Eclectic Waves

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/01/books/01wetzsteon.html

Rachel Wetzsteon’s “Sakura Park”

The park admits the wind,

the petals lift and scatter

like versions of myself I was on the verge

of becoming; and ten years on

and ten blocks down I still can’t tell

whether this dispersal resembles

a fist unclenching or waving goodbye.

But the petals scatter faster,

seeking the rose, the cigarette vendor,

and at least I’ve got by pumping heart

some rules of conduct: refuse to choose

between turning pages and turning heads

though the stubborn dine alone. Get over

“getting over”: dark clouds don’t fade

but drift with ever deeper colors.

Give up on rooted happiness

(the stolid trees on fire!) and sweet reprieve

(a poor park but my own) will follow.

There is still a chance the empty gazebo

will draw crowds from the greater world.

And meanwhile, meanwhile’s far from nothing:

the humming moment, the rustle of cherry trees.

This is good.

Expecting flu assistance, reserves get body bags from Ottawa

This? I am without words. But shaking with rage.

Buffy Sainte-Marie wasn't - lyrics to "My Country 'Tis of Thy People You're Dying" below the cut.

( Read more... )

A radio PSA by the Alzheimer's Society begins, "Hello. I'm Fred West."

Jim Carroll dead

RIP, Jim.

(The New York Times obituary)

Of course, the date is of more note than the day.

First, the anniversaries:
It's frankie_ecap's birthday!
It was my grandmother Russell's birthday, and is the anniversary of my grandfather Stead's death.

For many, many others, it is also an anniversary of note. The sadness we shared, the shock that was so apparent, have faded, but not gone away. But here's something with a little more hope: ever since 9/11, this lady has been searching for Don, who helped her on the day. Maybe someone can find him.

"The billboard had this written on it: "... a magnificent moment of Canadian TV was happening at the same time on MuchMusic. The Tragically Hip were doing an Intimate & Interactive that went on gloriously for hours. In the pouring rain, hundreds stood outside on Queen Street. Gord Downie, a man with more charisma in his little finger than any political leader and a greater understanding of Canada than all the Alliance candidates, was asked about misconceptions of Canada that he's encountered on the road. 'That Canadians aren't patriotic,' he said dryly. Then, in one of those spontaneous moments that only happen on TV, and happen cogently in the electronic Much arena, the crowd started singing O Canada. In salute to a rock 'n' roll band! It was a ragged rendition, but it cut to the heart of this country's culture, a culture alive and well at the corner of Queen and John in downtown Toronto - ahead by a century - and absent at that Alliance convention in Calgary. It was political and profound and made me thankful for television and the multi-channel universe, and the ironies it reveals." I was taken aback, because I wrote that for this newspaper. And it was true."

From John Doyle's column "When MuchMusicMattered" in today's Globe and Mail

Today is Paul's 50th 49th birthday.

Ah, I can't help but wonder how different it might have been, had 1986 not been fucked up beyond belief, resulting in my lengthy rebound bounce across the Atlantic.

It would appear I will soon be the only person without a Blackberry... this can't be right!