Rites of Spring #22 Two Old Goats reviewed on Flotsam Jetsam · 25.05.10 by colin newell
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Fun CD review over on Cheryl DeWolfe’s Flotsam and Jetsam blog.
You can also click on the above photo for the same effect.
Either way… Thanks. Humbled.
Gordon Campbell Hates You... No, really. · 16.03.10 by colin newell
I am a bit of a fan of rabble.ca as well as some other left leaning websites, like TheTyee.ca and Georgia Straight online – heck, I was an impressionable 9 or 10 years old when I first peeked at this crazy looking weekly in the late 60’s with its hippie theme, free love mantras and dope decriminalization stance.
And this google search caught my eye today… you know the one where google fills in the blanks for you?
Well this is what it spat out when I typed in “Gordon Campbell”.
Gordon Campbell Hates You
Seriously. And I hardly know the man.
But the general consensus is, if the media (left and left of center is to be believed…):
Gordon hates the poor. Gordon hates the elderly. Gordon hates the weak. Gordon hates children… well, not all children, just children of the poor, elderly or the weak.
And who can blame him? The elderly are a burden to our tax payers – Shame.
To combat the blight of the elderly, he and his car dealing right wing cronies cut where ever they can to marginalize the elderly… and yea, drive them back where they came from…
Parents who are not wealthy create an extra burden by having children that they cannot place in private schools – and as a result end up burdening the taxpayers and province shareholders by sending their little ragamuffins to public schools and demanding stuff like books! Who do these un-wealthy folks think they are?
Do not get me started on the weak. Nothing riles Gordon and I up more than people who cannot hold down one of those great lower-than-minimum wage jobs in beautiful British Columbia. I mean, look what we have done for corporate North America: We have the lowest rate of corporate tax and the lowest minimum wage.
And if you are physically or intellectually challenged in British Columbia, Gordon and I have a message for you: Shape up and pull your weight.
Reality: The Gordon Campbell Liberals have systematically, methodically and willingly targeted the most vulnerable in our “Greatest Place on Earth” with cuts to seniors, cuts to schools, cuts to support networks for women in jeopardy while boasting the highest rates of child poverty in Canada and thumbing his nose at the United Nations report on poverty in Canada.
But does Gordon hate you? No.
He fits the description of a sociopath (by the actions of his government…)
So it’s not hate…
More like indifferent contempt.
I hope that knowledge helps my readers.
My name is Colin Newell. I am a Victoria area resident who supports local business and eschews community killing machines like Walmart.
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Winter all fun, food and frolic - collapse of the bee colony · 14.03.10 by colin newell
Colony collapse disorder – while the average person is probably completely unaware of what it is or what it means, I assure you… you may feel the effects of it before long.
Particularly if you eat.
We visited Fredrich’s Honey in Cedar, B.C. south of Nanaimo, British Columbia – ostensibly to drop off some supplies from Wisdom’s Essential Elements – a local soap maker and to pick up some bee pollen and honey for personal use.
Sounds kind of illicit doesn’t it?
Anyway – Fredrich, a wonderful 60-something bee keeper is experiencing this phenomenon known as Colony collapse disorder
It’s not really like having a house full of teenagers leaving home at the exact moment they become of majority because that could be a good thing.
Having a colony of bees, thousands of them in dozens of hives, up, pack and leave home is truly odd behavior and not entirely understood… and worthy of an X-File episode of two… heck even a feature length movie.
What is kind of creepy about all of this is that an entire community of bees hit the high road at the same time – and it could be about disease, about electromagnetic radiation, about competing pests, or the lack of cable TV and color television at the hives. Thing is, we do not know.
What we do know is that bees are important work horses in the pollination of many of the fruits and vegetables that we enjoy and often take for granted.
And being without them? Well, we just don’t know. We don’t know why and we are not clear on the long term consequences.
And if you are a big fan of food, it might benefit us all to put our minds towards figuring out what the heck is going on.
If you are a Vancouver Island resident and have the inclination, get out there and visit a working farm or bee keeper. Sweet times guaranteed… for the time being.
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Winter Fun Food and Adventure Victoria - hug a stranger day · 23.02.10 by colin newell
Today is Hug a stranger day.
Who knew?
Go on. Do it.
You need it.
You know you do.
My friend and creative partner, Bob Harris, appears at the 1:12 mark.
Winter all food, fun and drink marathon continues - My World · 21.02.10 by colin newell
In the last month or so, I have been working to launch the PCJmedia.com website and audio stream series…
With Keith Perron of Taipei, Taiwan… you know, the country Taiwan.
I remind folks of that because I like the reaction I get when I say Taiwan…
holding breath
The Country
Because this admittance usually results in a firestorm of death threats and verbal abuse from folks in Mainland China.
Keith Perron, who used to live in Montreal and Vancouver – and worked on a variety of radio programs and stations (Radio Canada International and a Chinese station in Vancouver…) must have a pretty thick skin. Because he gets regular bouts of crap and abuse from the hard-core in China about this Taiwan issue.
Anyway. My job over at PCJmedia.com is:
- associate producer
- voice over talent
- writer for North American features
- web and technical guru
One of the shows that we are doing at PCJmedia.com is Happy Station – a show
that was on the air for a very long time – the longest running variety show on Shortwave radio – and now its back. There are others coming. Check it out if you have a free hour to hear some interesting radio. Lots of ways to tune in: Live stream on the homepage or click on archives for some recent shows.
Some of the folks recently interviewed: Dick Van Patten, Eydie Gorme and Steve Lawrence… and so on.
Check it out. And thanks!
Leave your heart in the hands of Tony Bennett · 7.10.09 by colin newell
After 4 or 5 standing ovations, I would have to say that the Tony Bennett show (at the Royal Theater in Victoria) was the greatest show I have ever seen.
Tony and his band took us on a sentimental journey through the great American song-book – and we went willingly and often with rapturous results.
To say that Tony Bennett is a skilled time traveler would be entirely fair – or better, a musical history tour guide of some of the sweetest love songs of the last 60+ years.
A largely gray crowd were held spellbound with classics like “Someone to Love,” “Steppin’ Out with My Baby” from a whisper to, yet another, explosive finale, and brought the lovers in the crowd closer with “Maybe This Time,” and emoted “Speak Low” with his signature texture and rasp.
At 83, Tony has more to offer than the clear majority of pop stars half his age, his vocals offering an return ticket into life’s simple magic – and his undying quest for perfect love.
“I dedicate this song to Britney Spears,” he cracked during “Kiss the Good Life Goodbye,” the Royal audience embracing his sentiment as he snapped a sly smile.
“That’s the way to live, if you mope and groan, something’s got to give,” he sang in Duke Ellington’s “In a Mellow Tone,” the band trading blazing solos as they did throughout the night, incinerating “I Got Rhythm,” “It Don’t Mean a Thing (If it Ain’t Got that Swing)” with an unquenchable fire.
Other greats included: “I Left My Heart in San Francisco,” “Fly Me to the Moon.” “Sing You Sinners” and “For Once In My Life.”
At one point Tony put the microphone down and sang into the crowd with only the guitarist by his side. As he did throughout the night, Tony and his band took us higher and higher – leaving us breathless.
And like my wife and I, I am sure the other couples in the audience felt that Tony was singing directly to them, reaffirming their love and reminding us that tomorrow is another day – filled with joy and hope – and the little annoyances don’t mean a thing – not a thing.
Tony Bennett: Thank you!
