Northumberland Independent

California in Three

2009-03-25T10:16:00.008-04:00

Following in the footsteps of Kerouac - Bixby Canyon Bridge

Progressive Power - Wind Turbines in the desert

Standing Guard from the Mountain - Joshua Tree

Cutbacks for a Greener School System?

2009-02-28T09:18:00.005-05:00

As an environmentally aware individual I am always looking to find solutions in my own profession. Schools are often a massive contributor to our poor relations with the environment. Between photocopying handouts, submitted assignments and letters sent home we are contributing much more to the problem than to the solution.

Today I came across this interesting article that looks at cutbacks in public education and how they can be taken as opportunities to create a more sustainable school system.

Currently I am sitting in a conference on technology in the classroom and it comes across to me as obvious that an added benefit to bringing in technology is the lessened impact on the environment. Assignments submitted online, reports evaluated on blogs, report cards being sent home electronically...these are what I find to be most exciting about new educational applications for technology.

And like this article points out being environmentally sustainable saves schools money. Saving trees, saving money.

Weekends In Montreal

2008-12-02T20:08:00.004-05:00

A spontaneous weekend journey to La Belle Province gave me my first encounter with the hip, anything goes, city of Montreal. It was while looking for a lively establishment where like-minds would gather we came across Le Divian Orange. Immediately upon entering the doors it was clear that we were home, and with us were our compatriots The Wooden Sky. The four-piece folk rock band out of Ontario became an unprompted addition to the weekend making for a long night and pleasant recollections.

Paris

2008-08-11T18:26:00.006-04:00

Not a Lost Generation, But a Generation Not Yet Found

2008-07-21T22:42:00.003-04:00

Throughout human history it has been tradition that a generation must always critique the one that preceded it and the one that is to inherit the earth from it. Generations are defined in such ways, given characteristics by other generations and less often by themselves.

This brings us to the task of attempting to define a generation which has so far been easily dismissed by those preceding it and by themselves.

What we are not.

We are not the generation with our minds lost in space. Nor were we the ones ducking under our desks and allowing ourselves to be shaped by fear.

We have not felt the child-like amazement of watching something as significant as a man stepping foot on the moon for the first time. We have also escaped an upbringing with a fear of a powerful enemy and an even more powerful weapon able to destroy life on catastrophic terms.

We are not a generation who marches against war. In the late 60’s, early 70’s millions around the world marched against what they believed was an unjust war. This was not just one march but countless demonstrations over a decade. Our generation is not without our unjust war but marches have become viewed as being an unnecessary method to display what we all already know.

So what are we then?

Are we a generation of unwavering, reliable consumers who are completely aware that they are being fed the rotten stuff but don’t mind taking it? Are we a generation who knows how to play the game of society but takes comfort in knowing that it is a game and we aren’t really believing in its ideals?

Generations are often defined by events that help to shape their definition. Something always seems to happen that forms how they will be remembered. It is hard to contemplate a generation existing without this. How can we fathom a generation of individuals who spent their prime years in a complete uninterrupted state of monotony.

Many would claim the surprise event of an early September tragedy is the one that defined us. Yet even it was met with lack of prolonged focus in regards to how the western portion of the generation was shaped.

Maybe the event that defines a generation has not yet occurred? It would be an injustice to write off this generation as one that becomes defined by a tragedy. Is it not just as plausible that this generation could be defined by a great triumph? A common, collective accomplishment? It seems quite possible for a generation that seems to know what is going on behind the curtains will be able to find a way to bridge the gap between believing and doing.

If this were to happen who knows what this generation may be capable of.

Ben Stein and the Real Intelligent Design

2008-07-05T09:46:00.006-04:00

Television watches or internet movie trailer watchers may have come across a preview for Ben Stein’s new movie Expelled. The trailer shows Stein in a classroom where a crusty old teacher is explaining evolution to the class. Stein then stands up and asks “but who created life to begin with?” This statement angers the teacher who sends Stein to the principals office.

It is humorous to watch Stein attempt to paint Darwinism as an old, washed-up idea and creationism as something new and rebellious.

Evolution is only considered to be a theory for those outside of the scientific community.

Creationists often defend their beliefs claiming that organisms in the world are so complicated that it is proof that a super intelligent being created them. Yet that belief seems extremely ambivalent in explaining where life came from. Is it not more probable that such complicated organisms exist through millions of years of natural selection? Where the attributes of plants and animals have been shaped by their interaction with one another?

How could anything truly be more intelligent in its design than evolution?

If Stein is going to use one-line criticisms such as “where did life first begin?” then evolutionists can play along by asking “where did the intelligent creator come from?”

Yet those games do not need to be played as stores of evidence exists to back up evolution. I see it around me everyday in everything living. To criticize scientific evidence for superstition can be detrimental to how society has progressed over the last 150 years. Let’s continue to move forward.

Modern Times

2008-07-02T15:10:00.003-04:00

Rolling By

2008-05-31T15:17:00.005-04:00

Bob Dylan on the car stereo
As I drive by a pro-war protest
Boy, the times really are a-changin

They cheer for the dead
For those soon to be
Did anyone really see this coming?

I choose not to yell aloud
Rather mutter to myself
Boy, the times really are a-changin

...and the sun was shining

2008-05-19T13:20:00.003-04:00

Reading has always been an important part of my life and should be for most people. I am looking forward to the summer when all my time can be spent buried in a book. It has been too long.

I will take the time now to recommend five books for those who love reading but haven't discovered something "great" in a while.

The Rum Diary: An early work by Hunter S. Thompson that was finally released in 1998 (over 40 years after it was written). I finished this book in one sitting (6 hours). I was unable to put it down. Don't expect Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas when you pick this one up. It is obvious when reading it that Thompson was strongly influenced by Hemingway when writing this semi-autobiographical piece about a journalist working for a San Juan newspaper. Bonus: The Rum Diary will be a film next year starring Johnny Depp.

The Razor's Edge: W. Somerset Maugham's 1944 classic about the rejection of materialism and the true pursuit of happiness blew me away when I first read it. It is the kind of book that makes you question your upbringing, your surroundings and your state of mind. This book will make you want to "loaf."

The Sun Also Rises: This was the first major novel by Ernest Hemingway, arguably the greatest writer of the 20th century. It gives great insight into the "Lost Generation," those who found themselves searching for answers after the Great War. This book is the reason why I am going to France and Spain this summer.

Not Wanted on The Voyage: This novel, by Canadian Timothy Findley, is a parody of the biblical flood tale. It paints Noah as a dictator, his wife as an alcoholic, and the children as having their own unique "qualities." This novel had such a controversial impact when it was first published that the novel was torn to pieces in Findley's face by an angered christian. Findley enjoyed pointing out the irony that they had purchased the novel and therefore sent money his way.

Watership Down: You are never too old for a story about rabbits. Mind you this is no Peter Cottentail hoping down the bunny trail. This book is filled with heroism, struggle, and fear. It is long at 472 pages. But the character of Fiver alone is worth the read. If it was shorter I would read it once a week.

From the Destruction Comes Despair

2008-04-30T21:42:00.007-04:00

It is hard, with the overwhelming information that we are bombarded with from alternative media sources not to surrender to a doom and gloom perspective on the future. It is not hard to see that humanity is attacking the environment on all fronts. On land, in the air, and in the oceans.

On an earth day clean up I was in awe at the amount of trash that people thoughtlessly toss onto the ground. I tried to imagine what they must have thought when they purposefully dropped their trash on the ground. I was unable to put myself into their mindset no matter how hard I tried.

The air has been the medium that comes to mind the most when climate change is discussed. The warmongers who attack the air are automobiles, airplanes, and ocean transport ships. Lately the price of gasoline has been the topic of many complaint-filled conversations. Yet, while walking to work I haven’t seemed to notice any fewer cars on the roads.

The war on the oceans is much different than the other two. It has been less visible to use and therefore its destruction is hidden. My attention was recently drawn to the film Sharkwater, that tells of a marine biologist’s attempts to draw attention to the slaughter of sharks. The murder of these sharks is being done in the most senseless fashion, with fishermen pulling them onto the boat, cutting off their fins, and throwing their helpless, squirming bodies into the ocean. It is all for an Asian delicacy, sharkfin soup. It is just one story of many from the destruction of the oceans.

This three-front war appears to have no end in sight. It makes us who wish to do something feel small and helpless. It makes me feel that humans are not the smartest animal on the planet, but the dumbest of beasts. It is not all despair, but if a radical change does not happen soon (most likely within the next five years) then we will have to stop talking about saving the planet from climate change and begin speaking about softening the blow and surviving.

Colin Meloy -Live at the Phoenix 19.04.08

2008-04-20T12:49:00.007-04:00

Last night Decemberists frontman Colin Meloy brought his solo acoustic tour into Toronto, playing to an enthusiastic audience. This tour was preceded by the release of Colin's acoustic live album appropriately titled "Colin Meloy Sings Live." Therefore it was surprising to witness Colin digging deep into the Decemberists catalogue, playing only one song that appears on the live album.

Notable songs included:

-Apology Song
-Red Right Ankle
-Shankill Butchers
-O Valencia
-Everything I Try to do, Nothing Seems to Turn Out Right
-The Perfect Crime #2
-Shiny
-Summersong
-Leslie Ann Levine
-Clementine

He also played two new songs (that were possibly two parts of the same story) about a young miner and a funeral, which may signal that there is a new Decemberists album in the works.

Here is a video clip that reminds me that I need a camera that takes better videos.

Green my Digital Camera, T.V. Remote, Flashlight, Guitar Tuner....

2008-04-14T18:56:00.006-04:00

Another enviro-friendly gadget that I found on Ebay is this solar battery charger. It charges almost any size battery from direct sunlight and it does it quickly. It is a little chunky, but can be secured to a backpack with some creativity. There is so much you can do with this charger for easing daily use of electricity. It will serve me well on my summer trip charing my camera batteries to help me never miss a moment.

