The Harper government has introduced a bill that allows Canadians to sue for acts of Terror. I am, admittedly, quite puzzled. What, if any, is the practical purpose of such a bill? Is this another front in the War on Terror? Who, pray tell, is going to be footing the bill? Has Al-Qaeda been setting aside a legal fund for this rainy day?
As a avid cyclist in Toronto, and someone who has done his fair share of reading of social movement theory etc. I’m wrestling with something. Why am I so not interested in the types of advocacy/rides that are being held in our city? Is it that they’re being framed incorrectly? Is it that they’re coming on the heels of more heated public road blockades? I just feel so very disconnected. Maybe its because I don’t have my beard anymore or because I don’t live downtown and ride a fixie, or maybe its because I am young enough and confident enough to ride where I want (always have) unhindered by the spatial confines of our car based infrastructure; or maybe its just the feelings of futility that come with working within a political system run on short term 4 year plan…
If anyone has a hypothesis I’d welcome some input. I just feel that our movements aren’t hitting the mark (FOR ME). Why should I want to participate in Critical Mass, the World Naked Bike Ride (despite my affinity for not wearing a shirt), or Cruiser Rides and Island picnics?
I know the importance of solidarity and galvanizing the cyclists, I know the potential for change that can come through living it…the old Ghandian maxim of “be the change you want.” I’m starting to think that either a) My sense of individualism engendered by our society has effected the way I bike or b) that while groups claim to be pluralistic they are perhaps not as inclusive as they may think.
My theory right now, is that I’ve sublimated all of the wonderful governmentalities our society has foisted upon us yet, I love riding my bike. The two seemingly disconnected trajectories have come together to make unlikely bedfellows. A cyclist who loves the power, speed, freedom, and yes carbon fiber (a representation of post Enlightnment’s progress of course) and even care for the environment. Yet at the same time I remain lacerated from my fellow humans/cyclists (Think Aloysha in the Brothers Karamazov).
Or is this an inevitable result of a machine that has gotten too strong? Movements failed in Mexico City and Abbie Hoffman offed himself…Or am I just too yellow? Afraid of new things? Suburban?
Not to mention of course the potential to meet a great girl at those events yet I’m terribly disinterested in being part of “that” group.
Again, help me with my dilemma. Vive le discourse!
Of 1,002 Canadians polled:
I’ve always had reservations about Canada describing itself as “multicultural” and while I won’t overstate any implications here based on a single survey, this is bit disturbing.
Prejudice is always easier than taking the time to learn and discover a personal set of truths and perceptions - and there’s a bullshit number in this survey that reaffirms that for me. Apparently, one-third of Canadians claim to have a “good basic understanding of Islam.” That number’s far too high.
I suspect the number’s based on the media and cultural references of the last decade with respect to Islam (see: “War on Terror”) and not because anyone actually took the time to talk to any Muslims or, I dunno, pick up a relevant book or two on the topic.
Pop culture seems to spread its arms wide and embrace the destruction of language, reducing expression to concise terse abrupt ejaculations. It is thus all the more wonderful to witness a wordsmith of this calibre.
Njoy. Hes G8T!
Alright, so yet another Doves posting.
Firstly, Kingdom of Rust (next to Grizzly Bear’s leaked new album opener - the superb, band defining Southern Point) is completely hogging up the iPod playlists of late. NME has a Kingdom of Rust remix here. The album can’t be released soon enough…
The Quietus has a track by track album review here. Like others, they’re calling it their best album. The Guardian has similar minded praise for their live show here as they begin their spring/summer tour. All in all, good stuff. Oh, and Toronto’s on that tour list - June 1 at the Kool Haus. Predictably, I’ve picked up my tix.
A lot going on everywhere… here’s some random ideas and media for weekend consumption…
The Poor Get Poorer
Financial crisis this, that and the other. Everyone’s suffering. The Economist this week sheds some light on the ones that aren’t grabbing the headlines. Fucking dispiriting on this fact alone: The World Bank estimates that 200,000-400,000 more children in the Third World will die because of the crisis, per year, for the next six years.
I recognise that there are people around me in my life who will be impacted by this at some point or are being impacted. Maybe a few us will lose jobs or will have less cash in our pockets… but how can we ever complain in this light?
A Comedian in the Fourth Estate
The “week-long feud of the century” reached its climax last night as Jon Stewart took on Jim Cramer for his and the media’s negligence in this worldwide financial clusterfuck. (Canadians can watch the entire, unedited version here.) Stewart’s no stranger to putting guests on the spot or putting them in their place. He’s often at his best in this role but he does it bitingly, fairly, and above all, with unmatched timing, genius and wit.
But last night you had Cramer, who was sincerely humble as he came on and did not try to make excuses for his tomfoolery, and Stewart who was just unabashedly ripping into him. It’d be theatrically amusing if it wasn’t so one-sidedly tragic. Cramer simply submitted and took it… and I felt bad for him. He’s been disingenuous during the “economic boom” but is largely being scapegoated on behalf of CNBC and the mainstream media at large which is unfair. The interview was also heavily edited for time which only emphasized Stewart’s verbal assault.
