tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-68368225069781646722024-02-08T00:57:10.700-05:00Tracking RighteousnessAaron Talbothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11256778948996343352noreply@blogger.comBlogger86125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6836822506978164672.post-8844342654173915922010-03-19T16:32:00.002-04:002010-03-19T16:50:39.894-04:00Copyright conundrum<a href="http://www.copyrightauthority.com/copyright-symbol/Copyright-Symbol-images/Copyright_symbol_2.gif"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 220px; height: 220px;" src="http://www.copyrightauthority.com/copyright-symbol/Copyright-Symbol-images/Copyright_symbol_2.gif" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><h2>Info and Contest</h2><br />It's a pickle, but eventually our Federal government is going to have figure out how to update Canadian copyright laws for the 21st century.<br /><br />Right now, there's a private member's bill put forth by NDP MP Charlie Angus. In essence it's a small consumer tax on MP3 players. For that reason alone, it will probably die. But it's a really good attempt to try to deal fairly with the issue.<br /><br />To wit: <blockquote><i>"Artists have a right to get paid and consumers have a right to access works. Digital locks and suing fans are not going to prevent people from copying music from one format to another. By updating, we will ensure that artists are getting paid for their work, and that consumers aren't criminalized for moving their legally-obtained music from one format to another."</i></blockquote> The Edmonton Journal editorial staff is for it. <a href="http://www.edmontonjournal.com/news/Creative+content+must+paid/2701028/story.html" target="_blank">Check out why</a>. And (even) the <a href="http://network.nationalpost.com/NP/blogs/fullcomment/archive/2010/03/19/chris-selley-s-full-pundit-social-conservatives-take-heart.aspx" target="_blank">National Pos</a>t agrees.<br /><br />Do you? <br /><br />If you do or don't but have a strong opinion either way, here's a great way to make some quick cash on the issue: check out <a href="http://www.thereelchallenge.ca/" target="_blank">thereelchallenge.ca</a>. <br /><br />It's a film contest. 3 minutes could win you $10,000. <br /><br />From the Contest Rules: <blockquote><i>Prizes will be awarded by the adjudicating committee to the Content Providers whose submissions promote creators’ rights and address the importance of content protection, from a creator’s perspective, in the most compelling way, provoke the most thought and feeling in the viewer, and are considered the most engaging, imaginative and the most innovative in content and delivery.</i></blockquote> Deadline is April 26th kids. Good luck!!!Aaron Talbothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11256778948996343352noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6836822506978164672.post-75149580187139368812010-01-26T15:00:00.005-05:002010-01-26T15:38:24.028-05:00File this under "Oh, come on"<h2>R&J protested in Tennessee</h2><a href="http://www.taudiobook.com/catalog/images/Romeo_and_juliet_brown.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 612px; height: 852px;" src="http://www.taudiobook.com/catalog/images/Romeo_and_juliet_brown.jpg" border="0" alt="taudiobook.com" /></a><br /> No, I'm not talking about <a href="http://www.joecalarco.net/productions-R&J.htm" target="_blank">Colarco's adapatation </a>with prep school boys playacting as the two lovers.<br /><br />Not even talking about the Zeffirelli film with a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Romeo_and_Juliet_(1968_film)#Controversial_rating_distinctions" target="_blank">nude scene with a 15-year-old actress</a>.<br /><br />No, rather <a href="http://www.thestar.com/entertainment/theatre/article/755834--toronto-s-romeo-and-juliet-is-just-too-racy-for-nashville?bn=1" target="_blank">The Star</a> is reporting that a Toronto school-touring production of Romeo and Juliet was almost cancelled due to a group of parents who disapproved of the show's sexuality.<br /><br />From the article: <blockquote><i>... a woman who identified herself as Val, a home-school teacher from Hermitage, "struggled being here with my son. The sexuality was too much. Our children need to be more pure."</i></blockquote> And, I guess, "several other teachers echoed her opinion."<br /><br />Now, I haven't seen the production but I'm reasonably assured that all the actors keep their clothes on.