Green My Phone

2008-04-06T17:03:00.005-04:00

Lately I have been looking for sources of alternative energy to help lessen dependancy on "the grid." A neat product that I purchased was a solar charger for my cell phone. The charger can be left in the sun to gather solar energy, which it stores in an internal battery. It can then be used to charge cell phones, mp3 players and more. The result is a green, carbon-free cell phone for under $30!

Solar Charger in Action

Lights Out!

2008-03-29T09:05:00.002-04:00

It is very exciting to think that tonight between 8pm and 9pm (and beyond?) tonight millions around the world will be raising awareness of the dire state of our planet by switching off their lights. As many critics have come to point out Earth Hour is a symbol as opposed to a solution. Yet, myself among others believe that symbols are strong enough to bring about radical change. An hour of lights off in millions of homes will have very little impact environmentally in the big picture but will have a deep and lasting impact on the collective conscious of humanity.

So let's use this worldwide symbolic event to open a discussion on what can be done to reduce our own personal effect on the environment.

Photograph: Silenced

2008-03-11T12:00:00.001-04:00

Josh Ritter -Live at the Phoenix 04.03.08

2008-03-05T06:54:00.011-05:00

If Josh Ritter is one thing it is a liar. Nearly six songs into a set that began with "Mind's Eye" and "To the Dogs or Whoever" Ritter declared "This is the last song." It was not.

He then continued on for another half-hour or so before attempting to gain our trust back. "Thank you! Have a good night." he stated, before continuing well on for another half-hour.

If Josh Ritter is two things it is a liar and the most enthusiastic performer I have ever seen. The smile that was with him when he emerged from behind the black curtain was still there nearly two hours later. There was no doubt that the he was having more fun than anyone in the building. His enthusiasm spread through the crowd until there were no faces without childish grins. I don't think that I have ever seen someone perform quite like that...which helped me to overlook the lying.

Emm Gryner

Josh Ritter

Ready to Leave Our Winter Den

2008-03-02T12:02:00.002-05:00

The warm weather is coming. Hang in there. Short sleeve shirts and bright coloured skirts. The sun will warm our skin and we will be joyful once again.

The Great Swan Lake

2008-02-18T18:28:00.007-05:00

The first annual Family Day seemed to be a great success across Ontario. Downtown Cobourg played host to a Winter Festival complete with slides, a lumberjack competition, outdoor road hockey, and a petting zoo. It was great to see people ascend from the burden of winter to embrace their loved ones and communities for the day.

It was even Family Day for a group of swans on the lake who with prolific curiosity visited me along the shoreline.

A Winter Wonderland

2008-02-11T17:05:00.000-05:00

I spent this past weekend at Winterlude in Ottawa/Gatineau. Here are just a few of the photographs I took.

Trying to Pull The Green Wool Over Our Eyes

2008-02-03T19:10:00.000-05:00

While recently considering the purchase of a new vehicle I couldn’t help but consider the new General Motors slogan: “The World’s Most Affordable Hybrids.” Was it true? Had General Motors finally adopted a progressive approach to building vehicles.

I had to give them a chance. I mean, who wouldn’t choose a North American built vehicle over a foreign-made one if they are of equal quality?

The price was intriguing as well at $24,000 for the Saturn Aura Hybrid. A steal when compared to the $31,000 starting price of the Toyota Prius.

So I walked into the showroom, directly to the salesperson in hopes that he could reassure me that this was not a dream. He did not have the answers I was looking for.

Q: What is my employee discount (my father is a retired employee) on the hybrid?

A: There is no employee discount offered on hybrid vehicles.

Oh..

Q: What is the fuel efficiency like?

A: 8.5 L/100km

This answer blew me away. The Prius uses 4L/100km. The Civic Hybrid 4.5L/100km. How was a hybrid so behind the pack in fuel efficiency?

Turns out the GM hybrids are “mild hybrids.” Meaning they put a tiny electric motor in the vehicle to assist the gas engine. This electric motor just happened to do very little assisting.

Q: If the hybrid model is 8.5L/100km, what is the efficiency of the regular, gas-only Aura.

A: 8.7L/100km.

Another shocking answer, as it was now clear that no real effort was being put into making a fuel efficient vehicle by General Motors.

There was one final question:

Q: When will you be getting one in?

A: We won’t. They are only making a dozen or so for the entire country, and they will be going to the major cities.

It was here that the marketing ploy became crystal clear to me.

Step One: Advertise that you make the world’s cheapest hybrids.

Step Two: Get interested parties to come into the showroom.

Step Three: Tell them the car will be unavailable for them, but the regular gas model uses practically the same amount of fuel as the hybrid.

You have to hand it to General Motors. Even in the face of being outsold by their once tiny rivals and experiencing economic disaster they would rather pull a fast one on consumers with a deceptive marketing campaign than actually innovate and build an efficient vehicle.

Bravo!

Note: The Malibu Hybrid is even worse coming in at 9.8L/100km

Arrivant à Paris pour le dîner

2008-01-28T21:32:00.000-05:00

All financial responsibilities considered, buying a new car and planning a trip to Europe should not be the first thing on my priority list. Yet it is hard not to want to do both in the face of a growing frustration at both my collapsing mode of transportation and my fledging curiosity at breathing some unfamiliar air.

I think that I can do both if budgeted properly, and without creating much of a carbon footprint. Air travel is quite damaging to the environment, but can be lessened with direct flights, carbon credits and a pledge do not do it again for many years.

As far as the car goes it is difficult to claim any car is environmentally friendly. Yet, some are much more than others. Unfortunately I cannot afford the new Tesla Roadster (which is the most efficient electric car I have heard of) but there are some decent hybrids that lessen the global impact. It would just be for in town driving, some of which could be done just on the electric motor, which helps a great deal.

Also the summer is coming soon, meaning more bike rides and long walks to destinations that seem much further in dirty brown slush.

Vote for ________ and the 36 hour day!

2008-01-19T09:47:00.000-05:00

There is too few hours in the day to do what I should be doing. Very little time for books, and searching for new music. So a late New Years resolution (it is never too late is it?) is to make more time by getting rid of all that wasted time that all of us have. This seems to be my only choice as a 36 hour day seems unlikely in the near future.

I have been having time for watching some great new films like "Juno," "No Country for Old Men," and "Once." All three are very inspirational, making you want to go accomplish something significant.

Although life is never short on inspiration, now one just needs the momentum.

The Lesser of Two Evils is Still Evil

2007-10-03T16:12:00.000-04:00

I am very excited about the upcoming Provincial Election mostly because I am a hardcore political junky, which is one of the healthiest kinds of junkies. I do follow elections very closely and this is no exception. I still have yet to formally make up my mind on who I am going to give my vote to but there is no way I will miss out on my democratic right.

It is extremely disappointing to think of how many people out there do not exercise their right and cast a ballot. The main reason is because people do not set aside the time to look into the different parties and figure out which one aligns appropriately with their own views. This is essential to making an informed decision.

Besides apathy another trend is to vote for which you believe will win, or vote for party because you think that they have a better chance of keeping a more undesirable party from gaining power. This strategic voting is detrimental for the smaller parties that deserve your vote. Like the title of this post stats the lesser of two evils is still evil so how have they legitimately earned your vote. I think that the public as a whole would be shocked by the numbers if everyone who support the Greens or NDP voted that way instead of being convinced by the Liberals that they are the only way to prevent the "evil" conservatives from gaining power.

So please vote next Wednesday, and make sure you cast your ballot for the party that best represents you.

Also, don't forget the referendum.

"Who's that Tripping Over My Bridge?"

2007-09-26T16:12:00.000-04:00

Last night I had the pleasure of seeing The Mountain Goats perform at Lee's Palace. There was an anxious anticipation among those who came out for the show on Tuesday night, but then again when you are out to see a band with such a dedicated following it is expected.

All anxiousness was temporarily alleviated by the opening acti, North Carolina's Bowerbirds. I personally find it rare that an opening band makes great impression, since they are often viewed as the one thing standing between you and the band you love. Yet, Bowerbirds were very impressive. A three piece band featuring acoustic guitar, a drum, an accordian, and a violin, they performed in such a way that allowed for them to appear larger than their numbers would normally allow.

The Mountain Goats played the best set I have seen them do yet. They played a wide range of songs from their large discography, including more modern tunes from albums such as The Sunset Tree, and Tallahasse to older songs from Sweden, and others that outdate my extensive collection.

Here are a few pictures from the night:

Bowerbirds:

The Mountain Goats:

When the Last Days Come

2007-09-17T16:14:00.000-04:00

It is always hard to mark the end of the summer. Does it end with the Labour Day Weekend? When the temperature drops to the point that the long-sleeved shirts reappear? or when the leaves finally change colour?

I guess the end just sneaks up on us. Reminding us that we didn't use those precious summer moments to their full potential. But then again, we never do.

This photo sums up my summer:

Fresh.

Bask in the Music

2007-09-02T18:23:00.000-04:00

The annual Shelter Valley Folk Festival has wrapped up its 4th year this weekend, marking the end of summer for the music lovers of Northumberland County. This year's festival was extremely well organized and operated, nearing perfection. The volunteers, always hard-working and committed, once again can be held responsible for the success of the weekend. The audience was enthusiastic throughout the weekend dancing and singing along with the great line-up of artists.

I personally had a great time with old festival friends and the many new ones I was lucky enough to meet. It is the wonderful people who make the Shelter Valley Folk Festival the highlight of the summer.

For your viewing pleasure here is a look at the weekend through my camera lense:

L to R- Sylvia Tyson, Catherine MacLellan, and Indio Saravanja at the "Coast to Coast Fever" Workshop at the Village Stage

Jess Dunkin at the Pine Stage

James Hill and Geoff Somers Pickin' at the Village Stage

The Good Lovelies Knocking them Dead at The Pine Stage

Pat Clark Hosting a Lively Discussion on Fair Trade

The Kid's Parade Passes Through the Artist's Village

Also here is a short little video clip of the amazing jam going on at the "Pickin'up the Pieces" workshop with James Hill on the lead with the steel ukulele.

