Stephen Harper's long, nasty good-bye...

This past Remembrance Day when Stephen Harper made the crack about how the Royal Canadian Legion had decades to "perfect the technology" and still couldn't sell a poppy that wouldn't fall off your collar immediately, got caught and was subsequently attacked by concerned vets everywhere, I felt sorry for him. His point was valid (come on, who doesn't lose like 10 of those a year?) and the comment was really funny (I admit it, I laughed out loud). Had I been so blinded by his politics and his fish lips that I failed to see the humour and humanity in the "Conservative" leader?

I use quotes around Conservative because, let's face it, he AIN'T a Conservative. Stephen Harper is and always will be the leader of the Alliance Party. Call it what you want, it's still the Alliance. In Joe Clark's clothing.

Anyway, I got over my amusement pretty quickly when I opened the paper this morning and saw that on day two (day two!!!) of the campaign Harper was already promising to do away with gay marriage and restore "family values" to our fine land. Do I live in an urban bleeding heart bubble or is this not the way to try and get Canadians to vote for you?

Don't answer that.

Don't.

I've been thinking that perhaps we all need a little refresher on why Stephen Harper lost the last campaign and why he will lose this one.

He is, for one thing, the guy who published a letter in The Wall Street Journal last year denouncing Canada's decision to "stay neutral" in the Iraq war and assuring Americans that he spoke for the "silent majority" of Canadians who supported the war; Canadians that is, "outside of Quebec." Harper's affection for things American is not skin deep. In 2001 he wrote an article in favour of exchanging our system of government for a US presidential-style one with an appointed cabinet, saying "The difference between the calibre and experience of the Bush cabinet to any Canadian equivalent is embarrassing to us."

Now, I too have an affection for many things American. Growing up in Southern Ontario in many ways is like growing up in Western New York. I love the New York Yankees, jazz music, Irv Weinstein and Commander Tom, but DAMN IT I want my Prime Minister to be a proud Canadian Federalist who is not all about kissing the behinds of the neo-cons.

And it's not just gay rights and our differences from Americans that has Harper ranting. He denounces human rights commissions altogether as "totalitarianism" and an "attack on our fundamental freedoms and the basic existence of a democratic society."

Yeah, OKAAAAAY.

At the fore of Harper's mind is "respect for religious traditions above all...and personal self-restraint reinforced by moral and legal sanctions on behaviour" in order to challenge "the social agenda of the modern Left. Its system of moral relativism, moral neutrality and moral equivalency..."

Anyone who values our heritage as a tolerant and moderate society and the seperation of church and state should think very seriously about preserving that heritage when they place their votes on January 23rd of next year. The day, I am convinced, Stephen Harper will put on his cowboy hat, stroll off into the sunset and finally get out of politics.

With age comes wisdom...or something like it.

Things I have realized in the last little while include the fact that as we all become older and our lives become busier, funerals are not just an opportunity to grieve or a duty done for friends and family, they are social events....and dare I say it, fun.

Also, apparently, with age comes the fact that I am full of hot air...despite the fact that I have been threatening to put it up for weeks on end, my Christmas Tree remains in pieces on my living room floor. Damn you, Canadian Tire and your useless tree stand. Damn you to h-e-double hockey sticks. How's that for Canadian?

Third and final pearl of wisdom that comes with the passage of time is this:

No matter how happy and stable you may feel, if you cut your wrist on the sharp teeth of a cling wrap box, people will be concerned for your mental well being. And your food? Well, it will remain uncovered.

It's snowing!

I'm totally putting up my Christmas lights tonight. Caution, meet wind.

Derek Lamb

It almost seems trite to blog about a matter this personal, but I wanted to say a few words about a mentor and a friend who I just learned lost his battle with cancer last week.

My first job in the 'industry' was as Production Assistant on the animated film Goldtooth: Karate Kids 2, under the leadership and Direction of Derek Lamb. Produced in 1996, the film focuses on youth substance abuse, including glue and gasoline sniffing, a common health problem among street youth worldwide. In 1997, Goldtooth won the UNICEF Meena Prize at the Ottawa International Film Festival, which recognizes outstanding animated films dealing with children's issues and rights.

Working on this project was a life altering experience for me. I learned a lot about the business, the world and myself. Derek taught me about art, about commerce and about the importance of doing good works.

