After listening to it a few times over the past few months, I'm really going to miss "Talk of the Nation."
Really enjoyed Friday night's "Allen Weener Worldwide" with everyone in studio together. It was radio.
Am starting to enjoy "This American Life."
Monday, June 17, 2013
LOOKING BACK-JULY 2012
Based on notes to myself.
On Canada Day I went to this great party at the house of one of the people I jam with. There was live music and I chatted with fellow jammers. I also drank wine and rum and cranberry juice, in addition to having a fair number of hits of marijuana. It was a great counterpoint to the acrimony of the jam earlier that day.
The next day one of the jammers called me up to ask how I enjoyed the party.
Two days after that, my aunt and her husband came down for a few hours. Mom had been having a problem with the electricity in her basement. It turned out it was a simple matter of flipping a switch, which they ostencibly came all the way down from the GTA to do. Obviously, super kind of them. However, they also brought lunch, cold meats, salad fixins and this really good bread from a bakery in Toronto.
My worker from CNIB was supposed to come that day. The visit by my relatives was short notice and he ended up coming over to Mom's house and having lunch with us.
Singing at the nursing home with an older lady who is a friend, songs like "All Through The Night", "Side By Side", "Little Brown Jug", that sort of thing.
Looking up music on YouTube from a list in a magazine article I'd read.
Also, going through hip-hop blogs and discovering all sorts of old-school (and new) acts.
One Saturday night I listened to a couple of cds I'd made which included (but were not limited to) music from the early part of the twentieth century originally on wax cylinder records. I decided I wanted to cut my nails, but discovered I'd lost my nail clippers. After a frantic search I gave up and got another pair from my mom.
A few months later, I found the nail clippers in a bag of clothespins. I had cut my nails after bringing in the laundry and mistaken the nail clippers for a clothespin.
On Canada Day I went to this great party at the house of one of the people I jam with. There was live music and I chatted with fellow jammers. I also drank wine and rum and cranberry juice, in addition to having a fair number of hits of marijuana. It was a great counterpoint to the acrimony of the jam earlier that day.
The next day one of the jammers called me up to ask how I enjoyed the party.
Two days after that, my aunt and her husband came down for a few hours. Mom had been having a problem with the electricity in her basement. It turned out it was a simple matter of flipping a switch, which they ostencibly came all the way down from the GTA to do. Obviously, super kind of them. However, they also brought lunch, cold meats, salad fixins and this really good bread from a bakery in Toronto.
My worker from CNIB was supposed to come that day. The visit by my relatives was short notice and he ended up coming over to Mom's house and having lunch with us.
Singing at the nursing home with an older lady who is a friend, songs like "All Through The Night", "Side By Side", "Little Brown Jug", that sort of thing.
Looking up music on YouTube from a list in a magazine article I'd read.
Also, going through hip-hop blogs and discovering all sorts of old-school (and new) acts.
One Saturday night I listened to a couple of cds I'd made which included (but were not limited to) music from the early part of the twentieth century originally on wax cylinder records. I decided I wanted to cut my nails, but discovered I'd lost my nail clippers. After a frantic search I gave up and got another pair from my mom.
A few months later, I found the nail clippers in a bag of clothespins. I had cut my nails after bringing in the laundry and mistaken the nail clippers for a clothespin.
Saturday, June 15, 2013
REMINDER -- "THE AMAZING JAM" THIS SUNDAY AT THE MARMORA INN 3 P.M.
Hi all,
Now that Rui has returned from attending the Formula One motor race in Montreal....
(Who could prefer fast cars and loud noises to the sweet songs we play in his front room?)
And you all having spent the past week polishing up all your best songs in anticipation of ‘slightly delayed’ gratification @ 3 o’clock this coming Sunday afternoon (June 16th) at our next ‘Amazing Jam’ – acoustic music – at the Marmora Inn....
Here’s a quote (thoroughly out of context) from an old song:
“Altogether now: one, two, three!
Keep your eyes on the highway
Keep your hands on the wheel
Keep your filthy mind on the road ahead
We’re having fun....”
Time: 3 o’clock until 5 – THIS SUNDAY afternoon. (Sunday, June 16th.)
Location: The Marmora Inn– 29 Bursthall St. in Marmora.
Bursthall Street is the first road East of the traffic lights in Marmora. The Marmora Inn is south of Highway 7, part way down the first block. (You can find it; I know you can!)