Now all there is to do is countdown to next year.

A Journey Through Time and Space

2007-08-21T13:54:00.000-04:00

Today marks the release of Josh Ritter's new album "The Historical Conquests of Josh Ritter." The record marks a shift away from his previous more folky work to more upbeat recordings that cover a wide range of musical styles. It is a strange and wild record that I have still yet to get a grasp on. My love for Western genre movies immediately draws me to "Mind's Eye" which speaks of quick draws and outlaws. The only song that fits with Ritter's discography is "The Temptation of Adam," which tells the story of a man and woman who fall in love while operating a nuclear missile silo deep below the earth. This is definately a record worth checking out.

Also Josh Ritter is playing in support of this album September 26th, at the Drake Hotel in Toronto.

Onward to Shelter Valley

2007-08-10T15:56:00.000-04:00

On Friday August 3rd downtown Cobourg played host to the songwriter's competition for the Shelter Valley Folk Festival. Ten performers were selected out of forty-one submissions to try to win over the crowd who were able to vote for their favorite artists. The top three rated performers would be taking the stage of the festival Labour Day weekend. The musicians and their songs were fantastic, making for a very entertaining evening.

The winning performers selected by the audience and Shelter Valley judges were:

Jess Dunkin (pictured above)

Taylor Abrahamse

The Good Lovelies

Now all there is to look forward to is the festival!

Saturday with Joel

2007-08-06T16:50:00.000-04:00

On Saturday night The Joel Plaskett Emergency played the Peterborough Festival of Lights. What is normally an event for musical acts 30 years past their prime, The Joel Plaskett Emergency were a welcomed rarity. I don’t remember the last time the festival witnessed such a performance as hundreds of people were on their feet and even a few crashed the VIP area in front of the stage. This to the dismay of the grey-haired lawn-chair bound folk who have made the festival part of their summer Saturday night routine

They began their set with the notables from their new album Astray Rock starting with “Soundtrack of the Night.” It wasn't until later that songs from previous albums were played. This included a two-song set (“Happen Now” and “Love This Town”) performed solo by Joel Plaskett. The evening of excitement ended with an extended and amusing rendition of “Maybe We Should Just Go Home.” This included within it a great little story about a local Halifax record store owner.

Overall The Joel Plaskett Emergency really changed the face of the Festival of Lights, and made an strong impression on the City of Peterborough.

ADDED AUGUST 7TH:

There is an article about The Joel Plaskett Emergency show in the Peterborough Examiner with mention of yours truly. Click Here to Check It Out

“There’s a feeling I get, when I look to the west”

2007-07-30T14:14:00.000-04:00

In the years since graduating from high school here in Southern Ontario it has become commonplace to hear of friends or acquaintances heading off to the Western Canada to join the booming oil industry. Here they seek their fortune, prosperity and a sense of adventure. The stories they return with cover a wide-range of experiences and grab the curiosity of the listener. So what is really going on out west?

My curiosity has been fulfilled by Vice Magazine’s online television broadcast Vice TV. Over the last month I have been following the Vice TV series Toxic Alberta, which examines the environmental and human cost of the massive development of the Alberta oil sands project. The 15 part series has been an enlightening eye-opener for me as Vice TV correspondent Eddy Moretti talks with environmentalists, forestry workers, police officers, oil workers, homeless people, the Native community, and even Ralph Klein about the booming oil sands project and the consequences it has on the land and on the people.

What the footage paints is a terrifying picture of an area of excessive growth to the point where in Fort McMurray particularly, a mobile home is rarely found under $300,000 (or 1,200 rent per month) and 3/4 of all of Canada’s greenhouse emissions originate. It is a tale of greed and desperation, where people from all parts of Canada arrive to make quick cash (average salary is $93,000) leaving their families, often wives and children, behind.

Another major problem pointed out in the Toxic Alberta series is a growing homeless delimma. In part 11 Moretti comes across a group of Natives living in a makeshift shelter in the middle of nowhere eager to discuss their situation as they believe that no one is paying attention to their plight. Moretti brings the group some food to which a grateful sweet elderly woman insists on making him moccasins as a repayment.

The Vice crew later stumbles upon an area where thick unnatural snow (syncrude snow) is falling, created through condensation from polluted gases being spewed out of nearby industries. Ultimately covering the entire area with poison delivered through a man-made climate.

The Toxic Alberta series is essential viewing for those who wish to know more about the environmental impact that the oil industry is having right here in Canada. It exhibits the consequences of conservative-fueled, short-term focused development in the oil sands.

Click here to watch Toxic Alberta

Neighbourly Love

2007-07-24T22:38:00.000-04:00

I really would like to know more about the relationship between these neighbours living just east of Omemee, Ontario. I bet there are a few who can compare their experience with the people next door to these two.

Strangely Inspiring Playlist

2007-07-22T17:45:00.000-04:00

This list consists of songs that I find to be strangely inspiring. When I listen to them I am struck with a sudden dose of ambition to go out and do something amazing. The strange part is that there seems to be no notable purpose in these songs to have that effect on the listener. None of the songs are really telling those listening to go fix the worlds problems, I think that it may be the fact that these songs exist causes me to become overwhelmed with artistic ambition. Maybe it is the songs or maybe it is just me. Check them out and decide for yourselves.

Story of An Artist – Daniel Johnston

The Only Living Boy in New York – Simon and Garfunkel

Find Out for Yourself - Morrissey

Now That I Know - Devendra Banhart

Sister Winter – Sufjan Stevens

Naomi – Neutral Milk Hotel

Each Coming Night - Iron and Wine

Song about a Star – Okkervil River

Sleeping In – The Postal Service

Genesis Hall – Fairport Convention

Hello Josh Ritter!

2007-07-18T22:40:00.000-04:00

It couldn’t have been much more than six months since I was first introduced to the music of Josh Ritter, being handed a copy of his March 2006 release The Animal Years. I was immediately struck with the question, “Why have I not heard this before?” From beginning to end the album blew me away, finding itself to be a long-term resident in my car’s stereo in my frequent trips between Peterborough and Cobourg. To list the notable tracks from this album would have the end result of being a repetition of the entire track list. If one is a fan of epically long songs then I would draw your attention to “Thin Blue Flame” which I can’t help but classify as Ritter’s own “A Hard Rain’s A-Gonna Fall.”

As it is with most music listeners, I began to look backwards from this album into Ritter’s past musical releases. This led me to Hello Starling Ritter’s 2003 release, which I found to be as great, if not greater than “The Animal Years.” The songs range from the more alt-rock “Kathleen” and “Snow is Gone” to the beautifully folky “Wings.” The later track, which I find to be the most notable on the album, is so full of compelling lyrics that the listener can easily become lost in their own mental images. The narrative of “Wings” takes the listener to a religious mission, an environmentally devastated landscape as a result of logging and mining, a marketplace, and finally a small rained out town.

Hello Starling is rich with the influence of Dylan and Springsteen, having the feel of the beginning of a legendary career (at least outside of the tasteless mainstream). The thirty-one year old Ritter is definitely an artist who would have had a much larger appreciation had he been born thirty years earlier. He is a true performer, playfully telling the audience the stories behind his songs (with claims of being a failed greeting-card writer) and encouraging the bootlegging of his live performances so fans can relive their special encounter with him over and over again.

My excitement over Ritter does not look like it will end anytime soon with his new album The Historical Conquests of Josh Ritter on the horizon. Set for release on August 21st, this will be the fifth studio album for the Moscow, Idaho native and according to him it will be the most adventurous of his career. Praise for Ritter’s accomplishments cannot be truly expressed without making it all seem a façade. All that really needs to be said is that there is someone out there who is creating extraordinarily beautiful lyric-heavy music like no one has done in decades. You need to go introduce yourself to Josh Ritter.

Where to start:

“Harrisburg” from Golden Age of Radio

“Wings” from Hello Starling

“Snow is Gone” from Hello Starling

“Monster Ballads” from The Animal Years

“Thin Blue Flame” from The Animal Years

For more on Josh Ritter check out his website at www.joshritter.com

My Sunday in 3 Pictures

2007-07-15T19:54:00.001-04:00

Serena Ryder Performs in Peterborough

2007-07-08T20:14:00.001-04:00

Last night Canadian musician and Shelter Valley Folk Festival Alumni Serena Ryder performed at Del Crary Park for the Peterborough Summer Festival of Lights. Signs around the stage and the announcers proclaimed Ryder's return home, as Peterborough has claimed her as their own. This despite Serena's own on-stage admission to having grown up in Millbrook, Ontario.

The performance was extremely varied in its sound, with a more mainstream pop/rock vibe with the backing of her band, a more folk sound while playing solo acoustic, and an influx of R&B with two a cappella performances.

The other notable performer at this year's Peterborough Summer Festival of Lights is East Coast Indie-Rocker Joel Plaskett, who I have seen before and would highly recommend. See him August 4th!

From the Milkcrate

2007-07-03T09:14:00.000-04:00

I hate Bruce Springsteen. Wait, scratch that: I hated Bruce Springsteen.

I had always thought that the Boss was nothing more than lame 80’s rock tunes for guys with mullets and no taste in music. Comparisons to Bob Dylan fueled me with rage, and anyone who listed him as one of the greatest artists ever would have been witness to more than an eye-roll. Much of my hatred stemmed from his letting Ronald Reagan use “Born in the USA” for his 1984 re-election campaign. Yeah, I know I was only two years old at the time but I know how to hold grudges like no other.

A few weeks ago a friend and musical companion convinced me to give Springsteen another chance, in the form of his album “Nebraska.” The description of this album made it seem like something right down my musical alley: “Springsteen threw out the version he did with the E-Street Band and decided to release the low-fi acoustic demo tapes as the completed version. This left the album extremely folky and had listeners focusing on the lyrics like no other album he had produced.” Sounded perfect.