Born in England, Derek began his film career as an animator-writer with the National Film Board in Montréal in 1959. In his time at the NFB he played some role in over 200 productions as a director, producer, animator and composer. He taught animation at Harvard and McGill Universities and the National Institute of Design in India. The last time I heard from Derek he sent a postcard from India (where he was working on a project for Unicef). He drew a picture of two happy little men sitting on top of a mountain wearing fez hats. I 'heart' India was all it said. Vintage Derek.

He returned to the NFB as an executive producer in 1976, and in 1977 he became director of its English animation department. During his five years as director, he produced two Academy Award® winners, Special Delivery (1978) and Every Child (1980). He was the executive producer on The Hockey Sweater, that perfect slice of Canadiana that we all know so well from its screenings on CBC. He is also known for animating the opening credits and designing the stage sets that provided the backdrop for the long-running PBS series, Mystery! using original artwork by Edward Gorey.

Not just a genius filmmaker, Derek had a love of music and had been an accomplished folksinger in the early 1960s. He even opened for a then-unknown Bob Dylan in '62 during his first Montreal appearance. A favourite anecdote of Derek's after a few beers involved a fellow who told him after the show: "That Dylan guy was terrible, but you were great!"

The last project Derek worked on was Peep and the Big Wide World, a children's series on PBS that was the brainchild of the wonderful Kaj Pindal who was a longtime collaborator of Derek's and the creator of many of the characters in Goldtooth. Peep was a huge success even winning the Emmy...here's a picture of the wonderful Kaj with his well deserved award. I'm so glad they saw this project through together and that the last thing they worked on together was a success. I adore Kaj and when I think of Derek's passing the fact that Kaj lost such a dear friend and collaborator just breaks my heart. When I was working with them, watching them create together was like watching two little kids who really loved eachother play in the sandbox together. They never seemed to lose the joy that comes with discovery.


Derek loved to connect with audiences and tell stories any way he could. He often told me when we were working together about how influenced he was by the shows he took in at the British Music Halls when he was a boy. I love to connect with audiences and tell stories in my own way - and when I think of that, and think about my influences I think immediately of my first great boss and his legacy with affection, pride and gratitude. He will be missed.

Family History

Five years ago I worked a job that required me to sit in a cubicle. My cubicle mate was a guy who didn't really do much but read hockey statistics online. Nice enough guy. Really knew his hockey. Didn't seem to know much about where he was working, but who among us should judge?

Ahem.

Anyway, one lazy afternoon he turns to me and says "Hey - look at this, there's a Nolan that played for St. Pat's in the 20's" I didn't know who the St. Pat's were until he explained that they were the Leafs before the Leafs were the Leafs. He turned his screen around and showed me a picture of someone with the countenance and name to match my Grandfather's. I never had the opportunity to meet him, or any of my Grandparents, but I was sure that this was him.

--

From the "Hockey Legends" website:

Patrick "Paddy" Nolan

Paddy Nolan was a stocky individual who could play forward and defence. He made it to the NHL for two games with the Toronto St. Pats in 1921-22 but was best known for his play in senior hockey circles.

The native of Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island was a star in the Cape Breton Senior circuit with the Glace Bay Miners and New Glasgow Black Foxes. In 1920-21 he enjoyed a fine year with the Stellerton Seniors before returning to New Glasgow.

Nolan didn't record a point in two games for the St. Pats but totaled 25 goals over the next two seasons with the Stellertaon Professionals. During the remainder of the decade he played with several New Glasgow senior teams and coached the local high school squad.

--

When I asked my Mother about it I got the "Sure, didn't you know that?" speech. It's funny when the things that seem like a big deal to one generation seem meaningless to those that came before. Family history is just like any history isn't it? Revisionist, I mean.

Anyway, thanks to the intornet (I like to call it the "intornet" - makes the information super highway sound like a 1950's scifi robot!) and a less than focused co-worker I now know that my Grandfather not only played in the NHL but that someone in my immediate family lived in Toronto before my parents and sisters moved here just before I came on the scene in the 70's. It makes me wonder how he experienced the city - if he enjoyed it, where he hung out and most of all I'm left wondering why the hell I am so CRAPPY on skates....

Don't hate me cause I'm Festive

Every year, as soon as Daylight Savings Time occurs and it starts to get dark before I leave the office, every moment of every day is a constant struggle. It's an internal struggle of "common sense" vs "Christmas spirit". Every moment of every day.

Well, today, I lost the battle. Standing in the middle of Urban Outfitters on Yonge Street clutching a little box with the words "THIS TREE NEEDS YOU" printed on it, Christmas spirit won. It kicked my ass. It always does.

