to report the Bishop's comments.
Broadbent has since apologized, acknowledging that his comments were "deeply offensive" and he added "I wish Prince William and Kate Middleton a happy and lifelong marriage, and will hold them in my prayers."
Okay:
A: How did this a-hole become a Bishop? Is there some sort of ordination by mail-order?
and
B: Bishop's on Facebook?! Okay, it's officially not cool anymore.
***
I got your trademark right here...
What is the sure sign of success? Wads of cash? Gold plumbing fixtures? Naw, that's all window dressing. The real sign you've achieved ultimate fame and fortune is when you are surrounded by a gaggle of trademark lawyers. Such is the case for Warner Brothers' Harry Potter franchise. The stupefyingly profitable series has made the film company uber-mega-giga-billions of dollars. And like every other savvy business, Warner is securing future profit by busily slapping trademarks on everything attached to the wizardly tale.
Including, and I'm not making this up, Quidditch lingerie.
So far, no one has decided to produce undergarments named after a fictional sport that involves Chasers, Beaters, a Keeper and a Seeker, but Warner is taking no chances. From a marketing perspective, advertisers could easily pitch Quidditch underpants as the perfect thing to cover your Golden Snitch.
Enjoy the weekend. Go Als, go.
Friday, November 19, 2010
The Friday Time Waster Supreme: The Princess and Potter Edition
Not much blogging this week. Too busy holding down a job and managing those other important things in life, like going to the game with my boy, loafing on the sofa and the laborious task of growing facial hair for Movember. My work is never done.
Of course, there is always time to write vacuous things of no real value. With that in mind, here is yet another instalment of the Friday Time Waster Supreme.
Dear America.
Land of the free, home of the brave. Bastion of freedom and democracy. A nation forged out of rebellion, civil war and centuries-old conflicts to achieve civil rights and social justice. A proud history of technological innovation and cultural diversity. The icon of free market economies.
Please explain your obsession with the Palins.
Seriously.
Sincerely,
The Rest of the World.
***
Harry Potter spoiler alert!
In the latest big-screen instalment of the multi-flabillion dollar Harry Potter series, there's this scene that Potter-ites (Potter-maniacs? Potter-heads?) have found rather unsettling. It occurs in a hallucination sequence in which the young wizard exchanges a kiss with long-time friend Hermione Granger. Oh, did I mention they were both topless?
If you didn't already know, because like me you don't really care, Potter and Granger are not supposed to be an item. She's the girlfriend of Ron Weasley, Potter's other friend. Awkwaaard.
Emma Watson, who plays Hermione, found out about the scene when the director told her "...by the way, we hope it's all right, but we want you to be topless, and we're going to cover you in silver paint."
For those of you Potter-pants living in your parent's basement, a kiss happens when a boy meets a girl and...well, just Google it.
Anyhoo, the on-screen lip-lock is not sitting too well with fans. Frankly, I'm not very impressed myself. Not because of the movie, which I will probably never see, but the fact that the director stole my best pick-up line:
"So, how's about we get naked, paint ourselves silver and see what happens."
It's amazing I ever got married.
***
Jaroslav Halak: 14 games, 8 wins, 6 losses, .906 save percentage
Carey Price: 18 games, 11 wins, 7 losses, .928 save percentage
Can we shut up about this now?
***
Which way do I run, coach?
Wrigley field, home of the storied Chicago Cubs and one of the most iconic fields in baseball. Which makes it the perfect venue to play ...football?! Yes, Wrigley is playing host to a college football game between the Northwestern Wildcats and Illinois Fighting Illini (okay, who was in charge of picking that name?).
It's not the first time Wrigley has played host to another sport. Last year it was home to the NHL's Winter Classic between the Chicago Blackhawks and Detroit Red Wings. It was also the home of the Chicago Bears up until 1971.
It seems a lot has changed since the Bears called Wrigley home. The stands have been reconfigured to fit additional luxury boxes. The new football field barely fits. As a result, officials have decided that the teams would have to run all of their offensive plays in one direction only. Essentially the teams will have to change sides after every possession.
Hello, NCAA? If you're looking for a stadium with extra room, we've got a spare here. Barely used. We'll even throw in a slightly out-of-the way international airport.
***
My moment of irony for the year.
I was lucky enough to get tickets to last Saturday's tilt between the Habs and Carolina Hurricanes. The printed tickets featured an action shot of defenceman Ryan O'byrne, who had just been traded days earlier. It was also the night Andrei Markov sustained a potential season-ending injury.
Talk about a fly in your chardonnay.
***
Hello, it's the pot calling...
Jean Charest is stuck in the province trying to help his party defeat a non-confidence vote. The Provincial Liberals hold a slim majority in the National Assembly, and with three MNA's out of town, the government could be vulnerable. The Premier was supposed to be in France for some useless conference, but instead is forced to hang around dull-old Quebec to keep his party in power. Oh, right, and participate in this important debate that nobody outside of Quebec City cares about.
The PQ want to force the government to hold a public inquiry into all of the corruption scandals swirling around the provincial bowl.
I do enjoy when politicians get on their moral high-horse for the sake of the people. Like none of them have ever received an envelope full of cash.
Not that I agree with corruption, but expecting one group of Quebec politicians to police the other on this issue is laughable.
***
'Honestly, your dress looks fine' ...and other things men should never say.
The Big Issue is a British-based journal published by professional journalists and sold by the homeless to help them generate income and get off the streets. It's co-founder, John Bird recently dubbed Prince William's fiancé Kate Middleton as a potential "princess of usefulness".
Bird was referring to what he believes is the role best suited for the princess-to-be. That is to support and encourage improvements for the poor and disenfranchised in the country.
A nice sentiment, but wee tip for Prince Willy: 'princess of usefullness' - not a good nickname.
Have a great weekend.
Of course, there is always time to write vacuous things of no real value. With that in mind, here is yet another instalment of the Friday Time Waster Supreme.
Dear America.
Land of the free, home of the brave. Bastion of freedom and democracy. A nation forged out of rebellion, civil war and centuries-old conflicts to achieve civil rights and social justice. A proud history of technological innovation and cultural diversity. The icon of free market economies.
Please explain your obsession with the Palins.
Seriously.
Sincerely,
The Rest of the World.
***
Harry Potter spoiler alert!
In the latest big-screen instalment of the multi-flabillion dollar Harry Potter series, there's this scene that Potter-ites (Potter-maniacs? Potter-heads?) have found rather unsettling. It occurs in a hallucination sequence in which the young wizard exchanges a kiss with long-time friend Hermione Granger. Oh, did I mention they were both topless?
If you didn't already know, because like me you don't really care, Potter and Granger are not supposed to be an item. She's the girlfriend of Ron Weasley, Potter's other friend. Awkwaaard.
Emma Watson, who plays Hermione, found out about the scene when the director told her "...by the way, we hope it's all right, but we want you to be topless, and we're going to cover you in silver paint."
For those of you Potter-pants living in your parent's basement, a kiss happens when a boy meets a girl and...well, just Google it.
Anyhoo, the on-screen lip-lock is not sitting too well with fans. Frankly, I'm not very impressed myself. Not because of the movie, which I will probably never see, but the fact that the director stole my best pick-up line:
"So, how's about we get naked, paint ourselves silver and see what happens."
It's amazing I ever got married.
***
Jaroslav Halak: 14 games, 8 wins, 6 losses, .906 save percentage
Carey Price: 18 games, 11 wins, 7 losses, .928 save percentage
Can we shut up about this now?
***
Which way do I run, coach?
Wrigley field, home of the storied Chicago Cubs and one of the most iconic fields in baseball. Which makes it the perfect venue to play ...football?! Yes, Wrigley is playing host to a college football game between the Northwestern Wildcats and Illinois Fighting Illini (okay, who was in charge of picking that name?).
It's not the first time Wrigley has played host to another sport. Last year it was home to the NHL's Winter Classic between the Chicago Blackhawks and Detroit Red Wings. It was also the home of the Chicago Bears up until 1971.
It seems a lot has changed since the Bears called Wrigley home. The stands have been reconfigured to fit additional luxury boxes. The new football field barely fits. As a result, officials have decided that the teams would have to run all of their offensive plays in one direction only. Essentially the teams will have to change sides after every possession.