So when I did come across the record at Bluestreak in Peterborough I couldn’t resist picking it up. I rushed home to play it and it was everything I had hoped it would be. Nice acoustic folk, filled with stories of the every-man and even one song (the title track) being a first-person narrative from a serial killer. There are even a few tracks that have an obvious Chuck Berry influence upon them.

This album has done wonders for my opinion of Bruce Springsteen, and even though you will not see me rocking out to “Born to Run” anytime soon, you can guarantee that “Nebraska” will be a frequent visitor to my record-player for a long time to come.

So if you feel like finding a classic album to track down, I do suggest that you let this be the one.

Take Those Out and Have a Conversation

2007-06-18T18:04:00.000-04:00

I never thought in all my years
That people would find joy
By putting white headphones in their ears

When did it whole craze come upon
That what you listen to doesn’t matter
But what you listen to it on

(photgraph of Andy Rementer's anti-ipod poster taken by unknown photographer)

Far From the Twisted Reach of Crazy Sorrow

2007-06-14T19:35:00.001-04:00

Every once and a while I sneak over to my bookshelf, pull down Hunter S. Thompson's "Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas" and turn a couple pages in. I smile as I read the dedication "To Bob Dylan, for Mister Tambourine Man." It is at this moment I think of how powerful one single song can be, that one of the most notable books of a generation can be dedicated to one.

My love for Mister Tambourine Man is rarely matched, and I am curious as to what specifically did Hunter see in that song. What did the music say to him that would have such an impact? How did it affect his life? Did it help to shape the legendary figure? or was it just playing in the background while he was hard up for candidates for the book's dedication page?

New Lives Can't Escape Old Memories

2007-06-03T12:31:00.001-04:00

Over the past 10 months I have been trying hard to find a new life for myself. A fresh start to erase portions of the past in order to be capable of moving on to something better. I often question if this is possible. If there is actually something better out there.

Will crossing the globe put the distance between me and the past? No matter what I try to do the old memories just constantly invade. I try to keep myself busy to avoid the reminiscing that occurs with boredom.

Maybe I am doomed to live in the past forever, dwelling on what has happened and thereby not giving myself a shot at a legitimate future.

Redefining Progress

2007-05-16T14:05:00.000-04:00

“All progress depends on the unreasonable man. The reasonable man adapts himself to the world. The unreasonable man persists in trying to adapt the world to himself.” - George Bernard Shaw

progress

• noun 1 forward movement towards a destination. 2 development towards a better, more complete, or more modern condition. 3 Brit. archaic a state journey or official tour.

This is the official Oxford English Dictionary definition of the word progress. Our modern society tends interprets progress as the movement away from how humans lived in the past towards a more efficient, and self-satisfying lifestyle. Under this view; motor vehicles, skyscrapers, clear-cut forests, parking garages, smoke stacks, and electronics are all visible signs of progress.

Unfortunately this vision of progress we have followed over the last few centuries has lead to the rapid destruction of our environment through the cutting down of trees, overload of waste, mining of minerals and oil, elimination of plant and animal species, and the releasing of carbon dioxide and other pollutants into the atmosphere.

It hasn’t always been like this though. Great breakthroughs which were seen as “progress” have occurred without causing detrimental effects to the planet, yet allowing for society to move towards a better place. The Enlightenment, Marxism, and ideas on freedom have all bettered humanity while sparing the planet. These all deal with the human condition, and notions of equality.

The Detrimental effects that we witness in our surroundings today have come from economic ideas on progress. Manufacturing, mass production, consumerism, and global free markets are all ideas that have obtained consciousness of their own most often working against humanity by confusing ideas of “need” and “want” in the people’s minds.

In response to climate change humanity is showing itself to be passive to the biggest threat the planet has ever seen. Most seem content to ruin what is left of the planet through the habit of the short-term focused society that we have created. This society is used to getting whatever they desire and getting it quickly, which makes long-term sacrifices for the sake of the planet a hard concept to sell. This is why it is important to re-define progress for the future generation. Progress must be seen as having a focus on sustainability. Changing the mindset of people towards progress and eliminating selfish expectations/demands.

Only then will we be able to move forward and make the necessary changes to preserve the planet, and the human race.

2007 SVFF Lineup

2007-05-07T20:25:00.000-04:00

The greatest festival in Northumberland is back for another year. The 4th Annual Shelter Valley Folk Festival (August 31st to September 2nd) has announced its lineup, and it is looking to be another year of great music, friends, and alternative living on the Henkel farm.

The lineup includes:

David Francey
Ember Swift
Indio Saravanja (cool folk rocker)
Catherine Maclellan (who I have personally seen and almost collapsed in contentment over).

For more artist information check on the link on this blog. Maybe I will see you there.

The Love of Music

2007-05-01T00:39:00.000-04:00

Music has been an essential part of my life since my impressionable early teenage years. I remember immersing myself among my parents record collection with The Beatles "White Album," Neil Young's "Harvest," and Janis Joplin's "Greatest Hits." I vividly remember getting my first CD player for my 12th birthday. Included were Green Day's "Dookie", Blind Melon's self-titled, and The Smashing Pumpkins' "Siamese Dream." All modern classics. I can even credit my favorite band, The Decemberists, for being the formidable part of a past successful relationship,

It is only recently that I have turned this love of listening to music into a love of playing music. It started with a guitar, strumming along to my favorite acoustic songs. More recently a banjo was added out of the pure curiousity of what the instrument could bring to my life. It is through playing these instruments that I have gained a new perspective on the songs I have always love.

It has also brought me closer to inspirational people. My good friend Alli and I make it a habit of getting together to play when we are in the same place at the same time. In January I was persuaded to play an "open mic" with a few new found friends from Trent's Education program. My roomate and I have recently recorded a song to which those who have listened have declared their enthusiasm for. I even catch one friend singing it around the house. I had a friend over this very night strumming along with me in the sun room. She has the voice of an angel and the heart of one too.

Music has become my first endevour into artistic self-expression. It is my healthy way of coping. My link with with the past and the present. It will be a part of me for years to come. I hope someday, with a lot of practice and creativity, I will be able to share a musical creation with you.

Happy Earth Day!

2007-04-22T11:35:00.000-04:00

It is a beautiful day to come together and celebrate the basis of all life, our planet. We are in desperate times as the future of the earth hangs in the balance. The April 22nd Earth Day was first observed in 1970, and has since grown in observance to over 500 million people. This day of environmental discussion and celebration has never been so important as it is on this day. We all have a responsibility to change our ways and work to limit the environmental impact of humans on the planet.

In celebration of the planet my students at C.D.C.I. West chalked Earth Day inspired poems on the sidewalk around the school. I was tremendously impressed with their poems and illustrations and would like to share a few.

No More Excuses

2007-04-16T16:23:00.000-04:00

The tragic events at Virginia Tech today are just another in a long line of violent school shootings in North America that happen far to often. There should be no more excuses. No more claims to assault rifles and handguns being necessarily. They are of no use for hunting. Those who own them often claim they are necessary for protection. A catch-22 excuse as these weapons are available to killers and the common family alike as a result of this claim.

The time has come where we cannot let these events continue to happen again and again without doing anything about it. We need to get to the root of the problem. We need to get deadly weapons off the streets and off the shelves. We can't let their lies pass as excuses anymore.

People don't kill people, people with guns kill people.

The Strange Days of Spring

2007-04-14T11:08:00.000-04:00

I will be the first to admit that every year at this time I catch NHL playoff fever. I can't help it no matter how hard I try. I spend each night watching the games while using commercial breaks to hurriedly do any homework I may have.

With this time of year comes frequent roadtrips to Ottawa where I spend hours on the edge of my seat at Scotiabank Place (formally the Corel Centre), with my stomach churning with nervousness as the Ottawa Senators battle whomever they may happen to be in a series with.

I genuinely don't see myself as the typical sports loving type, and neither are my friends. But I think that has something to do with why it is such a big deal for us. We seem to feel very comfortable being borderline obsessive hockey fans. And in the case of one of my friends who wants a Chicago Blackhawks themed wedding, beyond obsessive.

We can scream in victory, or hang our heads in defeat, all the while trying to convince ourselves that we have somehow affected the outcome, when it is obvious to anyone else that would be impossible. We live and die by each goal scored, only to be resurrected for a whole new season every October.

Poo-tee-weet?

2007-04-12T07:02:00.000-04:00

A sad day for us all as Kurt Vonnegut has passed away at 84. He was one of the greatest literary figures of our time. He will be dearly missed and happily remembered.

Kurt Vonnegut has died.

So it goes....

Jesus' Child Soldiers

2007-04-07T10:17:00.000-04:00

I spent Good Friday this year doing something that I have rarely done, listen to people speak about religion. Jesus Camp is a truly remarkable film that follows three young children, Levi, Tory, and Rachael as they attended an evangelical summer camp operated by Children's Pastor Becky Fischer.

In the film the children are repeatedly told they are god's "soldiers" and they are destined to reclaim America for Jesus. They are forcefully served lectures on their future responsibility to end abortion and gain positions of power in order to eliminate the separation of church and state. The children are often brought to tears while as a viewer you wonder if they actually have any concept of what is going on. They chant slogans about Supreme Court Judges, and the right to life without a second thought. I commented to a friend while we watch these terrifying scenes: "I feel as though I could walk on that stage and say anything and those children would eagerly chant my issue within seconds."

A bonus for the film is the appearance of Ted Haggard, the founder of the evangelical New Life Church. In the film Levi is taken to the New Life Church and meets with Haggard, who preaches about the immorality of homosexuality. The bonus is that months after the film was completed Haggard was exposed for having spent three years being unfaithful to his wife with a male prostitute, and for having a slight methamphetamine addiction. The film therefore inadvertantly was in the right place at the right time.

