Tuesday, August 30, 2005
Why do some people drive Fords over Volvos? Why do some people drive trucks instead of compacts? Why do some people honk, wave or otherwise express support while we're picketing and others don't?
Yesterday I stood at the Armdale Rotary for four hours (6:30 am to 10:30 am) with three other people. We were arranged in such a pattern that there wasn't much time for social interaction with each other, in addition to that, I was picketing with people I really didn't know very well so it made me more than a little introverted. Needless to say I had a lot of time to stand on my patch of grass and deliberate on why some people had no problems displaying support, while others just drove by and ignored us.
I tried to get a sense of the demographic, I tried to figure out whether the CBC only appealed to certain group of people. I wondered whether I was seeing variations of the same face or if I was just excluding evidence that didn't fit. It was ridiculous to believe that one four hour sampling of commuter traffic would give me any idea as to who is listening to the CBC and who it fails to serve. That's a task that can make you go batty when you're not truly awake, and your results aren't going to be any more accurate than a Decima survey. I suppose you can make the argument that the focus has to be on the fact that there is support, there are people collecting signatures and campaigning to bring the locked out workers back to work at the CBC.
We will be back to work, I'm sure of that. I'm not sure when and I'm not sure if it will be all of us, but eventually the programs we work on will be back on the air. I didn't quit a job with better pay and better security so I could walk a picket line, but I will walk it until those locks are changed again.
I'm not arrogant enough to believe that I am anything more than a cog, a peon if you will, but when we get back to work that's when both sides (management and members of the CMG) have to start thinking about why one woman on the street said "I have washed my hands of the CBC" and why others stare straight ahead when they see our signs.
Maybe speculating about why some people are "not sure public broadcasting is an entirely good thing" (Letters to the Editor, Halifax Daily News, Aug 29 2005) and working on a solution to remedy that apathy is a task that only those with the luxury of job security can tackle (I really don't mean that facetiously).
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Palindromes was in no way the feel-good movie of the year. The first half of the film drained me of any blue light that I might have possessed at one time. Someone stole away my grey matter and replaced it with cotton, drained my heart and filled it with corny syrup. I wanted to fall over or at least slump in my seat. I am always reluctant to characterize a movie or any part of a movie as offensive and I think calling any part of Palindromes offensive undercuts it significantly. Watching the first half of 'Palindromes' made me felt condemned.
Any light drained away was restored in the second half. I don't know if the sentiment 'we're all screwed' holds any optimism for anyone else, but it does for me.
I guess 'no one has it easy' is a little more palatable to me than 'it'll get better' regardless of whether it's true.
Yesterday I stood at the Armdale Rotary for four hours (6:30 am to 10:30 am) with three other people. We were arranged in such a pattern that there wasn't much time for social interaction with each other, in addition to that, I was picketing with people I really didn't know very well so it made me more than a little introverted. Needless to say I had a lot of time to stand on my patch of grass and deliberate on why some people had no problems displaying support, while others just drove by and ignored us.
I tried to get a sense of the demographic, I tried to figure out whether the CBC only appealed to certain group of people. I wondered whether I was seeing variations of the same face or if I was just excluding evidence that didn't fit. It was ridiculous to believe that one four hour sampling of commuter traffic would give me any idea as to who is listening to the CBC and who it fails to serve. That's a task that can make you go batty when you're not truly awake, and your results aren't going to be any more accurate than a Decima survey. I suppose you can make the argument that the focus has to be on the fact that there is support, there are people collecting signatures and campaigning to bring the locked out workers back to work at the CBC.
We will be back to work, I'm sure of that. I'm not sure when and I'm not sure if it will be all of us, but eventually the programs we work on will be back on the air. I didn't quit a job with better pay and better security so I could walk a picket line, but I will walk it until those locks are changed again.
