My childhood
Finally An Apology: The Canadian Native Residential Schools Rant
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Canada's Shame: Generations of Children Kidnapped and Brutalized In The Name of "Civilization" and "Christianity"
Yesterday was truly a great day for Canada. After years and years of waffling and procrastination, the federal government finally did what everyone knew had to be done: The Prime Minister, on the floor of the House of Commons, apologized to the Native People of Canada for the horrific and racist residential school system that this country ran for more than a century, a system that destroyed tens of thousands of lives. It's the single most shameful chapter in this country's recent history and an official apology simply had to be made. So, it's certainly not very often that you'll find me heaping praise on Stephen Harper, but today he most definitely deserves it.
A Canadian Musical Icon: The Ken Whiteley Rave
Last night Toronto musician Ken Whiteley played right here on the Sunshine Coast and man was it ever a great show! He was accompanied on stand-up bass by Gabriola Island's own Dinah D., who's been with him for his entire tour of B.C. this month. Anyone who loves roots music would have loved this show. The man's a guitar and mandolin virtuoso, a damn fine singer and a hell of an entertainer too. It was quite the performance.
The Michael Ondaatje Rave ("Divisadero" Is Magnificento!)
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I just finished Michael Ondaatje's latest book, "Divisadero", last night and it was, like all of his books, fantastic. He certainly makes us wait a long time between novels, but when they finally do come out they're never disappointing. The man's writing is simply mesmerizing, mysterious, magical and moving (and, why the hell not, magnificent, marvelous and majestic too).
The Inappropriate Grandma Rant
You've heard of Dora the Explorer toys for young kids, right? And Thomas The Tank Engine? And I know you've definitely heard of Sesame Street and Winnie The Pooh toys. Well, this isn't a story about any of those. No, this is a story of how one woman took the whole gift-giving experience and transformed it into something that no one could ever have imagined.
The Tale of Dale and Paul The Not So Small
This is not a Rant and this is not a Rave, what this is is an Amazement, as in it's absolutely amazing that I don't have a split personality.