The film's objectivity is remarkable. It is to the credit of directors Heidi Ewing and Rachel Grady that they let the footage speaks for itself, with no commentary. Viewers are left with the question of the motives of the filmmakers. Are they leftists and anti-religious? Or are they themselves radically-minded Christians?

It is apparent that anyone inside this radical movement would be seeing nothing wrong with what is occurring in the film, possibly finding it a powerful exemplar of their faith. While those outside of the movement would find themselves horrified at what they would see as blatant indoctrination and children being treated in a possibly emotionally abusive manner.

Jesus Camp is a film that sheds light on the religious right in America, and their quest to take over the highest offices in order to make the United States a fundamentalist religious state.

And Out Come the Party Wolves...

2007-03-31T19:57:00.000-04:00

A beautiful day outside led to some frisbee golf, and a nice walk along a Peterborough trail where we encountered this animal who was eagerly awaiting the Saturday night social scene to begin.

Finding Joys in the Mid-Twenties

2007-03-22T16:11:00.000-04:00

I have found that the mid-twenties have been witness to some of the most social moments of my life. It seems that once we hit this period in our lives we seek out fun and interesting hobbies to pursue as a balance to our hectic lives. We would never have pursued such interests in our teenage years, opting more for the curbs in front of coffee shops to joining an Ultimate Frisbee team.

Between Ultimate Frisbee, Ball Hockey, going to see guest speakers, bowling, tobogganing, canal hockey, and dodgeball tournaments there hasn't been a dull moment in a very long time.

It is these new pursuits that have alleviated all despair over the aging process. The future appears to hold many obscure sports teams, musical endeavors, and literary inquiries.

I still can’t seem to shake my amazement at the revelation that I still have not “peaked” in my life.

Hopefully I never will.

There are Brighter Things than Diamonds

2007-03-11T10:41:00.000-04:00

On occasion I have stated that Cobourg’s biggest export is people. It seems wherever you go in Ontario you can easily come across someone from Cobourg. Whether it be the streets of Ottawa, the pubs of Toronto, or the basement apartments of Peterborough, the Cobourg connection is often present.

It seems as though these émigrés from Cobourg leave the nest to set up franchises of families and friends that will always have a connection with their former town. I remember many of them for their innocence, their ignorance, and their intellect.

It was a great place to be young. Your identity being shaped by the local high schools, the coffee shops, the drive-in movies. A Saturday night sitting on cars in parking lots, thinking of what to do turned out to be in itself the thing to do. The moments when you were convinced that you knew everyone there was to know in the entire town until that girl walks by and you whisper “who’s that?”

It seems as though only a select few remember the joys of these days. The others have given up the memories of the sparks caused by their hand touching another’s on the beach for the nameless stranger whom they wake up beside, the thrill of seeing a friend’s band perform for the powder in their nose, the belief that everyone is equal for critique of what others choose to wear.

When we felt the wind in our hair as we launched ourselves in the endless blue water we were better than we are today.

Sometimes when I encounter an old Cobourg acquaintance I can see a glimpse of the past days through a crest of a wave in their eyes. I see everything they once had been and desire to relive again. Other times I see nothing at all.

These were the people I loved. These were the people who loved me.

Cue the Violin!

2007-03-10T14:44:00.000-05:00

Last night at the Sadlier House here in Peterborough I had the pleasure of being introduced to the band Jetplanes of Abraham, hailing from the nation's capital. They opened a night of music that later saw performances from Spy Machine Sixteen, and The Sweet Homewreckers. It was however, Jetplanes of Abraham who stole the show with an outstanding performance of one killer tune after another that had me sprinting for the merch table. The band had an exciting sound to them, with the violin making every song feel epic.

It is the next morning and their album has not disappointed. Rather it has reinforced my lovely opinion of their talents from their live performance.

Judge for yourself by viewing their myspace page.

Early Pitchfork News

2007-03-08T18:33:00.000-05:00

An early insight into this year's Pitchfork Music Festival, July 13-15 in Chicago, has Of Montreal and Iron and Wine playing. This is a very exciting beginning to the lineup, which I hope will top last year's notables. I think I will be making the roadtrip again this year to the land of Lincoln in search of another adventure.

I will update with other performers once they become available.

Photo: Danielson playing at Pitchfork 2006 (taken by yours truly).

Climate Change Conference at Trent University

2007-03-03T09:31:00.000-05:00

Yesterday was the Climate Change Conference hosted at Trent University. The conference was organized by the Trent Greens (a student group affiliated with the Green Party of Canada) and examined climate change from a uniquely Canadian perspective. The list of speakers included current Federal Green Party leader, and former Executive Director of the Sierra Club of Canada Elizabeth May.

May's presentation on Canada's role in the battle against climate change gave listeners a behind the scenes insight into the inner workings of the Environment Ministry (May was an advisor to the Mulroney government). During her presentation May referenced a recent article from the Canadian corporate responsibility magazine Corporate Knights titled "The War on Global Warming." The article (which I have linked above) is very thorough in its examination of the battle raging in Canada over Climate Change and offers readers real solutions for individuals seeking to make a difference.

-Kyle Snowdon

When Ambition Meets Procrastination

2007-02-18T00:24:00.000-05:00

It isn’t encouraging to have dreams of doing great things in this world, and yet feeling so hindered by procrastination that very little movement towards these dreams has been made. There is so much I want to do but there seems to be so many hours in the day I just let waste away. I am sure I am not the only one who has felt this way.

Ambition is defined as the willingness or desire to do something. I am now experiencing first hand what happens when that desire and willingness runs into a wall of procrastination that makes dreams seem unattainable. Procrastination is surprising more stressful than pursuing ambitious projects so I must find a way to overcome this terrible tendency.

I better think of a solution soon, because good things do not happen to those who wait.

Despite Everything...

2007-01-29T23:10:00.000-05:00

“It is better to be a human being dissatisfied than a pig satisfied; better to be Socrates dissatisfied than a fool satisfied. And if the fool, or the pig, are of a different opinion, it is because they only know their side of the question. The other party to the comparison knows both sides.” -John Stuart Mill

Despite everything that we have done to the earth I still remain a believer in the innate goodness and exceptionality of humans. Humans have been given the gift (and not from anything but nature) of having the most complicated of intelligence. We have art, culture, humour and love to separate us from all else. We are an exception to nature insomuch as we stand above instinct to achieve an existence with a sense of purpose.

I am displaying apathy for just this once to the severe sufferings caused by humanity to focus on its character, its achievements, and its potential. We are amazing creatures that have shown our abilities in many different places. One day, I hope that we can focus all of our abilities in all of the right places.

Go Green in 2007!

2007-01-21T20:49:00.000-05:00

Two thousand and seven is shaping up to be the year in which our global conscience is beginning to turn its gaze to the climate change issue. Here in Canada it all seemed to begin with a significantly warmer start to the winter and the rise of Stephane Dion to the post of Liberal leader on an environmental platform. The reaction from our Conservative government was to appoint a new environment minister...one who actually admits climate change to be a reality. These are just baby-steps in the fight against global warming, yet it is with great excitement to witness the environment at the top of the agenda of Canadians.

No matter what initiatives our government decides to take on global warming it is essential that each of us own up to our responsibilities and try to make a 2007 a greener year in our lives.

Some ideas to consider are:

-Install low-wattage light bulbs: I have recently replaced the light bulbs in my apartment in more efficent ones in order to lower my carbon footprint. These light bulbs are cheap, long lasting, and save you a great deal on your hydro bill.

-Avoid heavily packaged products/use less wasteful products: This can be as simple using an actual plate instead of a paper one in the cafeteria, using the hand dryer instead of paper towels, or getting cloth grocery shopping bags instead of constantly using plastic ones.

-Become a Vegetarian: The energy needed to produce one hamburger patty uses enough fossil fuel to drive a small automobile 32km and enough water to have 17 showers. The meat industry is at the forefront of global warming and it seems impossible to consider yourself an environmentally conscience being and still eat meat. Twenty times more land is needed to feed a meat consumer than a vegetarian.

-Drive Less: We all have to do our part in reducing the amount of vehicle emissions we put out. I am a guilty party for driving much more than I need to, and reducing my driving is a goal for 2007.

I will be looking to discover more "go green" tips in the near future and make 2007 a year where I become a more enviro-friendly global citizen.

Sarah Harmer at SVFF

2007-01-09T20:40:00.000-05:00

Now that I have returned from my hiatus from writing on this blog I think I need to revisit Sarah Harmer's performance at the Shelter Valley Folk Festival on September 3rd, 2006. Below are two songs I recorded of her performance on that rainy Sunday. Needless to say it was memorable.

Sarah performing "How Deep in the Valley"

Sarah performing "I'm a Mountain"

I hope you enjoy.

Also Sarah Harmer has been a strong voice for the protection of the Niagara Escarpment. She is the cofounder of PERL (Protecting Escarpment Rural Lands)and has recently released a DVD entitled "Escarpment Blues" through which proceeds are donated to PERL.

For more info check out Sarah Harmer's Official Site or P.E.R.L.

Who Knew There Was An Electric Car?

2007-01-04T15:44:00.000-05:00

As I was looking for a flick to help pass my holiday hangover period I came across an interestingly titled documentary "Who Killed The Electric Car?" Running over the knowledge packed into my brain over the years I failed to remember the existence of an electric car. Was I ignorant not to know about such a revolutionary technological breakthrough? Well not on this occasion. The reason why I didn't know of its existence, and why most people didn't was because we were not meant to know.

The film (narrated by the great Martin Sheen) outlines the creation of the EV1 in the mid-90's by General Motor's Saturn division. The car was completely electric, and was able to be charged at home, or charging stations which were located across California. California was the testing grounds for this new technology. The EV1 was an immediate hit. A waiting list for these vehicles quickly grew.