<br /><br />So, does that mean these folks are objecting to the script? That was written in 1595 (give or take)?<br /><br />If so, kudos to the ensemble for an obviously vivid and faithful interpretation of the Bard's text. <br /><br />To those teachers and parents of those oh-so-pure children... You do know that <em>this </em>is what your kids are listening to, don't you: <br /><br /><a href="http://www.buzzhollywood.com/wp-content/plugins/wp-o-matic/cache/a10bd_post_image-lady-gaga-toronto-spl108456_001.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 613px; height: 680px;" src="http://www.buzzhollywood.com/wp-content/plugins/wp-o-matic/cache/a10bd_post_image-lady-gaga-toronto-spl108456_001.jpg" border="0" alt="buzzhollywood.com"/></a>Aaron Talbothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11256778948996343352noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6836822506978164672.post-10804437049923892722010-01-14T14:58:00.007-05:002010-01-14T16:10:46.683-05:00German Musical Obama... what???<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDbiOvNckxGb3kuVkrbU5FzSmpfBmx7o2gHJsvPwFIDq2wzIV1nNfPLV8xydyv19eEA18KxnYNT5eb4mAjpPGUg9VevApt32YRJjpXExE_WXtRFiEnRFUViIlJ4EjkLmKq1hUJh63Mz0E/s1600-h/www.spiegel.de.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5426687881345747458" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 266px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDbiOvNckxGb3kuVkrbU5FzSmpfBmx7o2gHJsvPwFIDq2wzIV1nNfPLV8xydyv19eEA18KxnYNT5eb4mAjpPGUg9VevApt32YRJjpXExE_WXtRFiEnRFUViIlJ4EjkLmKq1hUJh63Mz0E/s400/www.spiegel.de.jpg" border="0" /></a> <h2>Hope! - A new musical about Barack Obama's ascent to the US Presidency opens in Frankfurt</h2>I still don't know what to make of this one.<br /><br />Yes, Barack Obama has world wide appeal. Yes, he even has a <a href="http://my.barackobama.com/page/content/berlinvideo/" target="_blank">special connection</a> to Germany. But a <a href="http://www.spiegel.de/international/zeitgeist/0,1518,670866,00.html" target="_blank">German musical</a> about him?<br /><br />I just don't know.<br /><br />From the description: <blockquote><i>"I had the initial idea right at the start of Obama's electoral campaign," American writer and composer Randall Hutchins told SPIEGEL ONLINE. "I found the atmosphere exciting and that was my inspiration. People hoped change would result in a better life. It was a beautiful, very social time."</i></blockquote>Okay. Sure. That sounds like something to write about. And, checking out the <a href="http://www.spiegel.de/fotostrecke/fotostrecke-50545.html" target="_blank">photo gallery</a>... yeah. Maybe that could be kind of fun.<br /><br />But, wait. Just wait. What am I going to be looking at again? <blockquote><i>Wearing a knitted cardigan and crooning into his microphone, Barack Obama paces around the stage, wooing Michelle with a love song. In another number, now clad in a suit, Jimmie Wilson who plays Obama, struts up and down, clasping his mike and leading a euphoric gospel chorus of "Yes We Can."</i></blockquote>Ew - Eww - <i>Eeeewwwww...</i><br /><br />I don't like it.<br /><br />Do I have a problem with musicals? Not with <a href="http://novembertheatre.com/index.html" target="_blank">this one</a>. Nor <a href="http://www.nlac.nf.ca/images/feature_hedwigmore.jpg" target="_blank">this one</a>.<br /><br />I just don't like wasting my time. This musical sounds like a waste of my time.<br /><br />Maybe it bugs me that this is a German creation. I just got back from Berlin last week. (PS -- Berlin is awesome!) I stopped by the <a href="http://www.deutschestheater.de/" target="_blank">Deutsches Theater</a> to check out what was going on. I picked up a program. On the front cover was a promo shot from its production of <a href="http://www.deutschestheater.de/spielplan/spielplan/othello/" target="_blank"><i>Othello</i></a>.<br /><br />Check it out:<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz3nS6LvKx5NeGSM5v1Zm4mBMHxi65a3LP2Pvt3GtZnktbF22ePZEgHgq62J3Uqs8NGfQAQbSjL5f8Tj6OMDJ7G9kmJKbAo7D64nJQEWzXO5X1EiV5TY8P8Bs05y0G9vGnn9GJDDj9yJo/s1600-h/Deutsches+Theater+program.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5426702291265815010" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 309px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz3nS6LvKx5NeGSM5v1Zm4mBMHxi65a3LP2Pvt3GtZnktbF22ePZEgHgq62J3Uqs8NGfQAQbSjL5f8Tj6OMDJ7G9kmJKbAo7D64nJQEWzXO5X1EiV5TY8P8Bs05y0G9vGnn9GJDDj9yJo/s400/Deutsches+Theater+program.