Hello, NCAA? If you're looking for a stadium with extra room, we've got a spare here. Barely used. We'll even throw in a slightly out-of-the way international airport.
***
My moment of irony for the year.
I was lucky enough to get tickets to last Saturday's tilt between the Habs and Carolina Hurricanes. The printed tickets featured an action shot of defenceman Ryan O'byrne, who had just been traded days earlier. It was also the night Andrei Markov sustained a potential season-ending injury.
Talk about a fly in your chardonnay.
***
Hello, it's the pot calling...
Jean Charest is stuck in the province trying to help his party defeat a non-confidence vote. The Provincial Liberals hold a slim majority in the National Assembly, and with three MNA's out of town, the government could be vulnerable. The Premier was supposed to be in France for some useless conference, but instead is forced to hang around dull-old Quebec to keep his party in power. Oh, right, and participate in this important debate that nobody outside of Quebec City cares about.
The PQ want to force the government to hold a public inquiry into all of the corruption scandals swirling around the provincial bowl.
I do enjoy when politicians get on their moral high-horse for the sake of the people. Like none of them have ever received an envelope full of cash.
Not that I agree with corruption, but expecting one group of Quebec politicians to police the other on this issue is laughable.
***
'Honestly, your dress looks fine' ...and other things men should never say.
The Big Issue is a British-based journal published by professional journalists and sold by the homeless to help them generate income and get off the streets. It's co-founder, John Bird recently dubbed Prince William's fiancé Kate Middleton as a potential "princess of usefulness".
Bird was referring to what he believes is the role best suited for the princess-to-be. That is to support and encourage improvements for the poor and disenfranchised in the country.
A nice sentiment, but wee tip for Prince Willy: 'princess of usefullness' - not a good nickname.
Have a great weekend.
Thursday, November 11, 2010
...To End All Wars
Remembrance day. It is a day of mixed emotions. On the one hand it is a celebration of the bravery and virtue of our armed forces and on the other it is an acknowledgment of those that have fallen in the service of their - of our - country. It is a time when we honour our veterans with our deepest gratitude. It is also a time when we remember the pain and horror that is war.
Pride and sorrow.
There was a time in my youth when I had a fascination for all things military. Tanks and warplanes, firearms and grenades. I was hooked on movies like Kelly's Heroes, A Bridge Too Far, Patton, Tora! Tora! Tora! Sure, the characters spoke of war being hell, but the movies made it look dramatic, glorious, heroic and even cool.
Time has tempered my view of such things. The reality of war is significantly uglier than anything depicted on film. For nations still torn apart by ongoing conflicts, war means fear, distrust, despair and hopelessness. While there may be great heroic acts, there is nothing glorious about armed conflict.
People die horrifying and painful deaths or suffer lifelong debilitating injury. The randomness of the victims and the depravity of humanity are daily occurrences. Perhaps the only glory comes when the guns fall silent and peace is restored. Only then do we ponder never again.
This is why I am frequently inclined to pressure our national leadership to do everything within its power to explore all possible diplomatic angles before finally choosing military action.
History is rife with examples of leaders who chose to reach for a weapon instead of a hand. Often because they believed diplomacy was time-consuming, difficult work and governments can be impatient. There have been times that armed conflict has erupted because leaders of wealthy nations chose to ignore the needs of other nations. Some governments have quietly supported corrupt and oppressive leaders in other countries to protect and promote their domestic economic or political agendas.
So, am I anti-war? Damn right I am.
The reason?
Look into the eyes of the soldiers you will see this remembrance day. Those veterans who have seen combat. Those who have stared down the barrel of all manner of weapons. Those who tamed their fears, tempered their anger and drove their sorrows and nightmares deep within.
Look into the eyes of our young men and women serving in today's armed forces. Those soldiers who not only speak of duty, but live it with courage. Those soldiers, our sons and daughters, proudly carrying the weight of responsibility that is to serve a nation. Those soldiers, many of whom we will never know, that will stand between us and the fires of hell to protect our freedom.
It is for our soldiers and veterans that I am against war. The men and women of our armed forces are this country's most prized assets, and though they would not question the sacrifice, to lose them for want of a foolish political gambit is nothing short of a travesty.
I am not naive. I know that there are those in the world who would stop at nothing to rain anarchy and death on innocent people. Which is why we must rely on the dedication and bravery of our soldiers for protection.
We, as a proud and powerful nation, have the capacity and responsibility to seek peaceful solutions to global conflict. This begins with recognizing and addressing the needs of other nations. To seek avenues to promote economic equity. To be open to, and embrace, different cultures, and break down what were once perceived to be barriers.
Time-consuming, hard work, but far less difficult and painful than fields of poppies between crosses, row on row.
This is why we remember.
We owe this to each and every man and woman who has served, and is serving, in this nation's armed forces. For we know when they are called they will not hesitate to act. May those actions always, always be our last resort.
To all who have served and continue to serve, to those that have fallen in the proud and selfless defense of this nation, we owe you our deepest and most heartfelt gratitude.
Lest any one of us should forget.
Pride and sorrow.
There was a time in my youth when I had a fascination for all things military. Tanks and warplanes, firearms and grenades. I was hooked on movies like Kelly's Heroes, A Bridge Too Far, Patton, Tora! Tora! Tora! Sure, the characters spoke of war being hell, but the movies made it look dramatic, glorious, heroic and even cool.
Time has tempered my view of such things. The reality of war is significantly uglier than anything depicted on film. For nations still torn apart by ongoing conflicts, war means fear, distrust, despair and hopelessness. While there may be great heroic acts, there is nothing glorious about armed conflict.
People die horrifying and painful deaths or suffer lifelong debilitating injury. The randomness of the victims and the depravity of humanity are daily occurrences. Perhaps the only glory comes when the guns fall silent and peace is restored. Only then do we ponder never again.
This is why I am frequently inclined to pressure our national leadership to do everything within its power to explore all possible diplomatic angles before finally choosing military action.
History is rife with examples of leaders who chose to reach for a weapon instead of a hand. Often because they believed diplomacy was time-consuming, difficult work and governments can be impatient. There have been times that armed conflict has erupted because leaders of wealthy nations chose to ignore the needs of other nations. Some governments have quietly supported corrupt and oppressive leaders in other countries to protect and promote their domestic economic or political agendas.
So, am I anti-war? Damn right I am.
The reason?
Look into the eyes of the soldiers you will see this remembrance day. Those veterans who have seen combat. Those who have stared down the barrel of all manner of weapons. Those who tamed their fears, tempered their anger and drove their sorrows and nightmares deep within.
Look into the eyes of our young men and women serving in today's armed forces. Those soldiers who not only speak of duty, but live it with courage. Those soldiers, our sons and daughters, proudly carrying the weight of responsibility that is to serve a nation. Those soldiers, many of whom we will never know, that will stand between us and the fires of hell to protect our freedom.
It is for our soldiers and veterans that I am against war. The men and women of our armed forces are this country's most prized assets, and though they would not question the sacrifice, to lose them for want of a foolish political gambit is nothing short of a travesty.
I am not naive. I know that there are those in the world who would stop at nothing to rain anarchy and death on innocent people. Which is why we must rely on the dedication and bravery of our soldiers for protection.
We, as a proud and powerful nation, have the capacity and responsibility to seek peaceful solutions to global conflict. This begins with recognizing and addressing the needs of other nations. To seek avenues to promote economic equity. To be open to, and embrace, different cultures, and break down what were once perceived to be barriers.
Time-consuming, hard work, but far less difficult and painful than fields of poppies between crosses, row on row.
This is why we remember.
We owe this to each and every man and woman who has served, and is serving, in this nation's armed forces. For we know when they are called they will not hesitate to act. May those actions always, always be our last resort.
To all who have served and continue to serve, to those that have fallen in the proud and selfless defense of this nation, we owe you our deepest and most heartfelt gratitude.
Lest any one of us should forget.
Wednesday, November 10, 2010
OMG, Texting Made Me Do It.
A study conducted by Case Western Reserve School of Medicine in the U.S. is linking unhealthy behaviour among young adults, like smoking, drinking and sexual activity, to hyper-texting and hyper-networking.