The reaction of General Motors to the popularity of the EV1 was not which one might expect. GM proceeded to sabotage their own product by arguing that there was no demand, and creating advertising which purposely created a negative view of the car in the public eye. GM and the other car companies were then successfully able to get the California Zero Emissions Law repealed. So not only did General Motors end production of the EV1 they took all of the cars away from those who had been leasing them and destroyed them. They destroyed perfectly new emission-free cars! Mainly because the cars didn't require any parts/maintenance, from which the car companies make a great deal of money.

Overall, like most activist films, "Who Killed the Electric Car?" leaves its viewers with a sense of hope. Hope for the future of clean automobiles lies in the emerging new Hybrid technology (which GM obvious wants to end) which is moving towards charge-at-home motors. This is an astonishing film which will hopefully help to create awareness that we had the technology that could help save our planet right in our hands, but it was taken away from us by corporate greed.

Eye for an Eye?

2006-12-30T11:42:00.000-05:00

After waking up this morning and reading about the execution of former Iraqi Dictator Saddam Hussain I can't help but once again shake my head at the stupidity and inhumanity behind the death penalty. There are a few major reasons why I disagree with the death penalty.

Firstly, what about the possibilty of the innocence of the accused being proven at a later date? For example if we here in Canada had a legal system which employed the death penalty we could expect that David Milgaard (who spent 21 years in prision for a murder he did not commit) would have been executed. The risk of taking an innocent life is much too great.

When I look at my own feelings on the death penalty I can't help but think of it as being an easy way out, and a action that supports martyrdom. I would believe that if I was given a choice between spending the rest of my life in prision (no possibility of parole) and being executed, then I would choose executiion in a heartbeat. As far as Martyrdom, the execution of prominent world citizens who have a large following would seem only to encourage a positive view of the person and their group of supporters.

Also the death penalty is a quite inhuman action to take against a convicted person. The fact that the Iraqi judicary sentanced Saddam to an execution by hanging says wonders about the civility of the current state of the country. The death penalty is bad enough for the reasons mentioned above let alone when it is carried out in the most brutal and inhuman manner.

The death penalty is hopefully something which we will look back on in the future as a brutal, and pointless inhuman method of serving justice. It's permanence is possibly it's most dangerous flaw and it has already been proven ineffective as a deterent to possible criminals. It seems as though "an eye for an eye" simply does not prove to be an appropriate philosophy for the justice system of progressive nations.

Sarah Harmer Coming to Shelter Valley

2006-07-20T12:36:00.000-04:00

It has just been announced that Sarah Harmer will be performing at this year's Shelter Valley Folk Festival. This is very exciting news as Harmer's fourth album "I'm a Mountain" has placed the Burlington, Ontario native in the Canadian music spotlight. This announcement will no doubt result in a rush of people purchasing tickets to the grassroots festival.

Tickets are available at George's Guitars and Zap Records in Cobourg, St. John's Books and The Lawless Gallery in Grafton, and Smith's Creek Antiques in Port Hope

Photograph: Rice Lake

2006-06-09T07:30:00.000-04:00

A Heron takes off from a Rice Lake dock in Alderville First Nations

Photograph by Kyle Snowdon

Too Good To Be True?

2006-05-12T16:40:00.000-04:00

Is it my inherent skepticism or my innate pessimism that leads me to believe that nothing good will come from the Conservative government's 1% reduction in the GST? It is just one of those things that I look at and say "things won't be allowed to get better. " There is rarely a promised improvement without a catch that makes it worse than the original. Whether it be promises by long-distance companies of cheaper rates or products advertised as "new and improved."

My skepticism about the GST rebate was fueled recently when the agency that operates Toronto's Green "P" municipal parking lots would raise their parking fees by 1% on July 1st (the date when the GST will be officially reduced by 1%). Therefore motorists will see absolutely no savings on their parking in these lots.

My mind then begs the question; will this move happen across the board? Will all corporations operating in Canada take the GST reduction as an easy way of raising their prices by 1%? This is not very hard to imagine, no matter how sickening we may all find such action.

If this were to occur it would mean that all that the Conservative initiative did was to take away the 1% that we had been paying (which was being put towards the public good) and give it to the opportunist corporations, who would be able to then add the 1% to their meaningless mounds of profit.

This has not happened yet, but there is very little reason why it wouldn't. What is to stop them? Or maybe I am just listening too much to the skeptic and pessimist inside of me.

-Kyle Snowdon

Toronto Star article on municipal parking and the GST

SVFF Announces Artist Lineup!

2006-05-04T21:08:00.000-04:00

The 3rd Annual Shelter Valley Folk Festival (September 1-3, 2006) has announced its lineup for this year. The artists include Murray McLauchlan, Toronto-based guitarist Madagascar Slim, and Ken Whiteley, among others.

I had the pleasure of attending and volunteering at last year's festival and had an amazing experience, the most intriguing of which were the intimate workshops put on by the artists. SVFF is a completely volunteer-operated festival and volunteers are rewarded with free entry all weekend and free meals. Also you can camp out for the weekend at join the artists and friends around the campfire after the stages have closed down.

For those not volunteering early bird tickets are available for $35 until May 31st. This is a 20% discount from the weekend-of price.

Also of note, the Northumberland Film Sundays organization is screening the Neil Young documentary "Heart of Gold" this Sunday May 7th (4pm) at the Northumberland Mall Theatre in support of the Shelter Valley Folk Festival.

For more information on volunteering or purchasing tickets check out their website: www.sheltervalley.com

-Kyle Snowdon

Driving Woes

2006-05-01T18:24:00.000-04:00

Shell Canada announced this week first quarter profits of $449 million dollars. That is up 30% from the same time last year. Petro-Canada's quarterly profits were announced at $206 million, compared with $118 million last year at this time. That is nearly a 75% increase. These are just two of many examples of the profiteering

These huge profit increases by the oil companies is definitive evidence of price gouging, which the politicians seem to be completely oblivious to. The oil companies are constantly using world events as excuses for hiking the price of gasoline at the pumps. Hurricane Katrina, Iran, and even possible snowstorms, are just a few of the many faux reasons why the price of gasoline keeps skyrocketing. The excuses are seen for obvious falsehoods when these profit margins are announced for all to see.

A friend of mine recently boasted about his energy mutual funds giving him a whopping 80% return on his investment. This is yet another blatant sign that prices/profits are out of control.

There are only two ways that I can think of to solve the problem at the pump:

Making Hybrids Affordable: Every one of us would choose to drive a hybrid vehicle if it wasn't such an expensive option, which makes the price of the hybrid greater than the savings on gasoline consumption. The option is often around $4000 dollars.

The cost of hybrid engines and an overall fuel efficiency revolution could be created by the government of Canada taking the initiative to give a tax exemption for fuel efficient vehicles. This would make up for the cost of the hybrid option and essentially make all hybrid vehicles the same price as regular gasoline ones. With that option I do not know a single soul who wouldn't choose the hybrid model.

Fixed Oil Profits: I truly believe that this is a great way of dealing with price gouging at the pumps. It would be a government initiative that would regulate the amount of profit that the oil companies would be able to make on each litre. For example, let's say that the fixed profit was 10 cents on per litre. This would mean that there is no advantage for oil companies if the gas is $1.20 a litre or 50 cents, they would still make only make 10 cents a litre. The incentive would actually be for the companies to have cheaper gas, which would therefore encourage motorists to travel more, thereby needing more litres of gasoline. All profit beyond this 10 cents would be taken by the government as tax. This could then be put towards the environment and research into alternative fuel sources

-Kyle Snowdon

Book Review: Easy Riders, Raging Bulls

2006-04-23T12:06:00.000-04:00

Peter Biskind's Easy Riders, Raging Bulls is an in-depth examination of the revolution in film-making that occurred between 1967 and 1980. It is the story of how the counterculture filmmakers rose to take Hollywood by storm. The book starts by discussing the impact that Arthur Penn's Bonnie and Clyde had on the movie going public. The film was a revolution in itself with its violent content, and was a wake up call for the Hollywood of the 1950's that the counterculture had arrived.

The book goes on to discuss the 1969 film Easy Rider as the true beginning of the revolution, as it successfully pulled the power away from the out-of-touch studio execs to the rising young filmmakers.

Biskind examines all of the great filmmakers of the period; Robert Altman, Peter Bogdanovich, William Friedkin, Hal Asby, Francis Ford Coppola, Bob Rafelson, and Martin Scorsesse. These directors thought of themselves as true auteurs, who were setting out to change the way movies were made by taking on the hierarchy of the studio system.

The author also explores the rise of George Lucas and Steven Spielberg, who stood apart from the rest of their counterparts, by caring more about reaching a mass audience and bringing back “popcorn pictures.” It was these two filmmakers who invented the blockbuster film and subsequently assisted in the downfall of the filmmaker as an artist.

The downfall of the artistic counterculture filmmaker was also the result of a white blanket that covered Hollywood throughout the 1970's. A wave of cocaine use destroyed the new Hollywood directors, who felt themselves to be invincible to everything other than success. Hal Asby, Coppola and Friedkin all fell apart from their addictions. Dennis Hopper directed two movies before his three grams per day habit caught up with him and made it impossible to find work.

Only Scorsesse survived to continue making films, but just barely. Before directing Raging Bull (which surprisingly flopped) he was hospitalized and told by the doctor that if he continued on his current path he would die very soon. Not one filmmaker who used cocaine during this period did not become seriously hurt by it.

Peter Biskind gives life to each of the filmmakers that he discusses in the book and keeps the reader intrigued throughout all 400+ pages. His unique style of writing (cursing almost as much as the celebrities he quotes) make Easy Riders, Raging Bulls a very relaxed read. It is an extremely important book for those who love the movies which were released in this period.

To accompany this review I have listed below my personal ten favorite films from this period, 1967-1980.

10) The French Connection

9) Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid

8) Chinatown

7) Jaws

6) The Deer Hunter

5) Easy Rider

4) Taxi Driver

3) Annie Hall

2) The Graduate

1) A Clockwork Orange

-Kyle Snowdon (photograph by Christopher McCartney)

The Last Arena Show

2006-04-18T19:03:00.000-04:00

It was midway through Death Cab for Cutie's set (while they were playing their hit single Soul Meets Body) when a buzzing sound began to travel throughout Ricoh Coliseum in Toronto. It seemed to move through us from right to left. There was no mistaking that it was the fire alarm.