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />Yeah. That's a <i>German</i> interpretation of <i>Othello</i>.<br /><br />I don't know if the show was any good (I missed it), or if the photo is just a publicity shot designed to create a stir (and probably offence at the same time).<br /><br />But it's exciting. It's risky.<br /><br />It's <em>dangerous</em>.<br /><br />That's what I like about theatre. Musical or not.Aaron Talbothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11256778948996343352noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6836822506978164672.post-22349120762714928672010-01-12T16:15:00.008-05:002010-01-12T17:04:58.400-05:00Congrats Michael Healey<a href="http://www.playwrightscanada.com/graphics/authors/michael_healey.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 250px;" src="http://www.playwrightscanada.com/graphics/authors/michael_healey.jpg" border="0" alt="playwrightscanada.com" /></a><h2><em>The Drawer Boy</em> 4th most produced play in the US during the Naughties</h2> <br />Top ten lists are always in vogue around the new year, especially at the dawn of a new decade (or century, or millennium, or what have you). <br /><br />You can usually find Top 10 productions of the year for theatre as well but, due to the nature of the beast, they're so localized, that these lists don't "mean" as much as some others.<br /><br />However, over at <a href="http://www.theglobeandmail.com/blogs/theatre/" target="_blank">Nestruck on Theatre</a> there is a report that Michael Healey's <em>The Drawer Boy</em> was the <a href="http://www.theglobeandmail.com/blogs/theatre/michael-healeys-the-drawer-boy-the-fourth-most-produced-play-of-decade-in-the-us/article1427295/" target="_blank">fourth most produced play in the U.S.</a> during the last decade.<br /><br />Local boy does good!<br /><br />Of course, I can't help but grit my teeth a little to report that somehow <a href="http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704842604574643180067287494.html" target="_blank">this list</a> should mean more to me than <a href="http://www.cbc.ca/arts/theatre/story/2009/11/02/f-2000s-decade-in-performing-arts.html" target="_blank">others</a>.<br /><br />It is an unfortunate symptom of Canada's national character that we judge our successes based on how well we do south of the border. <br /><br />That being said, Mr. Healey's work is among a list of some really seminal pieces, and the fact that his play has been produced 36 times in a country not of his origin is, to put it mildly, impressive. <br /><br />Congratulations are indeed in order. Well done!Aaron Talbothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11256778948996343352noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6836822506978164672.post-63758650470736364602010-01-07T05:08:00.004-05:002010-01-07T06:49:44.707-05:00Accomplish much?<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://rlv.zcache.com/dont_fix_the_blame_fix_the_problem_tshirt-p235365464565060862t59f_400.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 400px;" src="http://rlv.zcache.com/dont_fix_the_blame_fix_the_problem_tshirt-p235365464565060862t59f_400.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><h2>Those who doubt seem really, really angry about it</h2> <br />As of this writing, the Facebook group <a href="http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=260348091419" target="_blank">Canadians Against Proroguing Parliament</a> has grown to 80,235 people.<br /><br />That's nearly equivalent to the population of Sarnia, Ontario, or Nanaimo, British Columbia (according to <a href="http://www.tageo.com/index-e-ca-cities-CA.htm" target="_blank">tageo.com</a>).<br /><br />Media responses to the group however, have been mostly negative. They range from <a href="http://www.cbc.ca/politics/story/2010/01/04/facebook-group-prorogation.html" target="_blank">dismissive</a>, to <a href="http://www2.macleans.ca/2010/01/05/stop-or-ill-tour/" target="_blank">cynical</a> to actually-kind-of-<a href="http://www.theglobeandmail.com/blogs/blogolitics/grassroots-fury-limps-across-the-nation/article1420857/" target="_blank">insulting</a>.<br /><br />If you are easily discouraged, I recommend not clicking the above links.