Hyper-texting, according to the study, refers to sending more than 120 text messages a day. Hyper-networking is defined as spending more than three hours per school day on social network sites like Facebook.
According to the lead researcher on the study, Scott Frank, "The startling results of this study suggest that when left unchecked texting and other widely popular methods of staying connected can have dangerous health effects on teenagers. This should be a wake-up call for parents to not only help their children stay safe by not texting and driving, but by discouraging excessive use of the cell phone or social websites in general."
This story has all the elements of a hot news item. A study with dramatic results and a disturbing causal relationship. On the surface it is a thought provoking and unsettling discovery.
Except for one thing. The conclusion is backwards.
One of the wisest and most valuable pieces of advice, received back in my high school days, was to always, always look at news and information critically. Where is the information coming from? How was it acquired? If there is a conclusion, how was it reached? Does anyone stand to gain from these results? This is true of many things, be it scientific method or a rumour circulating the office. Check the facts and the source.
This used to be the credo of most news agencies, but is much less so today. The level of competition among the multitude of modern news organizations has reached fever pitch. Agencies rely heavily on audience ratings in order to turn a profit. The currency of this medium is the scoop. This has led to a number of prominent news sources reporting on stories before facts have been established and verified, often reaching conclusions based on innuendo and assumption.
News audiences have also become less disciplined. With the vast selection of news sources, it is much easier for audiences to seek out the agency that tells them what they want to hear, and frame their stories according to a particular agenda. Fox News is the best example of this.
One would think that with a virtually unlimited number of information sources, the public at large would be much more informed, but ironically this is not the case. We consume information in much the same way we buy groceries, and often it is not the healthiest of diets.
The hyper-texting and hyper-networking study is the perfect example of information being presented in a way to maximize emotional impact and generate a buzz. Its fatal flaw is that it draws only one conclusion without attempting to examine the complexity of the issue.
Causal links are not always one way. In the case of hyper-texting, it could be that young adults who engage in unhealthy behaviour are more likely to use social networking simply because social networking better serves that lifestyle. History tells us that young adults have been engaging in "unhealthy behaviours" long before it could be blamed on Twitter and Facebook. To conclude that technology necessarily causes or encourages this behaviour is an oversimplified view of the data.
I will concede that information technology has made it easier for people to communicate with increasingly larger networks, and has become a major distraction in daily life. Large segments of our society have developed an obsession with the notion of being constantly connected. That said, it is almost always human nature that drives the evolution of technology and rarely the reverse. The desktop computer made the transition from tech-geek hobby to mainstream only when the technology became simple, affordable and, most importantly, useful for a larger audience. It would be hard to imagine the world without computers, but at the same time I'm not convinced we are any worse off because of them. After all, technology is only a good a the person who operates it, and it will serve that person's needs without bias.
Blaming technology is a classic example of using fear of something new to distract us from a much more complex issue. Solving society's behavioural problems requires more in-depth study and a significant amount of discipline and hard work on behalf of our government, teachers and parents. It is important for institutions to set appropriate boundaries for the use of technology, for example not in classrooms or behind the wheel of a car. It is also important for parents to establish limits on appropriate usage. But establishing boundaries has been true of many new things over the years. A fact that remains unaltered by time.
Unfortunately, not the kind of fact that sells the news.
Hyper-texting, according to the study, refers to sending more than 120 text messages a day. Hyper-networking is defined as spending more than three hours per school day on social network sites like Facebook.
According to the lead researcher on the study, Scott Frank, "The startling results of this study suggest that when left unchecked texting and other widely popular methods of staying connected can have dangerous health effects on teenagers. This should be a wake-up call for parents to not only help their children stay safe by not texting and driving, but by discouraging excessive use of the cell phone or social websites in general."
This story has all the elements of a hot news item. A study with dramatic results and a disturbing causal relationship. On the surface it is a thought provoking and unsettling discovery.
Except for one thing. The conclusion is backwards.
One of the wisest and most valuable pieces of advice, received back in my high school days, was to always, always look at news and information critically. Where is the information coming from? How was it acquired? If there is a conclusion, how was it reached? Does anyone stand to gain from these results? This is true of many things, be it scientific method or a rumour circulating the office. Check the facts and the source.
This used to be the credo of most news agencies, but is much less so today. The level of competition among the multitude of modern news organizations has reached fever pitch. Agencies rely heavily on audience ratings in order to turn a profit. The currency of this medium is the scoop. This has led to a number of prominent news sources reporting on stories before facts have been established and verified, often reaching conclusions based on innuendo and assumption.
News audiences have also become less disciplined. With the vast selection of news sources, it is much easier for audiences to seek out the agency that tells them what they want to hear, and frame their stories according to a particular agenda. Fox News is the best example of this.
One would think that with a virtually unlimited number of information sources, the public at large would be much more informed, but ironically this is not the case. We consume information in much the same way we buy groceries, and often it is not the healthiest of diets.
The hyper-texting and hyper-networking study is the perfect example of information being presented in a way to maximize emotional impact and generate a buzz. Its fatal flaw is that it draws only one conclusion without attempting to examine the complexity of the issue.
Causal links are not always one way. In the case of hyper-texting, it could be that young adults who engage in unhealthy behaviour are more likely to use social networking simply because social networking better serves that lifestyle. History tells us that young adults have been engaging in "unhealthy behaviours" long before it could be blamed on Twitter and Facebook. To conclude that technology necessarily causes or encourages this behaviour is an oversimplified view of the data.
I will concede that information technology has made it easier for people to communicate with increasingly larger networks, and has become a major distraction in daily life. Large segments of our society have developed an obsession with the notion of being constantly connected. That said, it is almost always human nature that drives the evolution of technology and rarely the reverse. The desktop computer made the transition from tech-geek hobby to mainstream only when the technology became simple, affordable and, most importantly, useful for a larger audience. It would be hard to imagine the world without computers, but at the same time I'm not convinced we are any worse off because of them. After all, technology is only a good a the person who operates it, and it will serve that person's needs without bias.
Blaming technology is a classic example of using fear of something new to distract us from a much more complex issue. Solving society's behavioural problems requires more in-depth study and a significant amount of discipline and hard work on behalf of our government, teachers and parents. It is important for institutions to set appropriate boundaries for the use of technology, for example not in classrooms or behind the wheel of a car. It is also important for parents to establish limits on appropriate usage. But establishing boundaries has been true of many new things over the years. A fact that remains unaltered by time.
Unfortunately, not the kind of fact that sells the news.
Monday, November 8, 2010
Movember Mohair
Okay, so I'm warning you in advance, I'm going to be in the doghouse for the next month or so. My grievous transgression?
Staying out all night with the boys?
Spilling beer on the sofa?
Running the lawnmower over the hydrangeas?
Much worse. Facial hair.
The month of November has been dubbed Movember by a number of organizations aiming to raise awareness for men's health. The 'Mo' stands for moustache, which is what men across Canada will be growing to raise awareness and funds for Prostate Cancer Canada. Movember is actually an international event, with each country representing its own charities in support of men's health.
This isn't quite like other fund raising events with a marathon, walk-a-thon, dance-a-thon, bike-a-thon or any other 'thon' that requires actual physical activity. Which is why it is perfect for most men who would watch four hours of televised lawn bowling because they are too lazy to reach for the remote.
Of course, Movemeber won't be completely without sacrifice. In my case the sacrifice will come in the form of scorn. Not from my peers who will no-doubt relentlessly mock my facial fuzz. I'm used to that kind of derision. Among men it is considered a term of endearment.
For me the bulk of the contempt will come from my dear wife. While she is the most wonderful, caring, funny and supportive person in my life, she also really, really hates facial hair. By hate I mean loathes, despises, abhors ...basically she doesn't like it.
I, on the other hand, a former card-carrying member of the hairy face club, am somewhat less repelled by the idea. In fact I'm feeling rather nostalgic. It's been at least ten years since I last had my goatee. Almost as long as I've known my wife ...hmm.
I should say, for the record, that the last moustache I had was perhaps the all time cheesiest tangle of whiskers ever grown. I may have to temper the 'stache with a matching chin shrub.