It’s only once a month. 3 o’clock until 5 in the afternoon(we plan for 2 hours, keep going a bit longer when we’re rocking....)
2012_11110004-sm2012_11110005-sm‘The Marmora Country Inn’ is a really nice place offering a licensed dining room (the food is superb), overnight accommodation and spa facilities. Our hosts – Rui and Kathy Pereira – are lovely people. They welcome us on the second Sunday afternoon (psssst, it will be the third Sunday this month!) of each month to play music at the Inn from 3 – 5 pm (or later). Coffee, tea and other good things are available to us in the library while we are playing and the dining room opens at 5 pm. Those who wish are always welcome to stay on after the music, nosh on appetizers (including vegetarian options), sip some wine, etc. (or opt for dinner if you’re really hungry) while the dining room is open.
The space is beautiful, the hosts are welcoming, the food is excellent – by reputation, easily the best around. The Marmora Inn has also been known to book musicians to play events, so there could be some good connections to be made.
2012_11110007-sm
Come out and join us. Bring your instruments, your voices and your music. I t’s all unplugged and it’s all good! Guitar, baritone, bass, harmonica, banjo, mandolin, ukulele, fiddle, accordion, flute, celtic harp – the list goes on.
There may be only 4 or 5 of us or maybe a whole room full of musicians. A place for ‘first-timers’ and experienced players alike. A good bunch of people playing all kinds of music together. People in their teens all the way through proto-geezers. Maybe even an incipient-geriat or two....
Any acoustic music from punk to polka!
James Reid
Now that Rui has returned from attending the Formula One motor race in Montreal....
(Who could prefer fast cars and loud noises to the sweet songs we play in his front room?)
And you all having spent the past week polishing up all your best songs in anticipation of ‘slightly delayed’ gratification @ 3 o’clock this coming Sunday afternoon (June 16th) at our next ‘Amazing Jam’ – acoustic music – at the Marmora Inn....
Here’s a quote (thoroughly out of context) from an old song:
“Altogether now: one, two, three!
Keep your eyes on the highway
Keep your hands on the wheel
Keep your filthy mind on the road ahead
We’re having fun....”
Time: 3 o’clock until 5 – THIS SUNDAY afternoon. (Sunday, June 16th.)
Location: The Marmora Inn– 29 Bursthall St. in Marmora.
Bursthall Street is the first road East of the traffic lights in Marmora. The Marmora Inn is south of Highway 7, part way down the first block. (You can find it; I know you can!)
It’s only once a month. 3 o’clock until 5 in the afternoon(we plan for 2 hours, keep going a bit longer when we’re rocking....)
2012_11110004-sm2012_11110005-sm‘The Marmora Country Inn’ is a really nice place offering a licensed dining room (the food is superb), overnight accommodation and spa facilities. Our hosts – Rui and Kathy Pereira – are lovely people. They welcome us on the second Sunday afternoon (psssst, it will be the third Sunday this month!) of each month to play music at the Inn from 3 – 5 pm (or later). Coffee, tea and other good things are available to us in the library while we are playing and the dining room opens at 5 pm. Those who wish are always welcome to stay on after the music, nosh on appetizers (including vegetarian options), sip some wine, etc. (or opt for dinner if you’re really hungry) while the dining room is open.
The space is beautiful, the hosts are welcoming, the food is excellent – by reputation, easily the best around. The Marmora Inn has also been known to book musicians to play events, so there could be some good connections to be made.
2012_11110007-sm
Come out and join us. Bring your instruments, your voices and your music. I t’s all unplugged and it’s all good! Guitar, baritone, bass, harmonica, banjo, mandolin, ukulele, fiddle, accordion, flute, celtic harp – the list goes on.
There may be only 4 or 5 of us or maybe a whole room full of musicians. A place for ‘first-timers’ and experienced players alike. A good bunch of people playing all kinds of music together. People in their teens all the way through proto-geezers. Maybe even an incipient-geriat or two....
Any acoustic music from punk to polka!
James Reid
Friday, June 14, 2013
DOWN TO THIS: SQUALOUR AND SPLENDOUR IN A BIG-CITY SHANTYTOWN
By Shaughnessy Bishop-Stall. Toronto: Random House Canada, 2004.
True story of the year the author spends living in Toronto's tent city.