<br /><br />But I have to wonder: if this FB group is just BS, then why do you continue to write about it? If you take a look at the National Post's <a href="http://network.nationalpost.com/np/blogs/fullcomment/default.aspx" target="_blank">Full Comment</a> section online, I see 8 different opinion pieces about the group published since January 5th (not including <a href="http://network.nationalpost.com/np/blogs/fullcomment/archive/2010/01/06/chris-selley-s-full-pundit-parliament-is-prorogued-drop-your-drawers.aspx" target="_blank">Chris Selley's Full Pundit</a>).<br /><br />I'm a member of the group, and in the same time frame, I've only written about it once. <br /><br />Like the Bard said: "Methinks thou doth protest too much..."<br /><br />Perhaps, all we've accomplished is eighty thousand people clicking a button. But for me, that's <span style="font-style:italic;">a damn good start</span>.<br /><br />So... what shall we accomplish next?<br /><br />---<br /><br />And, for those of you who are gluttons for punishment, here are the aforementioned <span style="font-style:italic;">NP</span> articles:<br /><a href="http://network.nationalpost.com/np/blogs/fullcomment/archive/2010/01/06/john-ivison-relaxed-harper-sees-hope-on-the-horizon.aspx" target="_blank">One</a><br /><a href="http://network.nationalpost.com/np/blogs/fullcomment/archive/2010/01/06/steve-janke-statistical-proof-that-facebook-groups-cause-global-warming.aspx" target="_blank">Two</a><br /><a href="http://network.nationalpost.com/np/blogs/fullcomment/archive/2010/01/06/national-post-editorial-board-the-toronto-star-discovers-the-interweb.aspx" target="_blank">Three</a><br /><a href="http://network.nationalpost.com/np/blogs/fullcomment/archive/2010/01/06/john-moore-proroguing-parliament-canadians-just-don-t-care.aspx" target="_blank">Four</a><br /><a href="http://network.nationalpost.com/np/blogs/fullcomment/archive/2010/01/05/matt-gurney-anti-harper-facebook-group-picks-and-chooses-its-censorship.aspx" target="_blank">Five</a><br /><a href="http://network.nationalpost.com/np/blogs/fullcomment/archive/2010/01/05/time-to-make-a-meaningless-gesture-that-doesn-t-matter-canada.aspx" target="_blank">Six</a><br /><a href="http://network.nationalpost.com/np/blogs/fullcomment/archive/2010/01/05/jonathan-kay-oh-dear-who-showed-the-toronto-star-how-to-use-the-new-fangled-interweb.aspx" target="_blank">Seven</a><br /><a href="http://network.nationalpost.com/np/blogs/fullcomment/archive/2010/01/05/km-on-facebook-rage.aspx" target="_blank">Eight</a>Aaron Talbothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11256778948996343352noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6836822506978164672.post-73459074818430674502010-01-05T06:03:00.006-05:002010-01-05T06:41:23.082-05:00Have you joined?<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlezeGxPCeAKZTSP88JrNQLpOyEMIlCjwvtZwRojxXGr1mWkd9ca4TcXgP0VbiD9QfnHjDUen7N-2zfLtLehwDSO-11GudE_-b19Ne7BwMgIVSbS4METQmzXucFGCzVaUnpBPRxVDBUKI/s1600-h/Canadians+Against+Proroguing+Parliament.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 129px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlezeGxPCeAKZTSP88JrNQLpOyEMIlCjwvtZwRojxXGr1mWkd9ca4TcXgP0VbiD9QfnHjDUen7N-2zfLtLehwDSO-11GudE_-b19Ne7BwMgIVSbS4METQmzXucFGCzVaUnpBPRxVDBUKI/s400/Canadians+Against+Proroguing+Parliament.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5423210281578282706" /></a><h2>A Grassroots movement against a cynical government</h2> What a difference 5 days make!<br /><br />My last post, on the last day of 2009, was quite pessimistic, I'll admit. However, despite the government's move to hide its 2nd annual prorogation of Parliament behind the blur of thousands of New Year's Eve parties and the announcement of the Canadian Men's Olympic Hockey Team roster, something quite different happened. <br /><br />People got pissed off. <br /><br />A number of Facebook groups that opposed the government's move were set up. One of them caught fire: <a href="http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=260348091419&ref=mf" target="_blank">Canadians Against Proroguing Parliament</a>. As of this writing, its membership has grown to about the size of the population of Lloydminster, Alberta. <br /><br />Yesterday morning, the group was noted in the Globe and Mail's <a href="http://www.theglobeandmail.com/blogs/bureau-blog/prorogation-vs-coalition-which-causes-more-outrage/article1418211/" target="_blank">Ottawa Notebook</a> political blog. Later that day, the group's founder Christopher White, was interviewed on <a href="http://www.cbc.ca/politics/story/2010/01/04/facebook-group-prorogation.html" target="_blank">CBC News</a>. This morning, it was featured in an article for the <a href="http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/article/746068--grassroots-fury-greets-shuttered-parliament?bn=1" target="_blank">Toronto Star</a>.