Admittedly I'm off to a bit of a late start. I've been weighing the merits of packing the razor away for a month or enduring weeks of rolled eyes, sneering tuts and disappointed sighs. On the bright side, my six year-old thinks it's a great idea. Since we are roughly at the same maturity level, that was enough for me.
Many women I know are not too fond of the whiskers, unless of course they reside on Tom Selleck. Sorry ladies, we can't all be Magnum P.I. In my defence however, it should be noted that lots of men have worn some form of pink in support of breast cancer research and awareness, and none of them complained. At least, that's my argument and I'm sticking to it.
To be serious for a moment, prostate cancer is the most common cancer among men. At least 1 in 6 Canadian men will be diagnosed with the disease. If detected early, it is also one of the most treatable and most preventable of cancers. Unfortunately there are virtually no symptoms at early onset which is why early testing and detection is so important. As part of my participation in Movember, I intend to take the test myself. I lost my father to cancer many years ago. Although it was not prostate cancer, had their been early detection in his case the chances of survival would have significantly improved.
I encourage you to support the cause on my behalf, or anyone's behalf. You can make a donation and see my progress online by clicking here.
So game on, the whiskers are coming out. Hopefully they will provide a little extra warmth, I suspect that doghouse is going to be pretty chilly this time of year.
Arf.
Staying out all night with the boys?
Spilling beer on the sofa?
Running the lawnmower over the hydrangeas?
Much worse. Facial hair.
The month of November has been dubbed Movember by a number of organizations aiming to raise awareness for men's health. The 'Mo' stands for moustache, which is what men across Canada will be growing to raise awareness and funds for Prostate Cancer Canada. Movember is actually an international event, with each country representing its own charities in support of men's health.
This isn't quite like other fund raising events with a marathon, walk-a-thon, dance-a-thon, bike-a-thon or any other 'thon' that requires actual physical activity. Which is why it is perfect for most men who would watch four hours of televised lawn bowling because they are too lazy to reach for the remote.
Of course, Movemeber won't be completely without sacrifice. In my case the sacrifice will come in the form of scorn. Not from my peers who will no-doubt relentlessly mock my facial fuzz. I'm used to that kind of derision. Among men it is considered a term of endearment.
For me the bulk of the contempt will come from my dear wife. While she is the most wonderful, caring, funny and supportive person in my life, she also really, really hates facial hair. By hate I mean loathes, despises, abhors ...basically she doesn't like it.
I, on the other hand, a former card-carrying member of the hairy face club, am somewhat less repelled by the idea. In fact I'm feeling rather nostalgic. It's been at least ten years since I last had my goatee. Almost as long as I've known my wife ...hmm.
I should say, for the record, that the last moustache I had was perhaps the all time cheesiest tangle of whiskers ever grown. I may have to temper the 'stache with a matching chin shrub.
Admittedly I'm off to a bit of a late start. I've been weighing the merits of packing the razor away for a month or enduring weeks of rolled eyes, sneering tuts and disappointed sighs. On the bright side, my six year-old thinks it's a great idea. Since we are roughly at the same maturity level, that was enough for me.
Many women I know are not too fond of the whiskers, unless of course they reside on Tom Selleck. Sorry ladies, we can't all be Magnum P.I. In my defence however, it should be noted that lots of men have worn some form of pink in support of breast cancer research and awareness, and none of them complained. At least, that's my argument and I'm sticking to it.
To be serious for a moment, prostate cancer is the most common cancer among men. At least 1 in 6 Canadian men will be diagnosed with the disease. If detected early, it is also one of the most treatable and most preventable of cancers. Unfortunately there are virtually no symptoms at early onset which is why early testing and detection is so important. As part of my participation in Movember, I intend to take the test myself. I lost my father to cancer many years ago. Although it was not prostate cancer, had their been early detection in his case the chances of survival would have significantly improved.
I encourage you to support the cause on my behalf, or anyone's behalf. You can make a donation and see my progress online by clicking here.
So game on, the whiskers are coming out. Hopefully they will provide a little extra warmth, I suspect that doghouse is going to be pretty chilly this time of year.
Arf.
Friday, November 5, 2010
The Friday Time Waster Supreme: The Customs, Canine, Caloric and Congressional Chaos Edition
Hey, look at that it's Friday! I don't know about you, but this week felt like a month. Maybe it's the weather. Maybe it's post-Halloween let-down, or even scarier, those eerie election results down south. Whatever it is, the week is mercifully coming to an end. Let's celebrate by taking a chunk of valuable time and casting it off into the ether.
Yay, we made the news. American news icon CNN recently revealed details contained in a confidential intelligence report from Canada Border Services Agency of an “unbelievable case of concealment”. The story goes that an elderly Caucasian man boarded an Air Canada flight in Hong Kong. Once in the air, the man slipped into a bathroom and emerged as a young Asian man. The flight crew immediately spotted the ruse and alerted authorities. Once on terra firma in Canada the man was apprehended, at which time he declared refugee status. The staff admitted that it seemed odd that an elderly man should have such young hands.
Among the more disturbing facts in this story was that the man used his Aeroplan card as a form of identification when boarding the plane. Evidently no one bothered to check for a passport. The media is spinning the story as something out of a Mission: Impossible story-line.
Really? Shouldn't we be a little more concerned that international airport security is being handled by Mr. Magoo and Madge the Palmolive soap lady?
***
Ignorant is as ignorant does. Now that the American electorate have swept Republicans back into a majority in the House of Representatives, in what some experts referred to as a protest vote, maybe disgruntled citizens will finally see some action in Washington. Not according to Mitch McConnell, the Republican leader in the Senate. He's declared that Obama would be a one-term president and promised that he would lead an all-out Republican assault on the president's agenda.
Because political infighting has always been the solution to rampant unemployment and an economy in the gutter. So, exactly what message did the voters send?
***
While on the topic of the ceaselessly bizarre, circus-like world of U.S. politics, former President George W. Bush released snippets of his presidential memoirs this week entitled Decision Points. In it he reveals the darkest moment of his presidency.
9/11?
The complete lack of weapons of mass destruction in Iraq?
Choking on a pretzel?
None of the above. It was during a live TV broadcast to raise relief money for victims of hurricane Katrina in which Kanye West declared “George Bush doesn’t care about black people.”
Gee, that's ...really ...um ...what the f**k?! THAT was your lowest point?
Well, obviously it didn't have the same effect on Bush's career as Kanye crapping all over Taylor Swift's VMA acceptance speech. Mind you, I'm not sure sleeping with a bunch of people then writing songs about them would have improved his image either.
***
Canine intolerance! Cesar Milan, best known as the Dog Whisperer, is a victim of doggy discrimination. The Government of Ontario has banned the world-famous dog trainer's pet pit-bull Junior from entering the province. Ontario's attorney general, Chris Bentley, is upholding a 2005 ban on what some consider a dangerous breed. This despite the fact that Milan has made a career out of successfully rehabilitating dogs, or more specifically their owners.
So why are Don Cherry and Tie Domi still in the province?
***
Feeling peckish? A group of four Montreal food-lovers have come up with a sandwich that is sure to shock and awe your appetite. They call it the Angry French Canadian. The mammoth slabwich combines bacon, poutine, hot dogs and maple syrup, all on a french-toasted Parisian baguette. If you're watching your girlish figure, take note that this deli item is a mere 5,343 calories.
I think I just gained five pounds writing about this.
Sounds like the perfect accessory for watching the last episode of The Biggest Loser.
Stay warm, enjoy your weekend.
Yay, we made the news. American news icon CNN recently revealed details contained in a confidential intelligence report from Canada Border Services Agency of an “unbelievable case of concealment”. The story goes that an elderly Caucasian man boarded an Air Canada flight in Hong Kong. Once in the air, the man slipped into a bathroom and emerged as a young Asian man. The flight crew immediately spotted the ruse and alerted authorities. Once on terra firma in Canada the man was apprehended, at which time he declared refugee status. The staff admitted that it seemed odd that an elderly man should have such young hands.
Among the more disturbing facts in this story was that the man used his Aeroplan card as a form of identification when boarding the plane. Evidently no one bothered to check for a passport. The media is spinning the story as something out of a Mission: Impossible story-line.