I'm not arrogant enough to believe that I am anything more than a cog, a peon if you will, but when we get back to work that's when both sides (management and members of the CMG) have to start thinking about why one woman on the street said "I have washed my hands of the CBC" and why others stare straight ahead when they see our signs.
Maybe speculating about why some people are "not sure public broadcasting is an entirely good thing" (Letters to the Editor, Halifax Daily News, Aug 29 2005) and working on a solution to remedy that apathy is a task that only those with the luxury of job security can tackle (I really don't mean that facetiously).
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Palindromes was in no way the feel-good movie of the year. The first half of the film drained me of any blue light that I might have possessed at one time. Someone stole away my grey matter and replaced it with cotton, drained my heart and filled it with corny syrup. I wanted to fall over or at least slump in my seat. I am always reluctant to characterize a movie or any part of a movie as offensive and I think calling any part of Palindromes offensive undercuts it significantly. Watching the first half of 'Palindromes' made me felt condemned.
Any light drained away was restored in the second half. I don't know if the sentiment 'we're all screwed' holds any optimism for anyone else, but it does for me.
I guess 'no one has it easy' is a little more palatable to me than 'it'll get better' regardless of whether it's true.
Obligatory Gang Signs Reference Site
Summer of 2002
I went to heritage park the other day with Elizabeth, it was quite a bit of fun, except Elizabeth wouldn't allow me to make gang signs while I was posing for pictures. Go figure!
I like people who suggest things like; "let's go to the backseat of the train, crouch down, so noone can see us and make out" and who also sing the safety dance into their thumbs while driving.
I took pictures of old people wearing fanny packs [there's very few people who can get away with wearing fanny packs, I think the only people who can are the recently retired who want to look like they're embracing life and are always on the go. Nothing says 'on the go' like a goddamned fanny pack. Sci Fi and Fantasy convention goers attempt to adopt this 'on the go' look by sporting fanny packs, but really who are they fooling? If 'on the go' consists of writing slash fiction where Wesley Crusher gets probed by the borg while he performs fellatio on Captain Kirk, then sure they've got the look downpat, otherwise, I'm afraid not] who were holding hands. They were loving life and reminded me of my parents. Of course I'll never be able to follow my parents around on vacation without them noticing unless I turn into Michael Landon's character from Highway to Heaven. Ever see that episode where Jonathan (Michael Landon) has to help his wife because she's all lonely and shit, and he convinces his daughter to go visit her, by pretending to be some freeloading Don Johnson wanna be who is trying to juice her mother? It'd be cool to visit people you know without them knowing it was you. Point being I'm not going to be able to follow my parents around on vacation, so it's easier to follow around two complete strangers who remind me of my parents. I'll show you the pictures when they're developped.
I put some records on consignment at Sloth and Megatunes. Felt a little stupid because I'm really not good at being a business man. My mouth starts running before my mind is in check (loose lips sink ships). I think it's because some of the people at Sloth intimidate me. I'm always afraid I'll say the wrong thing or be buying the wrong record or some stupid shit. God it's lame. Wait I mean I'm lame.
Made some really good salad dressing the other day. Reminded me of the vegan dinner party I threw last summer. It's kind of hard to have those in Banff unless you're offering free cocaine as well. It's difficult living in Banff (still). It's hard going this long without seeing friends. Having Steve and Janet come visit me was amazing. I went to Bylbos with Elizabeth for terrific lentil soup. Hot damn!
I think I would like to move to Calgary.
Post ScriptElizabeth and I broke up at the end of that summer. She owns a condo in Edmonton and in my mind will always have a better life than I do. I'm sure that's not too hard considering I am locked out of work and live in a room that looks like it was decorated by a 12 yr old boy.
I taught my boss's wife how to make gang signs at a staff barbecue. 'Blood' with both hands
My parents still love life, their pants get higher, and my dad's collection of mesh hats grows bigger. They do, however, worry a lot less.
