Rites of Spring #5 - Love is in the air and so on · 26.03.10 by colin newell
April 1993 – I ride the B.C. Ferry into Active Pass heading for Vancouver possibly for the last time… for romantic reasons. Visiting a girlfriend in Vancouver. I look around the busy and crisply new Spirit of British Columbia for faces in similar situations… you know, gals that are traveling to Vancouver to visit boyfriends. And wouldn’t it be interesting to simply wave a magic wand and take us folks that are crossing a body of water to visit a significant other… and just match them up with eligible folks on the Island. In 1993 it would have been quite a sound environmental initiative – a reduced carbon footprint long before the term was ever used.
Out on the passenger desk, I sniff the April air deeply as an older B.C. Ferry comes into the pass… ostensibly heading to Victoria… doing the same thing – reuniting family, friends… and lovers.
I actually met the woman of my dreams in 1993 on or about April of that year. In Victoria no less. And at a time when I realized that the long distance one in Vancouver was running out of steam. And the funny thing was, since I was 12 years old I kind of had a solid visual in my mind’s eye as to what she (my future wife) would look like. And it was as if in the intervening years we were slowly moving closer together in space and time.
By the Fall of 1993 I knew that I had met my life-long soul mate. Within a few weeks of our first serious date in the summer of 1993 we were engaged… and married in the Summer of 1994.
In the year 2010, it is as if we have only just met. We’re lucky. I know it. Few couples are this blessed.
I have a colleague, a few years younger that me… a great guy – and he is waiting for the woman of his dreams to arrive. And yes, he has been waiting longer than I ever did. Decent guy. Athletic. Full time job. Cleans up well. Never married. No kids. No baggage. And sadly alone and lonely. Especially on the weekends… in April.
I spoke to him this week… and I said:
“Have you visualized the woman of your dreams?”
And he said…“Well, yeah… of course…” His expression was one of Dude, what are you leading up to here?
I followed up with: “Do you know or do you ever think about… where she is right now?” “I mean, when you think about it… I am sure she exists… you just have not met her yet, yea?”
He said…“No, I have never thought about it like that…”
And I concluded…“Then maybe you should… and think about where she might be… because time is passing… and she is alone… and lonely… on a beautiful April day… in the year 2010.
Today… right now… is for lovers… and the lonely.
My wish is that we all get together – because it is just too beautiful out there to enjoy it alone.
So get out there. Love is in the air. She (or He…) is waiting… Watching…
For you.
Comment [3]
Winter all food, fun and drink marathon begins - Love it live · 1.03.10 by colin newell
The International Olympic Committee has been really funny about live music at open and closing ceremonies for years.
One of their golden rules (that is impossible to break) is the one on live music at the ceremonies… and unattractive young girls (I reference the Beijing O.C.)
Their thinking is: To avoid mistakes, embarrassment and equipment failure, they run “tape” for the broadcast feed from the event through the studios to the media… and to you in television land.
Some claim that the performance is “live” in the stadium and tape to media (and your television set) – that might be, but I doubt it.
From my observations, the only open microphones at the O.C. and C.C. were during the dialog from Jack Roggue and John Furlong’s cringe inducing interpretation of cereal box French.
Canadian legend Neil Young did not have a microphone on him either – he had an audio prompter in his ear so he could hear his taped performance and follow along.
As did K.D. Lang (whom I have seen live several times…)
When Nelly Furtado and Bryan Adams “played” at the O.C. Brian left his microphone by his side when he started singing – but quickly “corrected” a few bars into the song.
There are many, many music rehearsals for the opening and closing ceremonies – and what you hear at home is a digital recording of one of the “best takes”.
If there is any doubt as to this fact, ask yourself why none of the artists ever make a mistake during their performance.
As a guitar player, singer and piano player of over 25 years, I would like to say that the whole “taped” thing offends me – but it doesn’t.
It is a personal choice that each artist makes – whether to “compromise” or not and how they do it.
For more reading on the subject, check out David Atkins (executive producer of the 2010 ceremonies) on the subject of O.C./C.C. Olympic lip syncing…
Quote of the day: “I think Nickelback’s music incites violence. For instance, when I hear a Nickleback song….I want to kill Nickleback.” -Brian Posehn
The Olympics are over. Do I love Canada more?
Hate to say it.
I do.
The party is over. Now it’s time to pay the caterer.
Comment [4]
Winter Fun Food and Adventure Victoria - Am I Canadian · 24.02.10 by colin newell
The Canadian Winter Olympics are in full swing. All eyes on the ice nation above the 49th parallel.
And although lots of people are making fun of the Canadian experience – as if they know the difference between a Canadian and a… well… someone else.
What exactly is it to be a Canadian?
Beyond the eh jokes… and the I’m so sorry jabs.