Really? Shouldn't we be a little more concerned that international airport security is being handled by Mr. Magoo and Madge the Palmolive soap lady?
***
Ignorant is as ignorant does. Now that the American electorate have swept Republicans back into a majority in the House of Representatives, in what some experts referred to as a protest vote, maybe disgruntled citizens will finally see some action in Washington. Not according to Mitch McConnell, the Republican leader in the Senate. He's declared that Obama would be a one-term president and promised that he would lead an all-out Republican assault on the president's agenda.
Because political infighting has always been the solution to rampant unemployment and an economy in the gutter. So, exactly what message did the voters send?
***
While on the topic of the ceaselessly bizarre, circus-like world of U.S. politics, former President George W. Bush released snippets of his presidential memoirs this week entitled Decision Points. In it he reveals the darkest moment of his presidency.
9/11?
The complete lack of weapons of mass destruction in Iraq?
Choking on a pretzel?
None of the above. It was during a live TV broadcast to raise relief money for victims of hurricane Katrina in which Kanye West declared “George Bush doesn’t care about black people.”
Gee, that's ...really ...um ...what the f**k?! THAT was your lowest point?
Well, obviously it didn't have the same effect on Bush's career as Kanye crapping all over Taylor Swift's VMA acceptance speech. Mind you, I'm not sure sleeping with a bunch of people then writing songs about them would have improved his image either.
***
Canine intolerance! Cesar Milan, best known as the Dog Whisperer, is a victim of doggy discrimination. The Government of Ontario has banned the world-famous dog trainer's pet pit-bull Junior from entering the province. Ontario's attorney general, Chris Bentley, is upholding a 2005 ban on what some consider a dangerous breed. This despite the fact that Milan has made a career out of successfully rehabilitating dogs, or more specifically their owners.
So why are Don Cherry and Tie Domi still in the province?
***
Feeling peckish? A group of four Montreal food-lovers have come up with a sandwich that is sure to shock and awe your appetite. They call it the Angry French Canadian. The mammoth slabwich combines bacon, poutine, hot dogs and maple syrup, all on a french-toasted Parisian baguette. If you're watching your girlish figure, take note that this deli item is a mere 5,343 calories.
I think I just gained five pounds writing about this.
Sounds like the perfect accessory for watching the last episode of The Biggest Loser.
Stay warm, enjoy your weekend.
Thursday, November 4, 2010
Infernal Towering
As if neverending road construction weren't enough, now our sleepy little burb is being threatened with an invasion by the big bad communications industry.
The Rogers empire wants to install a 75 foot cell tower on the West Island in order to provide what it describes as improved service to the area.
Anyone in the greater Waste Island area getting dropped calls on their iPhones? Didn't think so.
Anywho, the communications behemoth conducted what we presume was an exhaustive and detailed survey of the area and has now chosen a location for it's giant antenna.
On top of one of the many office buildings in the area?
In an industrial park?
How about an abandoned brown field?
Nope.
The Rogers rocket scientists decided they want to plop their ugly steel contraption smack in the middle of a suburban residential greenspace, in a small forested area located directly behind a local park with a well-used soccer field and about 100 feet from several community homes.
Surprise, surprise, the neighbours (of which we are one) are none too impressed. I believe the proper term would be 'pissed.'
To select a location in the centre of a residential community ranks pretty high on the list of all-time mind-numbingly moronic corporate decisions. Particularly considering that only a few blocks north of the location is one of the area's largest industrial parks,
In a recent letter, the public relations trolls have given residents 30 days to submit their 'feedback' on the project. The company gets 60 days to address resident's concerns before the issue is punted to Industry Canada. Who, incidentally, have the final say. Not the community, not even the municipality of Pointe-Claire, who was informed, in no uncertain terms, that they have no say in the matter. Communications infrastructure is strictly the purview of the federal government and it is entitled by law to expropriate any land it wants for such projects.
If any of this sounds familiar it's because the town of Chateauguay is going through precisely the same thing. Residents have taken Rogers to court to block them from erecting a tower on the fringe of a residential community. The community actually won the first round in court, although an appeal is pending.
It was comforting to know that Industry Canada got involved by siding with the residents. They called into question the company's preferred location near a residential neighbourhood rather than an industrial park a mere 200 metres away. The dispute is unique in that the land Industry Canada recommended as an alternative is owned by a Kanawake woman, who is refusing to sell. Neither Rogers or the woman are willing to budge. Stay tuned on that one.
I've never thought of myself as a NIMBY (Not In My Back Yard) kind of person. I don't have time for knuckleheads who buy a house at the end of a runway, or beside a rail line, and then complain to the government about the noise and pollution. We bought our house because it was a quiet neighbourhood with lots of green-space. Now we face the possibility of a massive, microwave-belching, towering steel eyesore almost literally in our back yard.
The location makes little if any sense to residents of the neighbourhood. Many are rightfully mindful of the company's claim to be open to their concerns. The fact that the company is considering the site is reason enough to make one wonder what goes on in the planning department at Rogers. Fuelling this absurdity is the number of reasonable and logical alternatives such as an abundance of available and accessible industrial land. One would presume it would be a lot easier to install a tower next to a major highway rather than squeezing massive steel gridwork through narrow suburban streets. Not to mention the public relations nightmare involved in razing a forest, sending frogs and bunnies hopping away in terror, to spew microwave radiation upon young children in the playground below.
But, hey, what do I know?
Rogers has already stated that it would base its final decision on the degree of opposition to the project, but it also hinted it might defer to Industry Canada if it can't get what it wants.
I'm sure I'm not the first, but allow me to put it as clearly and succinctly as possible: WE DON'T WANT YOUR TOWER HERE.
Can you hear me now?
The Rogers empire wants to install a 75 foot cell tower on the West Island in order to provide what it describes as improved service to the area.
Anyone in the greater Waste Island area getting dropped calls on their iPhones? Didn't think so.
Anywho, the communications behemoth conducted what we presume was an exhaustive and detailed survey of the area and has now chosen a location for it's giant antenna.
On top of one of the many office buildings in the area?
In an industrial park?
How about an abandoned brown field?
Nope.
The Rogers rocket scientists decided they want to plop their ugly steel contraption smack in the middle of a suburban residential greenspace, in a small forested area located directly behind a local park with a well-used soccer field and about 100 feet from several community homes.
Surprise, surprise, the neighbours (of which we are one) are none too impressed. I believe the proper term would be 'pissed.'
To select a location in the centre of a residential community ranks pretty high on the list of all-time mind-numbingly moronic corporate decisions. Particularly considering that only a few blocks north of the location is one of the area's largest industrial parks,
In a recent letter, the public relations trolls have given residents 30 days to submit their 'feedback' on the project. The company gets 60 days to address resident's concerns before the issue is punted to Industry Canada. Who, incidentally, have the final say. Not the community, not even the municipality of Pointe-Claire, who was informed, in no uncertain terms, that they have no say in the matter. Communications infrastructure is strictly the purview of the federal government and it is entitled by law to expropriate any land it wants for such projects.
If any of this sounds familiar it's because the town of Chateauguay is going through precisely the same thing. Residents have taken Rogers to court to block them from erecting a tower on the fringe of a residential community. The community actually won the first round in court, although an appeal is pending.
It was comforting to know that Industry Canada got involved by siding with the residents. They called into question the company's preferred location near a residential neighbourhood rather than an industrial park a mere 200 metres away. The dispute is unique in that the land Industry Canada recommended as an alternative is owned by a Kanawake woman, who is refusing to sell. Neither Rogers or the woman are willing to budge. Stay tuned on that one.
I've never thought of myself as a NIMBY (Not In My Back Yard) kind of person. I don't have time for knuckleheads who buy a house at the end of a runway, or beside a rail line, and then complain to the government about the noise and pollution. We bought our house because it was a quiet neighbourhood with lots of green-space. Now we face the possibility of a massive, microwave-belching, towering steel eyesore almost literally in our back yard.