I still have records on consignment at Sloth Records in Calgary. I have a feeling I will never get them back either in monetary or physical form. One time I bought a Jeremin 7" there and Jeff, the guy who worked there that intimidated me most, told me that the band was Mormon and he would understand if I didn't want to buy the record. I did, in fact, purchase the record. I think he and his girlfriend have twins. Steve, of Steve and Janet fame, would also have twins, just not with Janet. Steve lives in Saskatchewan now, I think.
I can't remember ever throwing a 'vegan dinner party'. I can't believe I would use that phrase. It makes me want to eat glass. Veganism? Great. Phrases like 'vegan dinner party'? Glass eating is preferable.
Summer of 2002
I went to heritage park the other day with Elizabeth, it was quite a bit of fun, except Elizabeth wouldn't allow me to make gang signs while I was posing for pictures. Go figure!
I like people who suggest things like; "let's go to the backseat of the train, crouch down, so noone can see us and make out" and who also sing the safety dance into their thumbs while driving.
I took pictures of old people wearing fanny packs [there's very few people who can get away with wearing fanny packs, I think the only people who can are the recently retired who want to look like they're embracing life and are always on the go. Nothing says 'on the go' like a goddamned fanny pack. Sci Fi and Fantasy convention goers attempt to adopt this 'on the go' look by sporting fanny packs, but really who are they fooling? If 'on the go' consists of writing slash fiction where Wesley Crusher gets probed by the borg while he performs fellatio on Captain Kirk, then sure they've got the look downpat, otherwise, I'm afraid not] who were holding hands. They were loving life and reminded me of my parents. Of course I'll never be able to follow my parents around on vacation without them noticing unless I turn into Michael Landon's character from Highway to Heaven. Ever see that episode where Jonathan (Michael Landon) has to help his wife because she's all lonely and shit, and he convinces his daughter to go visit her, by pretending to be some freeloading Don Johnson wanna be who is trying to juice her mother? It'd be cool to visit people you know without them knowing it was you. Point being I'm not going to be able to follow my parents around on vacation, so it's easier to follow around two complete strangers who remind me of my parents. I'll show you the pictures when they're developped.
I put some records on consignment at Sloth and Megatunes. Felt a little stupid because I'm really not good at being a business man. My mouth starts running before my mind is in check (loose lips sink ships). I think it's because some of the people at Sloth intimidate me. I'm always afraid I'll say the wrong thing or be buying the wrong record or some stupid shit. God it's lame. Wait I mean I'm lame.
Made some really good salad dressing the other day. Reminded me of the vegan dinner party I threw last summer. It's kind of hard to have those in Banff unless you're offering free cocaine as well. It's difficult living in Banff (still). It's hard going this long without seeing friends. Having Steve and Janet come visit me was amazing. I went to Bylbos with Elizabeth for terrific lentil soup. Hot damn!
I think I would like to move to Calgary.
Post ScriptElizabeth and I broke up at the end of that summer. She owns a condo in Edmonton and in my mind will always have a better life than I do. I'm sure that's not too hard considering I am locked out of work and live in a room that looks like it was decorated by a 12 yr old boy.
I taught my boss's wife how to make gang signs at a staff barbecue. 'Blood' with both hands
My parents still love life, their pants get higher, and my dad's collection of mesh hats grows bigger. They do, however, worry a lot less.
I still have records on consignment at Sloth Records in Calgary. I have a feeling I will never get them back either in monetary or physical form. One time I bought a Jeremin 7" there and Jeff, the guy who worked there that intimidated me most, told me that the band was Mormon and he would understand if I didn't want to buy the record. I did, in fact, purchase the record. I think he and his girlfriend have twins. Steve, of Steve and Janet fame, would also have twins, just not with Janet. Steve lives in Saskatchewan now, I think.
I can't remember ever throwing a 'vegan dinner party'. I can't believe I would use that phrase. It makes me want to eat glass. Veganism? Great. Phrases like 'vegan dinner party'? Glass eating is preferable.