The tree in the box (the tree that "needs me") is an exact replica of the tree from A Charlie Brown Christmas, made of wire branches and plastic needles with a criss cross wooden base. The bendable branches allow you to make it look just how you want, super pathetic or just kind of pathetic. The tree comes with a single red Christmas ball ornament.

The reality is, I need the tree more than the tree needs me. I'm giddy about it. If I can put the rest of the decorating off for at least a week, I can justify it by saying that my decorating coincides with the Santa Claus Parade. If I can hold out for two weeks, I can say I'm lining it all up with American thanksgiving. I'm not holding out hope, mind you, but I have to try.

I can't just roll over. I mean, I'm not gonna just be Christmas' bitch without a fight.

Good Grief, do I LOVE that tree!

"...nothing but wires and tubes stuck in a box..."

Written by George Clooney and Grant Heslov and Directed by Clooney, Good Night, And Good Luck tells the story of the conflict between esteemed television newsman Edward R. Murrow - portrayed in an Oscar worthy performance by David Strathairn - and Senator Joseph McCarthy, a conflict which played out nationally, over the airwaves on CBS Television.

Good Night, And Good Luck has a lot to say about the current state of journalism ( especially television journalism) and its ability...no, its obligation, the obligation of the news media to question and when necessary, criticize the actions of the government. It's timely stuff and it's no mistake I'm sure that the viewers thoughts turn to Iraq, Katrina and that Bush Administration oldie but goodie, The Patriot Act when we watch Murrow and his team try to shine a light on McCarthy. I almost said while we watch Murrow and his team try to bring down McCarthy...but that is not what they do. It may have been their hope, but it seems to me, that they knew as journalists, that all they had to do was show the public what was going on and things would somehow right themselves. It's all so noble and beautiful it makes my teeth ache. In a good way.

OK, True confession time: next to Pete Rose, Joe McCarthy is my personal boogie man. I mean, I own the complete HUAC transcripts! Call it a fascination, or a sickness, but to watch his downfall played out on film...well, it did me a world of good. A world of good. In the film, Murrow, addressing an audience of his peers states that if we do not use the medium of television to enlighten and educate then it is "nothing but wires and tubes stuck in a box". Amen to that. I hope Anderson Cooper has seen this movie, because, let's face it, the ball is in his court right now. The moment is his and I hope to hell he takes it.

This movie isn't just about making a point though, it's an artistic triumph as well. Shot in beautiful, rich, black and white it instantly transports you to another time and place. Clooney demonstrates great restraint by limiting the soundtrack to musical interludes (sung by the amazing Dianne Reeves who appears on screen) a move that makes the music more powerful when it is heard and also aids in keeping the strong dialogue, let's say, uncluttered.

The performances are all brilliant. Strathairn becomes Murrow, quietly and completely. George Clooney embodies Fred Friendly, Murrow's producer in the purest sense. Think about it: here's a guy who is so self-assured that he can easily and confidently hand off the starring role to someone else. And in doing so - he commands the highest levels of dignity and respect. The supporting cast is all strong, particularly Ray Wise (as the tragic figure Don Hollenbeck), Patricia Clarkson and Robert Downey Jr. I'm so grateful that Robert Downey Jr. has got things back on track in his personal life, allowing us to enjoy his wonderful, subtle skills as an actor. He's one of those actors who can do more with a silence than many can do with pages and pages of dialogue. A surprise bit of casting for me was Reed Diamond as John Aaron. A favourite of mine from his Homicide: Life on the Street days it's always such a pleasure to see him working. He does himself proud, as do Tate Donovan (who, coincidentally played his brother on H:LOTS) and Frank Langella (as the CBS head honcho).

It's been a long time since a movie has made me want to cheer, out loud, in the theatre...not just at the credits when it was over, but several times through the course of the film.

George Clooney has made his masterpiece.

Report it Now

Try as I might....still not outraged.

Yesterday, the Gomery Inquiry absolved Prime Minister Paul Martin of personal blame in the sponsorship scandal, as he was not involved in supervision of spending. Can't say I'm surprised there. I always believed him when he said he wasn't involved. Good for you Paulie, I say! The thing is, I still can't bring myself to be outraged by this particular scandal. It all seems like politics as usual to me. Don't like that "culture of entitlement" much, but what can you do? What can you doooo? I mean the day the government doesn't throw away millions of taxpayer's dollars is the day I start to get worried.

At least little Stevie Harper can sit down and shut up for a while. Well, he won't, but he should. That much I'm sure of.