The location makes little if any sense to residents of the neighbourhood. Many are rightfully mindful of the company's claim to be open to their concerns. The fact that the company is considering the site is reason enough to make one wonder what goes on in the planning department at Rogers. Fuelling this absurdity is the number of reasonable and logical alternatives such as an abundance of available and accessible industrial land. One would presume it would be a lot easier to install a tower next to a major highway rather than squeezing massive steel gridwork through narrow suburban streets. Not to mention the public relations nightmare involved in razing a forest, sending frogs and bunnies hopping away in terror, to spew microwave radiation upon young children in the playground below.
But, hey, what do I know?
Rogers has already stated that it would base its final decision on the degree of opposition to the project, but it also hinted it might defer to Industry Canada if it can't get what it wants.
I'm sure I'm not the first, but allow me to put it as clearly and succinctly as possible: WE DON'T WANT YOUR TOWER HERE.
Can you hear me now?
Tuesday, November 2, 2010
Don't You Forget About...
What is the fundamental difference between adults and children? I'm not referring to the obvious things like size, age, experience and income. Adults have more of all of those things, and all the responsibilities that come with them. I'm talking about attitudes and perspective on life.
John Hughes 80's masterpiece film The Breakfast Club is among the most profound allegories on the transition from childhood to adulthood. The characters in the film represent each of the various social divisions that emerge over the course of time in high school. The popular girl, the geek, the jock, the nerd, the rebel. All different and yet all very much the same. Searching for identity, acceptance, belonging while facing an uncertain future. The movie effectively captures an ongoing dialogue of the fears and frustrations shared by generations of young adults.
When the character's conversation turns to their impeding transition to adulthood, Allison, whose quirky and irreverent personality makes her the most marginalized of the group, declares: "When you grow up, your heart dies."
Those words still linger in the recesses of my mind. At times I wonder if teens look at me and think it is true.
Much of adult life is about meeting deadlines, making and keeping schedules, paying bills and somehow finding time for leisure, or a good night's sleep. As a parent, the responsibilities are even greater as we want our children to get the best education, nutrition, be active and expose them to opportunities we may not have had in our own youth. We push, prod and yes, we nag. We want the best for our kids in much the same way as our parents did.
Only as an adult do we realize the work and sacrifice our own parents gave for us. Which helps explain that cavernous disconnect between adults and teens. Our kids only see the pushing and prodding and the parents only see laziness and contempt. Perhaps this is a chasm that, by design, simply cannot be bridged. The stubbornness and audacity of youth is necessary to establish one's independence. To break free from the nest and discover one's identity. Unfortunately for parents it often means sitting on the sidelines and watching our children struggle and sometimes fail.
Our kids often don't get that the most basic motivation driving every parent is quite simply love. What most parents don't get is that a child's pursuit of individuality is a necessary part of growing up and not meant to be personal.
On Saturday evening, my wife and I were at a Halloween costume party with our young son and many other parents and children, when something rather profound happened: it snowed.
It may not sound like anything particularly dramatic except for one very obvious thing. As the fat wet flakes swirled out of the sky, the children celebrated and the adults moaned. Then and there, on display for all to see, was the fundamental difference between adults and children.
The more I thought about it, the more I wondered at what point the first snowfall went from being something exciting to something dreary? At what point did I stop looking for opportunities to have fun rather than complain? Seeing the children's excitement brought back a certain joy that seemed to trump all of my adult cynicism which made me think that maybe that generational chasm was not as wide as I thought.
All these years after first seeing the film, I can finally take issue with The Breakfast Club's Allison. When we grow up, our hearts don't die. They are often drowned out by the noise of routine and responsibility. They are quieted by the need to be stoic and vigilant. They are kept in check so that we can be supportive and encouraging.
If anything, as an adult, I find my heart to have grown deeper and more easily touched. Battle-worn yet overly responsive to all of life's joy and pain. Though it may not be obvious to kids and teens, the love that adults have is far richer and more profound than they can possibly understand.
Which is okay. They will. One day.
In truth, for all of the complaining and moaning in the adult protest of an early snowfall, somewhere, deep within each of us, was a little child saying: 'yay!'
It was good to know our hearts are alive and well.
John Hughes 80's masterpiece film The Breakfast Club is among the most profound allegories on the transition from childhood to adulthood. The characters in the film represent each of the various social divisions that emerge over the course of time in high school. The popular girl, the geek, the jock, the nerd, the rebel. All different and yet all very much the same. Searching for identity, acceptance, belonging while facing an uncertain future. The movie effectively captures an ongoing dialogue of the fears and frustrations shared by generations of young adults.
When the character's conversation turns to their impeding transition to adulthood, Allison, whose quirky and irreverent personality makes her the most marginalized of the group, declares: "When you grow up, your heart dies."
Those words still linger in the recesses of my mind. At times I wonder if teens look at me and think it is true.
Much of adult life is about meeting deadlines, making and keeping schedules, paying bills and somehow finding time for leisure, or a good night's sleep. As a parent, the responsibilities are even greater as we want our children to get the best education, nutrition, be active and expose them to opportunities we may not have had in our own youth. We push, prod and yes, we nag. We want the best for our kids in much the same way as our parents did.
Only as an adult do we realize the work and sacrifice our own parents gave for us. Which helps explain that cavernous disconnect between adults and teens. Our kids only see the pushing and prodding and the parents only see laziness and contempt. Perhaps this is a chasm that, by design, simply cannot be bridged. The stubbornness and audacity of youth is necessary to establish one's independence. To break free from the nest and discover one's identity. Unfortunately for parents it often means sitting on the sidelines and watching our children struggle and sometimes fail.
Our kids often don't get that the most basic motivation driving every parent is quite simply love. What most parents don't get is that a child's pursuit of individuality is a necessary part of growing up and not meant to be personal.
On Saturday evening, my wife and I were at a Halloween costume party with our young son and many other parents and children, when something rather profound happened: it snowed.
It may not sound like anything particularly dramatic except for one very obvious thing. As the fat wet flakes swirled out of the sky, the children celebrated and the adults moaned. Then and there, on display for all to see, was the fundamental difference between adults and children.
The more I thought about it, the more I wondered at what point the first snowfall went from being something exciting to something dreary? At what point did I stop looking for opportunities to have fun rather than complain? Seeing the children's excitement brought back a certain joy that seemed to trump all of my adult cynicism which made me think that maybe that generational chasm was not as wide as I thought.
All these years after first seeing the film, I can finally take issue with The Breakfast Club's Allison. When we grow up, our hearts don't die. They are often drowned out by the noise of routine and responsibility. They are quieted by the need to be stoic and vigilant. They are kept in check so that we can be supportive and encouraging.
If anything, as an adult, I find my heart to have grown deeper and more easily touched. Battle-worn yet overly responsive to all of life's joy and pain. Though it may not be obvious to kids and teens, the love that adults have is far richer and more profound than they can possibly understand.
Which is okay. They will. One day.
In truth, for all of the complaining and moaning in the adult protest of an early snowfall, somewhere, deep within each of us, was a little child saying: 'yay!'
It was good to know our hearts are alive and well.
Thursday, October 28, 2010
Digging Up Trouble
The scene on the streets outside our door this morning was one of traffic chaos. The kind that is usually reserved for downtown St. Catherine's street at rush hour. Suburban gridlock.
The din and confusion of cars and people is a result of a grievously illogical piece of city works planning. Our street is home to two, count 'em, two elementary level schools. What has caused the pandemonium was a decision to conduct infrastructure repairs on five area roads simultaneously, which included inexplicably digging up the end of our street where it connects to the main road.
We've lived in this area for only four years and in that time it has become very clear that our street is a vital link in our community. As mentioned, in addition to being a double school zone, it is also a designated route for emergency vehicles. With the roads closures, residents might have a hard time relying on ambulances or fire trucks arriving with any degree of expediency. This is an issue given that the population in the area is divided almost exclusively between seniors or families with young children.
For kids waiting for a bus, or being dropping-off at one of the two schools, the situation is downright dangerous. Heavy construction vehicles weave hazardously through the streets with seemingly little regard for pedestrians. The congestion of cars, vans and buses is not only causing frustration for drivers it is a high-risk scenario for the many small children making their way along the sidewalks at the start of the school day.
To add to the stress and frustration, we recently lost power in the neighbourhood because a backhoe operator carelessly struck a Hydro line. A week later we had to evacuate because of a gas leak, also a result of the construction.