At the end of the song an obviously frustrated Ben Gibbard told the crowd; "the entire song I was trying to figure out what that noise was. I thought there was someone in the stands blowing on a recorder." He continued, "It isn't even a note or I would play along with it." "It's sharp!" declared guitarist Chris Walla.

The interruption seemed to define the atmosphere of the Franz Ferdinand- Death Cab for Cutie double bill, at least for those sitting down in the stands. Just like the noise of the alarm pulsating through our eardrums it was frustrating to be in a seat while two very energetic acts sweated it out on the stage. It was as though their energy was unable to pass the perimeter of the hockey arenas ice surface.

The whole venue situation came about as a result of the quick selling out of original venue of the Docks. So as impersonal as this concert may have been for those in the stands, they all must have felt lucky just to have been given this second chance to see these bands.

After the UK group The Cribs opened the night it was Franz Ferdinand's turn to get the crowd moving. The band emerged on the stage to the sound of Neutral Milk Hotel's instrumental track Fool in an obvious attempt to please the Indie Rock Gods. The metro-rockers from Scotland gave the audience the best from its new album, including: The Fallen, Eleanor Put Your Boots On, Walk Away, and the albums first single, Do You Want To. They also played many of the hits from their self-titled debut, ending the night with This Fire played beneath the erie red stage lights.

Whereas Franz Ferdinand set out on a 100 metre dash to energize the crowd, Death Cab For Cutie emerged from the gates like a marathon runner starting off with the slow paced Passenger Seat. Despite the recent release of their major label debut "Plans" the emphasis of their set was on 2003's "Tranatlanticism."

"It's sharp!" declared guitarist Chris Walla to the pleasure of the audience. This was followed by Gibbard's announcement of "let's drown it out!" as the band started into Crooked Teeth the second single off of "Plans." The fire alarm did not last much longer after that.

The highlight of the night was an approximately ten-minute rendition of We Looked Like Giants with Gibbard joining drummer Michael Schorr with a second drum kit. Those who left after The Sound of Settling, which they had declared as the last song missed an amazing three song encore which ended with Transatlanticism.

Below is a clip of Death Cab for Cutie's I Will Follow You Into the Dark. Appropriately all the lights were off, but the sound turned out fairly well.

-Kyle Snowdon

Photograph: Pebbled Beach at Sundown

2006-04-13T07:01:00.000-04:00

-Photograph by Kyle Snowdon

Music: Holly Akimow

2006-04-09T23:31:00.000-04:00

Holly Akimow played an intimate acoustic set friday night at The Human Bean Cafe on King Street in Cobourg. She moved seemlessly between guitar and keyboard, delievering a variety of sounds. It was a very relax atomosphere for the cafe patrons, as Holly played a mix of her own work (such as Don't Tell Me) and a few covers, the highlight of which was her impressive rendition of My Chemical Romance's The Ghost of You. Keep an eye out for her in the Toronto area.

Below is a clip from the set:

More Music from Holly Akimow can be found on her myspace and garageband profiles.

-Kyle Snowdon

Photograph: Lakeside

2006-04-06T07:24:00.000-04:00

-Photograph by Kyle Snowdon

Knowledge in Film

2006-04-04T16:36:00.000-04:00

As a companion piece to last week's review of the documentary “The Weather Underground,” I would like to present what in my opinion are the five most important documentaries for fans of film. I found the list to be rather easy to assemble, as these films stand out quite prominently in their genre.

The List:

5) Dogtown and the Z-Boys (2001)

Dogtown and the Z-Boys is the story of the Zephyr skateboard team of the 1970's, who were almost single-handedly responsible for making skateboarding into the popular sport that it is today. It is directed by legendary skateboarder and Z-Boy Stacey Peralta, and narrated by Sean Penn. This film should be embraced for its intriguing subject and Peralta's film-making, while the more recently made feature Lords of Dogtown should be avoided.

4) Roger and Me (1989)

Roger and Me is Michael Moore at his finest, before he became a nauseating Bush-basher. The film focuses on General Motors' plant closures in Flint, Michigan and the subsequent devastating effect it had on the community. In the backdrop of this story there is a cat and mouse chase between Moore and then General Motors president Roger Smith. This film finds importance in the present as General Motors prepares to downsize its assembly plants in Oshawa and St. Catharines.

3) Grizzly Man (2005)

I had never known of Timothy Treadwell while he was alive but after watching Grizzly Man I couldn't help but feel as though I should have. The film is directed and narrated by German filmmaker Werner Herzog (who is quite the character himself) and documents the ups and downs of Treadwell's life protecting Alaskan Grizzly Bears. One can't help but gain a love-hate relationship with Treadwell as we see him as a symbol of something admirable while also understanding that he was a very misguided and delusional person.

2) Born Into Brothels (2003)

I approached this film with the mindset that it was going to be a very depressing 1 hour and 35 minutes. This assumption came from the general knowledge that this was a story about the children of Calcutta prostitutes. Born into Brothels turned out to be an extremely uplifting documentary. It is a film that rejuvenates our faith in humanity as we witness filmmaker Zana Briski use photography to empower these impoverished children and help them to rise above their conditions.

1) Mr. Death: The Rise and Fall of Fred A. Leuchter Jr. (1999)

Mr. Death is the story of Fred A. Leuchter Jr., a pioneer of developing instruments of execution for the United States prison system. Leuchter appears to be quite eccentric and misguided throughout the film. His expertise of execution methods leads to his involvement with Holocaust denier Ernst Zundel, as he testified in his defense. A great deal of the film's impact can be credited to director Errol Morris, who also has made such important documentaries as The Fog of War and The Thin Blue Line. It is an astonishing story about a very troubled individual.

-Kyle Snowdon

Film Review: The Weather Underground

2006-03-28T17:53:00.000-05:00

Documentaries are fifty per cent subject, fifty per cent film-making. It is the subject which makes “The Weather Underground” such an important documentary for both fans of film and those of history.

It is the story of “The Weathermen,” a radical splinter-group of the SDS (Students for a Democratic Society) which rose to prominence at the 1969 SDS convention in Chicago. The Weathermen rejected the SDS mandate of non-violent protest, and instead advocated domestic terrorism as a way of opposing the actions of the United States government in Vietnam. They were to go so far as to publicly declare war on the U.S.

The group was born out of the frustration with the lackluster success of the anti-war movement before 1969. Their motto was “Bring the War Home,” as they believed that Bourgeois America would no longer be able to ignore the violence in Vietnam if it was delivered directly unto their doorsteps.

The domestic terrorism of the Weathermen was quite significant with numerous bombings of government buildings (including the Capital Building) and the carrying out of the prison break of acid guru Timothy Leary.

Also intriguing is the fact that the FBI, despite their best efforts, were unable to capture any of the groups members. Between 1969 and 1980 the members were able to travel the country through safe houses, and in many cases raise families. The viewer becomes easily sympathetic to the romanticism of the fugitives successfully escaping the long arm of the law.

To the credit of the filmmaker is their use of archival footage, the present day interviews with the group's members, and the subtle comparisons with the morality of Twenty-First Century terrorism.

Yet, the flaws in the film-making prevent “The Weather Underground” from reaching its obvious potential. The major flaw is the lack of detailed information on the groups terrorist exploits. The dates and pictures from the attacks are presented on the screen, but the viewer is not given the information as to how the bombings were carried out. This is especially irritating when the film discusses the group's successful prison break of Timothy Leary. This is the most intriguing event in the film yet we are presented with no details as to how the Weathermen were able to accomplish such a great feat. All we are given is an archival interview with Leary soon after his escape where he credits the Weathermen.

Despite this, “The Weather Underground” is a remarkable story which gives us a glimpse into what happens when a mass movement falls short and frustration begins to take hold.

-Kyle Snowdon

Photograph: Gravestone on Wolfe Island

2006-03-25T21:02:00.000-05:00

"Death must be so beautiful. To lie in the soft brown earth, with the grasses waving above one's head, and listen to silence. To have no yesterday, and no to-morrow. To forget time, to forgive life, to be at peace." -Oscar Wilde (The Canterville Ghost)

-Photograph by Kyle Snowdon

Northumberland Independent's March Mix Tape

2006-03-21T18:00:00.000-05:00

More and more people are turning to creating playlists as an interesting way to listen to their music. An Internet search for “playlists” will turn up thousands of results from various people all over the world. Playlists are often created to a theme such as “songs about love” or “songs about breakups.” The introduction of the Ipod has also done a great deal to draw people's interest towards compiling their music into playlists.

One of my personal favorite examples of playlists comes from the 2000 film High Fidelity. Here John Cusak's character is often challenged or challenging tough playlist questions such as; “top five side one/track ones” or “top five songs about death.”

A playlist that has special meaning for myself is Q107's annual “Top 107 Classic Rock Songs of All Time.” During my four years of university I would make the trip from Cobourg to Ottawa every Labour Day weekend, which was coincidentally the time when the Q107 would broadcast this very ambitious playlist. Without knowing it this broadcasted playlist had become a tradition for me.

So to fulfill our own undying love for playlists, Northumberland Independent has asked ten very different people to tell us the song which they consider to be “THE SONG" for them. They were also asked to give a short description explaining why they love this song so much.

The results were:

Track #1
James Foster
Song: “Bad Seed” by Life of Agony (from the album: River Runs Red)
Why? “Basically the song said 'it's okay, you're not alone” to me. Pure NYC hardcore/emo before emo was annoying.”

Track #2
Alli Chisholm
Song: “When The Ship Comes In” by Bob Dylan (from the album: The Times They are A-Changin')
Why? "This is my favorite song because it is so exciting and energetic. There is a real sense that something very important and relevant is being captured in the lyrics."