An absolutely great book!
The incident in this book which most stands out for me involves a group of church people, known to tent city's residents as the purple people eaters, and particularly one sixteen year old girl in this group. She is grabbed by one of the homeless men. She is understandably shaken, and the reaction she gives, which she was trained to give in her Judao-Christian castration pen of a church is "Just pray for him." However, the residents of this shantytown enact real justice and kick the guy and his girlfriend out. You also don't get the sense from this incident that the church people actually took a leaf from Jesus by actually trying to speak to the homeless where they were at or even getting to know them on a basic level.
This book has so many great incidents and happenings that to tell about all my favourites here would be to tell the whole book. Just go out and get a copy.
True story of the year the author spends living in Toronto's tent city.
An absolutely great book!
The incident in this book which most stands out for me involves a group of church people, known to tent city's residents as the purple people eaters, and particularly one sixteen year old girl in this group. She is grabbed by one of the homeless men. She is understandably shaken, and the reaction she gives, which she was trained to give in her Judao-Christian castration pen of a church is "Just pray for him." However, the residents of this shantytown enact real justice and kick the guy and his girlfriend out. You also don't get the sense from this incident that the church people actually took a leaf from Jesus by actually trying to speak to the homeless where they were at or even getting to know them on a basic level.
This book has so many great incidents and happenings that to tell about all my favourites here would be to tell the whole book. Just go out and get a copy.
INTERNET STUFF
Enough, YouTube! Don't present me with five minute long commercials when I want to look up a video that's under five minutes.
I enjoy the Podbean format.
Cool how, when you look up an archived article in the Toronto Star online, you can see what else was making news the day that article was published.
Storylane was bought by Facebook. I went to Storylane's website recently and it was gone. That sure didn't last long.
I enjoy the Podbean format.
Cool how, when you look up an archived article in the Toronto Star online, you can see what else was making news the day that article was published.
Storylane was bought by Facebook. I went to Storylane's website recently and it was gone. That sure didn't last long.
Wednesday, June 12, 2013
REPLY AWL
The following are all comments related to articles in the May 13 issue of Maclean's.
Why Children Need to Feel the Pinch: I agree with Emma Teitel. In addition to what she said, being forced to get a hug from an ugly older relative also teaches kids to be considerate of others. Aunt Milly is old and ugly so she probably doesn't get much affection. Consider the fact she needs hugs and kisses, just like you do.
When Science Goes Silent: Harper is ruining so many things that made this country great. I'm not for big government, but when you have scientific research that is lauded internationally, traditional conservative values would dictate you keep that going. When the Museum of Civilization is internationally recognized for being what it is, common sense and a nationalistic mentality would tell you not to turn it into a museum focusing on Canadian history. Also, the kind of good conservatism which aschews corporate fascism would tell you not to change the mission of the NRC into an organization that does research for business purposes.
The Heaven Boom: This article proves the falseness of "90 Minutes in Heaven." The author saw the Pearly Gates, when the Bible clearly says said gates are a feature of the New Jerusalem, which comes into being after the millenium is up.
Where do Parents Draw the Line?: How about we teach our children to stand up to bullies rather than getting them plastic surgery. Worse, this will only reinforce to these kids that having large ears or the wrong shape of chin is a bad thing. These values will then be taught by these children to their spawn.
And Hell Followed After Her: Yeah, let's not talk about the huge amount of crime illegal Mexicans commit in the United States each year. Let's also not talk about all the quotations by politicians, leaders of Hispanic organizations and university professors saying how they want to take over the United States and restore the country to its supposed rightful possessors. There are even Mexican pop songs about it, for goodness sake!
Salt, Sugar, Fat: What about MSG, aspertain, genetic modification, and all the other things that are being put into and done to processed foods?
Why Children Need to Feel the Pinch: I agree with Emma Teitel. In addition to what she said, being forced to get a hug from an ugly older relative also teaches kids to be considerate of others. Aunt Milly is old and ugly so she probably doesn't get much affection. Consider the fact she needs hugs and kisses, just like you do.
When Science Goes Silent: Harper is ruining so many things that made this country great. I'm not for big government, but when you have scientific research that is lauded internationally, traditional conservative values would dictate you keep that going. When the Museum of Civilization is internationally recognized for being what it is, common sense and a nationalistic mentality would tell you not to turn it into a museum focusing on Canadian history. Also, the kind of good conservatism which aschews corporate fascism would tell you not to change the mission of the NRC into an organization that does research for business purposes.