It should be noted that the city had clearly been preparing for this work as early as last spring, when massive piles of crushed stone had been dumped in the area. So why wait until the start of the school year to begin such a major project?
As if this epic escapade of road demolition were not enough, the city also decided to replace the sidewalks on the main road that connects to our street. They must have realized that their efforts had not prevented people from getting to work or school on time, so they had to take it up a notch.
I'm all for economic stimulus and infrastructure projects to create jobs, but this is beyond absurdity. It's one thing dealing with the inconvenience of road repairs, it's another thing entirely when the safety of families is at risk. The decision to take on all of these projects simultaneously defies reason. No forethought, no contingency and absolutely no consideration of the residents. This is what government refers to as planning.
And this is only the municipal level, can you imagine what goes on in Quebec City and Ottawa?
It certainly explains Mirabel Airport and The Big Owe.
The din and confusion of cars and people is a result of a grievously illogical piece of city works planning. Our street is home to two, count 'em, two elementary level schools. What has caused the pandemonium was a decision to conduct infrastructure repairs on five area roads simultaneously, which included inexplicably digging up the end of our street where it connects to the main road.
We've lived in this area for only four years and in that time it has become very clear that our street is a vital link in our community. As mentioned, in addition to being a double school zone, it is also a designated route for emergency vehicles. With the roads closures, residents might have a hard time relying on ambulances or fire trucks arriving with any degree of expediency. This is an issue given that the population in the area is divided almost exclusively between seniors or families with young children.
For kids waiting for a bus, or being dropping-off at one of the two schools, the situation is downright dangerous. Heavy construction vehicles weave hazardously through the streets with seemingly little regard for pedestrians. The congestion of cars, vans and buses is not only causing frustration for drivers it is a high-risk scenario for the many small children making their way along the sidewalks at the start of the school day.
To add to the stress and frustration, we recently lost power in the neighbourhood because a backhoe operator carelessly struck a Hydro line. A week later we had to evacuate because of a gas leak, also a result of the construction.
It should be noted that the city had clearly been preparing for this work as early as last spring, when massive piles of crushed stone had been dumped in the area. So why wait until the start of the school year to begin such a major project?
As if this epic escapade of road demolition were not enough, the city also decided to replace the sidewalks on the main road that connects to our street. They must have realized that their efforts had not prevented people from getting to work or school on time, so they had to take it up a notch.
I'm all for economic stimulus and infrastructure projects to create jobs, but this is beyond absurdity. It's one thing dealing with the inconvenience of road repairs, it's another thing entirely when the safety of families is at risk. The decision to take on all of these projects simultaneously defies reason. No forethought, no contingency and absolutely no consideration of the residents. This is what government refers to as planning.
And this is only the municipal level, can you imagine what goes on in Quebec City and Ottawa?
It certainly explains Mirabel Airport and The Big Owe.
Wednesday, October 27, 2010
Was It Something I Said?
The city is experiencing a late fall warm snap. This is the term I came up with because I think the term Indian Summer is no longer appropriate.
History is a little foggy on the origins of the expression. Some think it refers to the time when Native Americans would cease their raids on European colonies at the end of Autumn. Others think it had to do with the time of the native harvest. Regardless, using the term Indian to refer to Native Americans has been well established as inappropriate, not to mention a rather embarrassing misnomer by those who thought they discovered a cheap route to India. Hence, late fall warm snap.
Cultural and social sensitivity is a hard thing to manage. Mostly because as complex a species as humans are, we are slow to change. We get used to referring to things in a certain way. If you ask us to alter our language to avoid offending a particular segment of the population, the reaction is either rolled eyes or outright defiance.
Most of us don't give a lot of thought to the terminology we use, nor do we intentionally choose words to offend others. That is unless they cut us off in traffic. Nonetheless, the evolution of our language is a natural and oft times necessary way in which society progresses. I'm not referring to overt political correctness which is used more as a weapon than a tool. It is rather the process by which our language separates itself from words designed to exclude and deride the people it is meant to serve.
English, which is the mutt of human languages, is an interesting example of this. Borrowing from several sources, including the Germanic and Latin-based languages, English is remarkable for its capacity to have a multitude of ways to say the same thing. It is extremely flexible and very quick to adapt to new circumstances, viewpoints and innovation.
English is likely second to the various dialects of Chinese as the most commonly used language on the planet. While it can be exceedingly complex, this complexity combined with its flexibility also makes it one of the simplest of languages in terms of basic communication.
There a several words in our lexicon that we as a society have either abandoned or deemed forbidden due to extreme cultural and social insensitivity. Some terms have changed because of stigma and/or an evolved understanding. For example, 'manic depressive' has been replaced by the more accurate term 'bipolar.' Then there are words and terms that have become so offensive due their significance in history that they have been all but dropped from common parlance. These are words designed to do more than offend, but rather oppress, subjugate and stir hatred. No need to cite examples here.
Though we might find ourselves bemused or even annoyed by those that encourage an enlightened use of terminology, we have to accept that the language we chose has tremendous power. Words and expressions used as little as fifty years ago might have many of us squirming uncomfortably in our seats.
The only way in which a society can move forward is to find ways for itself to be more inclusive. We already know that creating and encouraging divisions amongst people only leads to resentment and conflict. If it is a language, or languages, that bind us, then they must allow differences to be celebrated and not used divide. Words and terminology should represent dignity in that which makes us unique, and not bring down derision upon those that do not conform to an arbitrary definition of the norm.
As a species, we humans come in many sizes, shapes and colours. There are two sexes with more than a few sexual orientations. We come from many places, north and south, east and west, with more variations of culture than you can imagine. We probably have more differences than similarities and yet we share a common humanity. With so much to discover and learn from one another why on Earth would we want to choose a language that doesn't allow us to truly communicate?
So, late fall warm snap it is.
History is a little foggy on the origins of the expression. Some think it refers to the time when Native Americans would cease their raids on European colonies at the end of Autumn. Others think it had to do with the time of the native harvest. Regardless, using the term Indian to refer to Native Americans has been well established as inappropriate, not to mention a rather embarrassing misnomer by those who thought they discovered a cheap route to India. Hence, late fall warm snap.
Cultural and social sensitivity is a hard thing to manage. Mostly because as complex a species as humans are, we are slow to change. We get used to referring to things in a certain way. If you ask us to alter our language to avoid offending a particular segment of the population, the reaction is either rolled eyes or outright defiance.
Most of us don't give a lot of thought to the terminology we use, nor do we intentionally choose words to offend others. That is unless they cut us off in traffic. Nonetheless, the evolution of our language is a natural and oft times necessary way in which society progresses. I'm not referring to overt political correctness which is used more as a weapon than a tool. It is rather the process by which our language separates itself from words designed to exclude and deride the people it is meant to serve.
English, which is the mutt of human languages, is an interesting example of this. Borrowing from several sources, including the Germanic and Latin-based languages, English is remarkable for its capacity to have a multitude of ways to say the same thing. It is extremely flexible and very quick to adapt to new circumstances, viewpoints and innovation.
English is likely second to the various dialects of Chinese as the most commonly used language on the planet. While it can be exceedingly complex, this complexity combined with its flexibility also makes it one of the simplest of languages in terms of basic communication.
There a several words in our lexicon that we as a society have either abandoned or deemed forbidden due to extreme cultural and social insensitivity. Some terms have changed because of stigma and/or an evolved understanding. For example, 'manic depressive' has been replaced by the more accurate term 'bipolar.' Then there are words and terms that have become so offensive due their significance in history that they have been all but dropped from common parlance. These are words designed to do more than offend, but rather oppress, subjugate and stir hatred. No need to cite examples here.
Though we might find ourselves bemused or even annoyed by those that encourage an enlightened use of terminology, we have to accept that the language we chose has tremendous power. Words and expressions used as little as fifty years ago might have many of us squirming uncomfortably in our seats.
The only way in which a society can move forward is to find ways for itself to be more inclusive. We already know that creating and encouraging divisions amongst people only leads to resentment and conflict. If it is a language, or languages, that bind us, then they must allow differences to be celebrated and not used divide. Words and terminology should represent dignity in that which makes us unique, and not bring down derision upon those that do not conform to an arbitrary definition of the norm.