Track #3
Will Bradley
Song: "Let It Be" by The Beatles (from the album: Let It Be)
Why? "'Let It Be' signals the end, the last remaining emotional cry out for something worth living for...and in the end the love you take is equal to the love you make..."

Track #4
Shannon Cole
Song: "No beginning, No End" by Hawksley Workman (from album: The Delicious Wolves)
Why? "First of all, if I could nominate every Hawksley Workman song there is, I would. In general his music is IT for me. But, since I have to choose one, this is the one that has the most impact on me (yes, emotionally, so I’m a big girlie-girl). When I listen to this song, I’m back in my apartment in Ottawa, and it’s fourth year, and I know I’m leaving all my friends and this city I am in love with very soon. This song can make me cry before he even sings the first words. But, besides that, it’s a beautiful song with unique imagery, and Hawksley’s voice is incredibly haunting."

Track #5
Chris McCartney
Song: "There Is" by Boxcar Racer (from the self-titled album)
Why? "I chose this song because of the lyrical content, i wouldn't say box car racer is one of my favorite bands, although i do enjoy the album. the lyrics described alot of my feelings and emotions that i have and have had for a good portion of my life."

Track #6
Nicole Beatty
Song: "Lucky" by Seven Mary Three (from the album: Rock Crown )
Why? "'time is all the luck you need'...the truth in these lyrics are unparallel...patience, endurance, the will to wait and to presevere through trying times..if you give time a chance you'd be surprised what comes from it...we're all lucky to experience times, good or bad. don't let things pass you by."

Track #7
Chris Greenwood
Song: "Two Fat Feet" by The Fiery Furnaces (from the album: Gallowsbird's Bark )
Why? “The guitar line makes Two Fat Feet sound like a blue's song for the first 20 seconds. Then a piano bounces in and likes it so much it decides to stay for the rest of the tune. Then Eleanor Friedberger starts singing about... what? Not that it matters; her unique voice nestles lyrics Lewis Carroll could've penned into the center of the melody. A head-bobber if ever there was one.”

Track #8
Holly Akimow
Song: "Lightning Crashes" by Live (from the album: Throwing Copper)
Why? "I love it because it's a really simple tune but it manages to keep me interested and listeing to it repeatedly even after over 10 years. Lyrically it's a great song too, it's all about the cycle of life and everything being connected in one way or another."

Track #9
Ryan Warner
Song: "Prove It All Night" by Bruce Springsteen (from the album: Darkness on the Edge of Town)
Why? "The Boss is my Dads music. I rejected it for years, writing it off as out-of-touch un-hip stadium rock. Then I listened to the album "Darkness on the Edge of Town" (which the song is taken from). For anyone who has ever felt trapped in a small town or smothered by things beyond their control, springsteen has a song (or two) for you. This music is triumphant, romantic, realistic...and it rocks."

Track #10
Garett Leaman
Song: “Right Off” by Miles Davis (from the album: A Tribute to Jack Johnson)
Why? “Unlike any Miles you have heard before. Amazing mixture of jazz/funk/rock and fusion. Recorded in a single take, that Miles was late for! He walked in 2 minutes and 19 seconds into the song and played the funkiest solo ever. The song clocks in just shy of 27 minutes words can barley describe it.”

When listening to such a playlist like that which has been compiled here it is impossible not to consider what these songs say about the individual who has chosen them. By selecting what they consider to be “THE SONG” for them they have allowed for us a gateway into their lives. We are able to search for the deep connection between the song and the person. In many ways the song speaks to them, moves them, explains them, captures a memory or shares their view of the world. In some cases the song may do all of these things. So when listening to this playlist we are doing much more than just listening to music. We are also listening to those people who have chosen the songs and what they are telling us about themselves.

-Kyle Snowdon

Happy St. Patrick's Day

2006-03-17T09:07:00.000-05:00

An elderly woman participates in Kingston's St. Patrick's Day parade held on March 11th

Even though St. Patrick's Day is commemorated by almost anyone who can get their hands on an alcoholic beverage it was never meant to be so international in its scope. It is officially a Roman Catholic feast day established to celebrate the patron saint of Ireland, Saint Patrick. It was viewed as a break in fasting for those observing Lent. The celebration was slowly spread throughout the world by Irish immigration (the first parade in the United States was in Boston in 1737). St. Patrick's Day is even considered an official holiday in the province of Newfoundland and Labrador.

Kingston's St. Patrick's Day parade begins

In a move away from its origins St. Patrick's Day has now come to represent a moment in the year when people spread across the globe can come together and proclaim themselves “Irish for a day.” There is something egalitarian in the St. Patrick's Day, which may be why so many people of non-Irish decent eagerly join in on the festivities.

-Photographs and Article By Kyle Snowdon

Why is it Wrong by Christopher McCartney

2006-03-13T09:11:00.000-05:00

Photograph: Afternoon on Wolfe Island, Ontario

2006-03-11T23:04:00.000-05:00

The poetry of the earth is never dead.

- John Keats

Photo by: Kyle Snowdon

Size Isn't Everything

2006-03-08T21:51:00.000-05:00

“It is wise to read short stories for the entertainment they provide. It is unreasonable to ask more of them than they can give you. But it would be foolish to despise them on that account.”
-Somerset Maugham

The short story form has always taken a back seat to full length novels in popular readership. This is despite them being extremely entertaining and convenient for people to read. A short story can be defined as a dramatic narrative which is told as a series of incidents leading up to a single climax. They usually are written with a shocking twist at the end of the story in order to give the reader a lasting impression.

Short stories are sometimes published in collections in which all of the stories are related to one another but can also be examined on their own. Two great examples of thematic collections are Rohinton Mistry “Tales from Firozsha Baag” and Margaret Laurence “A Bird in the House.”

Short stories can range from one page (often for magazines) to over forty (in the case of Jame Joyce's “The Dead”). This allows the reader to get the entertainment of a complete story in about a half hour. That is the true greatness of a short story: it's ability to give you satisfaction in so few words.

For those who are not familiar with short stories here are a few recommendations:

A Perfect Day for a Bananafish – J.D. Salinger (from Nine Stories)

Teddy- J.D. Salinger (from Nine Stories)

Salvatore- Somerset Maugham

Dip in the Pool- Roald Dahl

Araby- James Joyce (from Dubliners)

-Kyle Snowdon

Photograph: On a Walk

2006-03-05T14:24:00.000-05:00

Ducks and geese relax together on the icy shore near Cobourg's west pier. Photo by: Kyle Snowdon

Editorial: Cobourg's Bright Lights

2006-02-28T23:49:00.000-05:00

As I recently drove east down Elgin St. a great glow seemed to rise up from in front of the Northumberland Mall, where only a dull gray parking lot had previously resided. These walls, splattered with red and white lights arranged below some sort of futuristic steel architecture is what many in this town would call “progress.”

The destiny of the community is symbolized by this new creation. This Boston Pizza. Construction on Cobourg's new Boston Pizza started in late 2005 and immediately sparked discussion among Cobourg locals. Many became excited at the prospect of visiting an establishment that had only previously been available to enjoy while on a weekend shopping excursion in the Oshawa-Whitby area. Others, including yours truly, see our newest restaurant as another example of the small town we once knew slipping into the hands of monotonous big box stores and the slow reshaping of Cobourg into resembling another Oshawa, Whitby, or heaven forbid, Ajax!

Many might disagree that the emergence of Boston Pizza is a significant occurrence in the history of Cobourg as it is only a restaurant chain. Yet, I believe that Boston Pizza's establishment is yet another symbol of possibly the most crucial period in Cobourg's long history. This is a period when this community has to decide whether it should continue on the path of being dominated by newly invading big box stores or to regain our small town culture and embrace local, independently owned stores. It is no question that with the big chain invasion, local arts and culture will be displaced. For every Starbucks that comes a local coffee shop like the Human Bean will be pushed out. For every HMV that invades Cobourg a local music store such as Zaps will be closed. So far the influx of big chains has come at a steady pace. Dairy Queen, Wal-Mart, Eastside Mario's, Staples and Boston Pizza all have opened shop here within the last four years. With these new corporate chains has come more traffic lights with more left hand turn advances and less and less green space. Many townspeople would claim that these stores/restaurants give them the benefit of more consumer choices but I find it is the exact opposite. If you believe that the importation of Boston Pizza will not take at least one local pizza shop out of business then you need a reality check.

Cobourg going corporate will also have a drastic effect on the geographical makeup of the town. All of the latest corporate chains have set up shop on or north of Elgin St. This is definitely a move that will draw consumers away from the downtown area, where our most successful independently owned stores are located. By grouping themselves together the corporate shops will wow us with their buying power and put the downtown into disarray. As you can imagine the empty buildings will pile up and the beauty this town has been known for will be lost, replaced by a new small city that resembles a dozen others in the Quebec-Windsor corridor. It is only a matter of time before we have a twenty-four screen AMC Theatre surrounded by a Chuck E. Cheese, an Outback Steakhouse, and so on. In many ways this is no longer the town that I have spent my best years in.

If I were Mayor Delanty I would rethink the direction that Cobourg has taken under his leadership. I am unsure if things can be fixed as the transformation may already have too strong a foothold. What I can tell you for sure is that the heart of the town is slowly gravitating northward away from King St. Like the areas surrounding the GTA, Cobourg seems destined to become another 401-centric city with a glowing wall of big chain outlets greeting highway motorists passing through.

Kyle Snowdon

Welcome to the Northumberland Independent

2006-02-25T20:33:00.000-05:00

Let me welcome you to the Northumberland Independent. This is a community weblog created to host editorials, short stories, music exposés, art, etc. all from Cobourg and the surrounding area. It is a place where local contributors can come together to publish their ideas/art for all to see. The concept is to help all those in the Cobourg area to learn more about their community, which they do not recieve from local media outlets. Any questions or contributions can be emailed to northumberland_independent@hotmail.com.

Kyle Snowdon