The Heaven Boom: This article proves the falseness of "90 Minutes in Heaven." The author saw the Pearly Gates, when the Bible clearly says said gates are a feature of the New Jerusalem, which comes into being after the millenium is up.
Where do Parents Draw the Line?: How about we teach our children to stand up to bullies rather than getting them plastic surgery. Worse, this will only reinforce to these kids that having large ears or the wrong shape of chin is a bad thing. These values will then be taught by these children to their spawn.
And Hell Followed After Her: Yeah, let's not talk about the huge amount of crime illegal Mexicans commit in the United States each year. Let's also not talk about all the quotations by politicians, leaders of Hispanic organizations and university professors saying how they want to take over the United States and restore the country to its supposed rightful possessors. There are even Mexican pop songs about it, for goodness sake!
Salt, Sugar, Fat: What about MSG, aspertain, genetic modification, and all the other things that are being put into and done to processed foods?
MISTER MONDAY KEYS TO THE KINGDOM
By Garth Nix. London: Harper Collins, 2003.
This is a look at the first book in the popular "Keys To The Kingdom" series from a Christian point of view.
Most importantly, "Mister Monday" presents a different view of Creation and the universe than the Bible. As in the Bible, the universe came from nothing. However, that is where any similarities between this book and the Word of God stop. The Upper and Lower Houses of the book in question were brought into being by the Great Archetect, who is a woman. After this, the Secondary Realms were created.
Everything returns to nothing. The book contains the phrase, "Nothing is forever." Additionally, everything returns to nothing, which means there is no afterlife. In other words, this world is all there is and outside of this present realm there's nothing to hope for. Way to make our teenagers even more depressed than they are already.
According to "Mister Monday", the Great Archetect came from nothing, when Christians know God always existed.
This book says that the Great Archetect "Liked to take on ideas from the Secondary Realms." God is the sustainer and supplier of all. He does not have His creation create things to inspire Him.
There is a character in this series called the Old One, which is the same name as the deity of an African tribe. I take it the Old One is supposed to represent Satan. The Old One was cast away from the presence of the Great Archetect because of differences they had. According to the Old One, "the Great Archetect sought to deny my artistry." On the contrary, it was not at all that Satan had a better plan than God. His whole aim was to take over the universe and rule in God's place. It wasn't as if Satan had a different plan for how God could run His creation and God was just an old stuffed shirt who couldn't listen to others.
We're told that, though the Old One is opposed to the Great Archetect, "He does not dispise Her work." Do not be fooled, though. Satan does dispise God's work. Jesus quite clearly says of the devil, "the thief cometh only to steal and to kill and to destroy,."
The character of the Old One in this series of books can be nothing more than an attempt on the part of Nix to get teenagers to worship the devil, or at least have a more favourable view of him.
There is also a centrally important character in this series of books called the Will, representing the Word of God, or part of it anyway so far in the series. The Will is selfish. God's Word is not selfish, but it appears that way to those who don't believe in what it says. The Bible is opposed to the devil as the Will is opposed to the Old One, but in "Mister Monday" this is characterized as a bad thing.
Again, this is an attempt on the author's part to subvert and discredit the Bible.
The House which the main character finds himself in is a place of harsh punishments and no love. This is designed as a bit of subtle propaganda to set young people up for the world they can and should expect.
Speaking of propaganda, there's loads more of it in "Mister Monday." When Arthur, the main character was born, it was in the midst of a horrible flu pandemic which took the lives of his birthparents. Now, however, thanks to a new biannual vaccine, there hasn't been a case of flu in five years. (Way to bolster the manufacturers of vaccinations.)
That is, until Fetchers (demonic beings from the House) invade the Secondary Realms looking for Arthur and bring a strain of some sort of plague with them. When the plague begins to spread, the government moves into action. The phone and internet service at victim's houses is cut off so panic cannot be spread. Sounds like what governments want to do in real life.
Also, there are mass quarantines of suspected plague victims, with severe punative consequences for those who try to escape. Again, sounds like what the government wants to do in real life.
As I said above, Mister Monday presents a pretty distopic view for things, with The House containing no love, harsh punishments for disobedience and poverty of most of the Denizens (the citizens of the House.) This is similar to the theme of most teen fiction these days.