Beyond the Stephen Colbert schtick.
Beyond The Simpsons or Family Guy lampooning a Canadian courtesy of a Canadian writer living in L.A.‘s impression of the Canadian experience.
Beyond The Guess Who belting out American Woman.
Beyond William Shatner.
Beyond Tom Brokaw trying to explain Canada to an unwilling nation south of the 49th parallel.
Beyond Bryan Adams and Nelly Furtado miming and syncing into switched off microphones at the 2010 Olympiad open ceremonies…
What distinct thing defines the Canadian being? A few ideas…
Stopping to talk to an elderly gentleman wandering the sidewalk – who seems lost and returning 12 minutes later to find that he has been in a no-injuries car accident and making sure he is OK.
Waiting for the police car.
Running into a lovely Olympian from a few years gone by and flirtatiously asking her how often she is recognized…
“As often as I smile…” she quips.
Canadian.
Slowing down the car to yield to a full size deer that seems to be having difficulty crossing a slippery urban street.
Running into the governor of California and after simply raising an eyebrow and smiling getting a Austrian accented “Thanks for not making a big deal…”
Canadian.
Being beneath the radar is Canadian. Being above the radar is Canadian.
Being in a room full of people taking a collective sigh that legend Gordon Lightfoot is alive and well is, well, ever so Canadian.
That we don’t actually have a Canadian Idol is really Canadian. Figure it out.
Not really being able to explain the Canadian essence…
Canadian
Winter Fun Food and Adventure Victoria - Pecha Kucha Night · 22.02.10 by colin newell
Got invited to speak at Victoria’s first Pecha Kucha night in Victoria.
A pass for now – but going on Thursday night to check it out.
I hope you will too.
Want to know what Pecha Kucha is? Click here
Want a great tutorial?: How about here
Or a funny and engaging example? – go here
Anyone with any artistic bent can do this. I can do this… once I screw in the courage module that is… Next time. Maybe in May. Come see me.
Click on above photo for the zoomie-zoom view
2010 Olympic Rant #44 5-Ring Circus Countdown Widget added · 1.02.10 by colin newell
Billion dollar security budget. Check
10,000 cops, soldiers and twitchy fingered rent-a-cops. Check
900 Video cameras watching everything. Check
Road closures and traffic interruptions that would confuse a homing pigeon. Check
Thousands of peaceful protesters prepared to make a point. Check
Thousands more frustrated and angry British Columbians. Check
Count down the charade with me.
If anyone is listening, in particular 2010 protesters: I urge everyone to be as peaceful as possible.
The last thing we want is any nonsense or violence from protesters that could possibly justify the billion-dollar security boondoggle.
Be advised: The RCMP will be seeding crowds with their own Agent_provocateurs – to incite trouble and ultimately attempt to justify the obscene expenditure on the 2010 circus security blanket. Watch for them. RCMP Agent provocateurs stand out in the crowd like thin-ties and padded shoulders at a bikers convention.
Keep it peaceful folks – that is an order.
Experienced a wave of revulsion and disgust today… So I switched off the 2010 Olympic Game countdown widget gadget
Sometimes holding your nose is simply not good enough.
2010 Olympic Rant #43 5-Ring Circus Security Blanket Bingo · 30.01.10 by colin newell
With over 15,000 highly-trained security personnel, backed by a lethal arsenal of military hardware, Vancouver is about to be wrapped in a billion-dollar security blanket for the Winter Olympics.
The threat? Frustrated and fed up Vancouver residents and British Columbians in general who are fed to the teeth with the 5-ring go for gold farce… soon to begin.
To counter potential threats from terrorism, crime and violent protests at the February 12-28 Games, 15,500 highly paid police, military and private security guards have descended like rabid bats on our fair West Coast city.
A spokesperson for the Integrated Security Unit (ISU) offered… “We are continually monitoring and examining all potential threats and risks. We don’t elaborate on what information we receive.”
“We are planning to a medium threat level, and we can ramp that up or down. The games right now are at a low level.”
No kidding. Because apart from city dwellers and the odd flag waving protester there is no threat. None.
Vancouver, situated between a delta, the US border, rivers, ocean and mountains, security plans call for navy divers, air force helicopters to transport SWAT teams quickly, surveillance cameras, police dogs, snowmobiles and even fighter jets — which the North American Aerospace Defense Command has said will use “lethal force” if necessary.
Cool. Lethal force. Comforting.
The ISU’s official task is to protect Olympic athletes and officials, VIPs, nine competition venues and 18 other locations including the athletes’ village and media centers.
Nothing about protecting the rest of us from imaginary threats.
That is the job of local cops – at least the ones that have not been sucked into ISU duty leaving 98% of the Province largely unprotected.
Fuck.