As a few of us discussed the show afterwards, we agreed (more or less, Liam?) that, in the context of a castrated and ineffective mainstream media, Stewart has taken on more a serious role of late in the interests of informing the public. He has done so reluctantly, but I feel he recognizes the social significance of his show, particularly among the 18-35 demographic. His segments and rants are still often irreverent or simply hysterically silly, but it’s hard not to notice that Stewart’s gotten visibly angrier over the last year or so.
We share his frustration of course, the world today looks bleak in many ways, and appreciate his intent, but I’m not sure this is Jon Stewart at his most effective. At any rate, he’s unquestionably more important than most, maybe all, of his televisions counterparts - keep in mind he’s on the Comedy Channel and runs a bullshit fake news show.
I’ve been recently visiting a newly famous site called thisiswhyyourefat.com - this site is pictures of over-the-top foods people create or buy at restaurants with accompanying descriptions. Think of foods like deep-fried white castle burgers or a Bacon Cheeseburger Pizza (two meat pizzas sandwiching a 5lb. of ground beef patty with bacon, eggs colby and jack cheese constructed to resemble a cheeseburger).
I’m not going to write about how this site is putting up a mirror to North American and British faces regarding the growing obesity epidemic or how this site is like a car crash site for foodies.
I’m perplexed that most of the contributions are parading around as gross and sometimes inedible but are in fact foods most people have eaten in the past, often in similar combinations but deconstructed.
Don’t believe me? Keep on reading….
McGangbang
2 small McDonald’s sandwiches piled together to look like a large sandwich. Most people I know (including myself) get two to three of these sandwiches when the strange urge to eat mystery meat overcomes your sensibilities. Read the rest of this entry »
Since their renovations in the fall beerbistro has installed flatscreen TVs in the men’s room which show a seemingly endless reel of olde tyme beer commercials. I happened to catch this clazy one yesterday.
The theory of Operant Conditioning (B.F. Skinner) is a vague memory for many of us, a relic of our first year psych class. Positive and negative reinforcement and punishment. Buzz words often bandied about in discussions of dog training and child rearing, occupations perhaps not as dissimilar as they first appear.
In this new day and age of Education, our youth are exposed to all kinds of philosophies and theories about how to best shape and encourage our children into the generations of the future. Most people would agree that rewarding good behaviour is the strongest motivator–imagine the number people eager to hold doors open for others if we were all paid $2 each time. The philosophies of child rearing seem to discourage, as does our society, punitive measures in favour of rewards methods.
Today rewards are given as encouragements for attempting something. Admittedly, this is a necessary intermediate stage. The young should be encouraged and rewarding for trying new things, even if they are as terrifying as going to school all by their lonesomes. The flaw, it recently occurred to me, is in the failure to shift this process.
For the sake of clarity, let us discuss dog training for a moment before extrapolating to other thing. In training a dog to roll over, the first step is to reward any behaviour that resembles the desired result. Treat for lying down. Treat for rolling onto the back. Treat for going completely around. This is the way the behaviour is shaped and reinforced. However, at some point treats will not be given for the attempted behaviour, rather for the result alone.
It occurs to me, being a teacher, that the schooling and parenting has failed many of today’s students. Rewarding the attempt has been the norm for many students throughout their careers. Children are told consistently that if they try hard they will succeed. They can be anything they want. Such ideas can be inspiring for a toddler (for an almost painfully cliche example, just ask Obama). However at some point students have to be taught that it is not the effort that is important but the result. Returning failed tests and poorly written papers to students, their initial response through teary eyes is almost always “But I tried so hard!” Students today just don’t seem to understand that effort does not necessarily produce good results. It is inarguably a component of good results, but not the sole ingredient.
But are the kids to blame? Or are we as parents and educators the ones who have consistently rewarded the effort to blame? To return to the somewhat inflammatory dog example, we have expected the dog to roll over, yet constantly given treats when it got halfway there. Is it the dog’s fault it never learned?
First, I’ve listened to Merriweather Post Pavilion a whole bunch of times now and I can’t decide if I love it or hate it. My experience with the last four Animal Collective albums has been similar - save for Sung Tungs, which I’m relatively sure I like. I think?
Second, the interweb is a strange and glorious place. It’s well known that message boards attract a lot of hate and vile commentary ripe with irrationality. Of particular amusement to me at the moment is this “Fuck the Killers” thread on the Coachella site. Awesomeness. Oh, by the way, T-minus 57 days to Coachella!
Finally, the video of the first majestic single from Doves is out. Pure genius - they’ve always been a full class above most bands placed in that broad misnomer of a “Brit Pop” genre. Murmurs from those who have heard the album is that it may be their magnum opus - it’s out April 6th. Watch below (via Pitchfork.tv).