There are other minor things in this book that go against the Bible, such as the use of transfer plates by Denizens, Arthur's friend Leaf having a grandmother who was an Irish witch ("thou shalt not suffer a witch to live"), the use of magic, and a ritual in which Arthur must prick his thumbs (causing oneself pain to gain acceptance, a common theme in pagan religious practice.)
One more thing. There are creatures in "Mister Monday" known as bibliophages. They eat writing, any kind of writing. Could this represent the two-legged snakes who try to steal and destroy knowledge that runs contrary to their agenda?
This is a look at the first book in the popular "Keys To The Kingdom" series from a Christian point of view.
Most importantly, "Mister Monday" presents a different view of Creation and the universe than the Bible. As in the Bible, the universe came from nothing. However, that is where any similarities between this book and the Word of God stop. The Upper and Lower Houses of the book in question were brought into being by the Great Archetect, who is a woman. After this, the Secondary Realms were created.
Everything returns to nothing. The book contains the phrase, "Nothing is forever." Additionally, everything returns to nothing, which means there is no afterlife. In other words, this world is all there is and outside of this present realm there's nothing to hope for. Way to make our teenagers even more depressed than they are already.
According to "Mister Monday", the Great Archetect came from nothing, when Christians know God always existed.
This book says that the Great Archetect "Liked to take on ideas from the Secondary Realms." God is the sustainer and supplier of all. He does not have His creation create things to inspire Him.
There is a character in this series called the Old One, which is the same name as the deity of an African tribe. I take it the Old One is supposed to represent Satan. The Old One was cast away from the presence of the Great Archetect because of differences they had. According to the Old One, "the Great Archetect sought to deny my artistry." On the contrary, it was not at all that Satan had a better plan than God. His whole aim was to take over the universe and rule in God's place. It wasn't as if Satan had a different plan for how God could run His creation and God was just an old stuffed shirt who couldn't listen to others.
We're told that, though the Old One is opposed to the Great Archetect, "He does not dispise Her work." Do not be fooled, though. Satan does dispise God's work. Jesus quite clearly says of the devil, "the thief cometh only to steal and to kill and to destroy,."
The character of the Old One in this series of books can be nothing more than an attempt on the part of Nix to get teenagers to worship the devil, or at least have a more favourable view of him.
There is also a centrally important character in this series of books called the Will, representing the Word of God, or part of it anyway so far in the series. The Will is selfish. God's Word is not selfish, but it appears that way to those who don't believe in what it says. The Bible is opposed to the devil as the Will is opposed to the Old One, but in "Mister Monday" this is characterized as a bad thing.
Again, this is an attempt on the author's part to subvert and discredit the Bible.
The House which the main character finds himself in is a place of harsh punishments and no love. This is designed as a bit of subtle propaganda to set young people up for the world they can and should expect.
Speaking of propaganda, there's loads more of it in "Mister Monday." When Arthur, the main character was born, it was in the midst of a horrible flu pandemic which took the lives of his birthparents. Now, however, thanks to a new biannual vaccine, there hasn't been a case of flu in five years. (Way to bolster the manufacturers of vaccinations.)
That is, until Fetchers (demonic beings from the House) invade the Secondary Realms looking for Arthur and bring a strain of some sort of plague with them. When the plague begins to spread, the government moves into action. The phone and internet service at victim's houses is cut off so panic cannot be spread. Sounds like what governments want to do in real life.
Also, there are mass quarantines of suspected plague victims, with severe punative consequences for those who try to escape. Again, sounds like what the government wants to do in real life.
As I said above, Mister Monday presents a pretty distopic view for things, with The House containing no love, harsh punishments for disobedience and poverty of most of the Denizens (the citizens of the House.) This is similar to the theme of most teen fiction these days.
There are other minor things in this book that go against the Bible, such as the use of transfer plates by Denizens, Arthur's friend Leaf having a grandmother who was an Irish witch ("thou shalt not suffer a witch to live"), the use of magic, and a ritual in which Arthur must prick his thumbs (causing oneself pain to gain acceptance, a common theme in pagan religious practice.)
One more thing. There are creatures in "Mister Monday" known as bibliophages. They eat writing, any kind of writing. Could this represent the two-legged snakes who try to steal and destroy knowledge that runs contrary to their agenda?
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