Fall Fun Food Drink and Words with Rex Murphy · Monday September 21, 2009 by colin newell
One of the great pleasures of the spoken (and written) word (particularly in a country as free as Canada) is the ability to wax philosophic on every subject that irritates the psyche. It is, as if, in Canada, a country that prides itself on free expression, labels the very exercise of soliloquy as a national obligation – the failure to do so, within itself, could well be rewarded with a social punishment, or banishment worthy of a much harsher crime.
Which leads me to the hour of validation provided by none other than Rex Murphy – orator, intellect, maven of all things Canadian Culture – host of Canada’s beloved “Cross Country Check-up”, writer for the Globe and Mail… and on… and on… and on…
We have seen Rex on several occasions, each successive venture in listening more profound than the one before it. Mister Murphy has an uncommon connection to the most intimate fabric of the Canadian experience and a word skill sufficiently advanced to weave an otherwise cryptic and esoteric sweater of ideas into a warm and gentle blanket of thought wearable by even the most jaded and maple leaf detached person.
His message tonight was quite simple: We live in a country with a whole lot of great stuff around us and like the “forest for the trees” adage, we don’t know what we have even when we are surrounded by it – and it is not so much about the learning of this concept, because we know it by rote – but that we often need to be reminded of the little things that coalesce into the big things… that make Canada the most desirable place on the Planet – and the people resting on its familiar soil some of the most giving and empathic.
In a short story about 9/11 and how average Canadians (Newfoundland in his example) come to the aid of stranded Americans and Internationals, forced out of the air in a day of infamy, senseless aggression and rage. – Rex illustrates the factor of molecular memory in Human behavior and how good things can come from all Canadians – of all stripes, because we know what the right thing to do is when we are in dire straits – or when our neighbors are in difficult times.
And not only that, the very manifestation of the Canadian zeitgeist guarantees the feels good reward by doing the right thing – without expectation of recognition – but just the simple satisfaction of lending a hand when it’s needed.
And it is intrinsically Canadian to do so.
It was a great time. We bought his new book (photo upper right) and lined up with other Canadians to have a private moment with the wordsmith – and to have the book custom signed.
A moment with a great Canadian, teacher, speaker and a reminder what it is to be Canadian…
Utterly priceless.
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Rage against the Machine - corporate vandalism of public spaces. · Saturday September 19, 2009 by colin newell
Shame on the Bay Centre in Victoria B.C. Canada for their abuse of a public space: the sidewalks of Victoria B.C. Canada. In a cynical attempt at being gritty, edgy and on the fringe this latest attempt by a local marketing agency falls flat like so much scattered waste from a sea gull.
In my often downtown forays into the urban shell, I spend a lot of time looking into windows and into faces – never are my eyes forced downward on to the sidewalk other than to change course from some inadvertently deposited animal dropping. So what is up with the dated concept of guerrilla marketing by Eclipse Creative in Victoria?
I mean – do they have a permit for this? Or is this another one of them brilliant IKEA IDEAS?
In a recent conversation with one of their agents (who will remain nameless…) she revealed… “Permit? I do not think so. Do we need one? Gee. I don’t know…”
It seems the Bay Centre “Maintenance Crew” used the stencils provided to them by Eclipse Creative to spray a water soluble material onto the public sidewalks.
So what is stopping me from spraying over their message with my message?
Which is: “get out of my face already…”
Do you have any idea how fast I would have the cuffs slapped on me if I created my own special and unique message on a public sidewalk?
Anyway. Eclipse Creatives attempt at edginess is so yesterday. As a former member of the Prada team pointed out, this was so done in the 90’s.
Welcome to the 21st century baby.
Buzz not achieved.
Try again.
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Fall Fun 2009 Crazy Creative Writing Action - win a coffee maker · Monday September 14, 2009 by colin newell
Ok. I have brand new Technivorm thermal carafe drip brewer – arguably one of the best drip brewers on the Planet…
Up for grabs.
And all you need to do is write a story (including a digital picture or two…)
or send an audio MP3 – not to exceed 15 minutes in length.
About… a poignant aha moment in your life… that can have a coffee connection… or not. It can be about life, food, drink, or travel.
Our panel of judges are looking for an emotional bang or a solid belly laugh… or both.
Life is full of ups and downs – grand moments and bad moments.
And your power to win this will pivot on your ability to:
a.) Win reader votes and
b.) Influence our panel of cynical and jaded judges.
c.) Being a resident of CANADA
Word count: 475 to 575 words.
Important Voting rule – Voters will be encouraged to read all the stories and vote for 3! Voters need to give at least a sentence of energy towards each of the 3 choices.
RULES:
a.) No obvious use of Facebook and Twitter will be permitted (disqualification if detected) — sure, by all means be creative… but be sure to instruct your fan club to be just a little bit more creative than “I VOTE FOR STORY #17!”
-SEE Very important VOTING rule above.
b.) Multiple votes from single network or IP addresses will not be tolerated – and I do not care how many people in your office are going to be rooting for you – be creative and get them to vote when they go home!
c.) Encourage your supporters to actually read some of the stories. And then vote for your 3 favorite stories citing reasons why.
d.) Canadian residents only for this one folks! I do not know who carries the TECHNIVORM in the U.S. – this is a Dutch made coffee maker that is CSA Approved – not necessarily for the U.S. Market – importation could be a nightmare.
Abuse of any of the rules can result in immediate disqualification.
CONTEST COMMENCES RIGHT NOW! September 14, 2009 and the writing portion ends at 5PM Pacific Standard Time on the 30th of September, 2009. Voting and judgment will begin on October 1, 2009.
Send your entries – Titled BREWER CONTEST ENTRY to my e-mail
Make me proud people! and good luck everyone!
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Fall Fun Food and Drink Chapter Two - A week on Twitter · Tuesday September 8, 2009 by colin newell
Twitter is like riding a bus. At rush hour.
And we all know how much fun that is.
People with opinions that you do not really want – and faces that you would rather not see. All at your fingertips.
In my one week experiment with this application… a week I will never get back…
I discovered the following:
Twitter eats time… faster than a hummingbird guzzles sugar-water.
Twitter can eat so much time, that is better spent working (or not) on something meaningful… or not.
Which is to say that Twitter equates to less than nothing – yes, such a thing is possible.
In the week that I have been messing with it, I have
-deleted about 100 unwelcome followers who are marketing gurus trying to convince me that I can make money on the internet…
Already figured how to do that thanks.
Blocked dozens of Britney Spears porn sites.
Blocked dozens of ego maniacs with 10,000 followers… whom are following 33 other ego maniacs.
Blocked people who really value their opinions on everything… very, very highly.
I one week I have fallen behind 2 to 3 weeks on projects I need to get done.
That’s 3 steps back folks.
The upside?
I did discover was that you can make friends really quickly if you want.
You can keep up on local events and trends way faster than conventional media.
You will meet folks who will readily meet up with you for a cup of coffee (a tweet up I think…) without any credibility checks, common sense or police background checks.
With folks who have really odd opinions on just about everything.
Kind of like a populist SCA (Society for creative anachronism) – good people actually.
Twitter breeds well dressed people with odd belief systems; “I think the poor need to be taxed on their bad eating habits… don’t you?”
“Nurse!”
Anyway. Experiment almost over and regular programming will soon continue.
Thankfully I escaped my first Twitter-fest or twit-sesh where people hang out (hoping to hook up I guess) with other folks talking in 140 character propositions…
About little of value.
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