As a species, we humans come in many sizes, shapes and colours. There are two sexes with more than a few sexual orientations. We come from many places, north and south, east and west, with more variations of culture than you can imagine. We probably have more differences than similarities and yet we share a common humanity. With so much to discover and learn from one another why on Earth would we want to choose a language that doesn't allow us to truly communicate?
So, late fall warm snap it is.
Monday, October 25, 2010
Democracy Inaction
Parenthood can be a challenge at times. We want to lead by example and do all the right things. Sometimes we get it right, sometimes we fail miserably. Even when it's the latter we still do our best to make sure our children understand that despite our mistakes, there is still a difference between what is right and what is wrong. We tell them: don't tattle, don't be selfish, treat others with respect and clean up your messes.
Unless, of course, there is an election. In which case, screw courtesy, decorum and responsibility and let the mud-slinging begin.
We are deep into election season in the most powerful nation on the planet and thus far, on the local front, the campaign slurs are well under way. Gross distortions of facts, name-calling and intentionally unflattering images of candidates splayed about our TV screens presumably to make the other candidate look better.
The insanity which is the U.S. electoral campaign is about as low-down and dirty as politics can get. What's worse is some of that bilge is starting to flow northward, with the Canada's Conservative party producing negative ads about the opposition, often when there isn't even an election.
This bizarre theatre of politics has candidates promising not to raise taxes, or even to cut taxes in order to get elected. Why? Because when it comes to American elections, raising taxes is tantamount to declaring your campaign is funded by Al Qaeda. The promise to cut taxes is as old as the Stars and Stripes. The Republican party is forever at the forefront decrying big government and high taxation. Even though two well-known Republican presidents, Ronald Reagan and George H.W. Bush, both raised taxes while in office. A Democrat who suggests a tax increase will likely be run out of town with flaming torches and pitchforks.
The tax issue is an interesting one because the American government debt is out of control. Much of this deficit is being blamed on government bailouts to the auto makers and the banks. The $700 billion bailout, which was actually called for by former U.S. President George W. Bush, has now been hung around the neck of his successor President Barack Obama.
It should be noted that of the money given to the banks only $30 billion has yet to be recouped. The U.S. auto-maker bailout accounted for $24.9 billion of this money. General Motors has already paid back $5.8 billion ahead of schedule. By contrast the war in Iraq has cost American tax payers $739 trillion, and Afghanistan: $358 trillion and counting.
The current national debt in the U.S. is $13 trillion dollars. To put this in perspective, the debt when George W. Bush took office in 2000 was $5.7 trillion, it had reached $11 trillion by the end of his second term. To compound this problem Bush systematically cut taxes while the government amassed more deficit than all of his predecessors.
To think that the solution to this issue is to cut more taxes borders on insanity. To accuse the current administration of being solely responsible for the current economic mess is to engage in an astonishing level of denial.
Part of the problem with the electorate is a growing sense of entitlement. National security, a massive state-of-the-art military, a well-maintained and expanding infrastructure, plus all of the other agencies designed to serve its citizens, these are the things the population not only expects but demands ...for a Wal-Mart price. I'm no economist, but something doesn't add up.
Recent polls suggest well over half of Americans do not favour a tax increase to solve the debt problem, while two thirds favour a cut in foreign aid (which accounts for only 1% of the federal budget). Cutting federal spending is being cited as the solution to the problem, but a big chunk of the government's current discretionary budget has been allocated to stimulus spending to create jobs. Taking that money away now could have serious consequences in an economy on life support.
Fiscal responsibility will never be a sexy theme for a political candidate, but that is exactly what the country needs. No, I don't mean idiots like the Tea Party who are great at exploiting the angst of those affected by a failed economy and extremely short on real solutions to the problem. True, raising taxes is not the right thing to do when people are already struggling to make ends meet, but embracing schemes that got the country into its current mess is not the answer either.
It's no wonder that interest in politics in the United States is at an all time low. Citizens are burdened with a crisis they did not create and are now being asked to play a blame game while trying to figure out where their next pay-cheque is coming from. As the politicians attack one other with twisted versions of reality, each claiming the moral high ground, the population is desperately seeking answers, solutions and a future for their children. The disconnect between the bickering morons running for office and the people they claim to serve is astounding.
It's time for politicians and the electorate to get with the program. You've had it far too good, for far too long, and somebody has to pay the bills. That's what grown ups do. Slander, denial and selfishness are not going to solve anything.
When the next generation is voting, what will they have learned?
Unless, of course, there is an election. In which case, screw courtesy, decorum and responsibility and let the mud-slinging begin.
We are deep into election season in the most powerful nation on the planet and thus far, on the local front, the campaign slurs are well under way. Gross distortions of facts, name-calling and intentionally unflattering images of candidates splayed about our TV screens presumably to make the other candidate look better.
The insanity which is the U.S. electoral campaign is about as low-down and dirty as politics can get. What's worse is some of that bilge is starting to flow northward, with the Canada's Conservative party producing negative ads about the opposition, often when there isn't even an election.
This bizarre theatre of politics has candidates promising not to raise taxes, or even to cut taxes in order to get elected. Why? Because when it comes to American elections, raising taxes is tantamount to declaring your campaign is funded by Al Qaeda. The promise to cut taxes is as old as the Stars and Stripes. The Republican party is forever at the forefront decrying big government and high taxation. Even though two well-known Republican presidents, Ronald Reagan and George H.W. Bush, both raised taxes while in office. A Democrat who suggests a tax increase will likely be run out of town with flaming torches and pitchforks.
The tax issue is an interesting one because the American government debt is out of control. Much of this deficit is being blamed on government bailouts to the auto makers and the banks. The $700 billion bailout, which was actually called for by former U.S. President George W. Bush, has now been hung around the neck of his successor President Barack Obama.
It should be noted that of the money given to the banks only $30 billion has yet to be recouped. The U.S. auto-maker bailout accounted for $24.9 billion of this money. General Motors has already paid back $5.8 billion ahead of schedule. By contrast the war in Iraq has cost American tax payers $739 trillion, and Afghanistan: $358 trillion and counting.
The current national debt in the U.S. is $13 trillion dollars. To put this in perspective, the debt when George W. Bush took office in 2000 was $5.7 trillion, it had reached $11 trillion by the end of his second term. To compound this problem Bush systematically cut taxes while the government amassed more deficit than all of his predecessors.
To think that the solution to this issue is to cut more taxes borders on insanity. To accuse the current administration of being solely responsible for the current economic mess is to engage in an astonishing level of denial.
Part of the problem with the electorate is a growing sense of entitlement. National security, a massive state-of-the-art military, a well-maintained and expanding infrastructure, plus all of the other agencies designed to serve its citizens, these are the things the population not only expects but demands ...for a Wal-Mart price. I'm no economist, but something doesn't add up.
Recent polls suggest well over half of Americans do not favour a tax increase to solve the debt problem, while two thirds favour a cut in foreign aid (which accounts for only 1% of the federal budget). Cutting federal spending is being cited as the solution to the problem, but a big chunk of the government's current discretionary budget has been allocated to stimulus spending to create jobs. Taking that money away now could have serious consequences in an economy on life support.
Fiscal responsibility will never be a sexy theme for a political candidate, but that is exactly what the country needs. No, I don't mean idiots like the Tea Party who are great at exploiting the angst of those affected by a failed economy and extremely short on real solutions to the problem. True, raising taxes is not the right thing to do when people are already struggling to make ends meet, but embracing schemes that got the country into its current mess is not the answer either.
It's no wonder that interest in politics in the United States is at an all time low. Citizens are burdened with a crisis they did not create and are now being asked to play a blame game while trying to figure out where their next pay-cheque is coming from. As the politicians attack one other with twisted versions of reality, each claiming the moral high ground, the population is desperately seeking answers, solutions and a future for their children. The disconnect between the bickering morons running for office and the people they claim to serve is astounding.
It's time for politicians and the electorate to get with the program. You've had it far too good, for far too long, and somebody has to pay the bills. That's what grown ups do. Slander, denial and selfishness are not going to solve anything.
When the next generation is voting, what will they have learned?
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