<br /><br />Polls still show that more Canadians are indifferent to prorogation than are against it. But not as many as you might think: while 45% are indifferent, 35% are unhappy about it, and only 15% are for it. The causality of the majority's indifference could be based in any number of reasons, but people's opinions can change on a dime. Especially if they feel that they are being taken advantage of.<br /><br />Well, we are. Democracy may be our right, but it is a fragile one and it needs to be protected. It needs to engaged by its citizens.<br /><br />It needs us to stand up and be counted. <br /><br />Join us.Aaron Talbothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11256778948996343352noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6836822506978164672.post-32248998128236527642009-12-31T06:07:00.011-05:002010-01-02T07:08:22.392-05:00Everything old is new again?<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.nationalpost.com/news/1032822.bin?size=404x272"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 404px; height: 272px;" src="http://www.nationalpost.com/news/1032822.bin?size=404x272" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><h2>Shades of December 2008 - Harper prorogues Parliament again!</h2><br /><a href="http://www.liberal.ca/en/newsroom/media-releases/17167_harpers-prorogation-shuts-down-parliament-to-perpetuate-cover-up-of-afghan-detainee-controversy" target="_blank">Conventional wisdom today </a>is that PM Harper has prorogued Parliament for the <span style="font-style:italic;">second</span> time since the 2008 Federal election because he's worried that the committee investigating the Afghan detainee/torture issue is costing the Conservatives too much political capital. That the issue will disappear once the afterglow of the Vancouver Olympics erases it from our collective consciousness like a <a href="http://www.chacha.com/question/what-is-the-memory-erasing-device-used-in-men-in-black" target="_blank">MiB Neuralyzer</a>.<br /><br />However, Dimitri Soudas, the PMO's press secretary, doesn't think so. It's "old news" he noted in a conference call to reporters, according to the <a href="http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/proroguing-parliament-a-travesty-yet-clever/article1415391/" target="_blank">G&M's John Ibbitson</a>. And, I tend to believe him.<br /><br />Not with Soudas' statement, but rather that this is an accurate reflection of the government's attitude towards the detainee issue: they don't think they'll lose an election over it, and, as uncomfortable as the issue has become, it will eventually go away.<br /><br />Besides, defence has never been this government's preference for action. They like aggressiveness. They like to squash the enemy. <br /><br />They like to consolidate power.<br /><br />The second piece of conventional wisdom circulating among the pundits is that prorogation is doubly advantageous to the Conservatives because it allows Harper to further stack Senate vacancies with partisan loyalists, effectively giving him a governing minority in the Upper House. This seems to be a little bit more in character...<br /><br />But then, Harper didn't need to lock up the HoC and kill 37 pieces of legislation just to fill Senate vacancies. He could fill them while the House sits. Yes, prorogation effectively <a href="http://www.parl.gc.ca/compendium/web-content/c_d_prorogationparliament-e.htm" target="_blank">resets the make-up of Senate committees</a>: without it, the Liberals could keep a majority in each committee until each one had finished its business, regardless of the overall make up of the Senate. But, again, going through with prorogation just to obtain a "governing minority" in a legislative wing of government that the Conservatives are (supposedly) ideologically opposed seems like overkill for much too little in return. Even for this government. <br /><br />Last year at this time (more or less a couple of weeks), Harper was forced to prorogue Parliament to save his government's skin. As you may recall, the government had just won another minority in a Federal election that broke the government's own law regarding <a href="http://canadaonline.about.com/od/bills/p/electiondates.htm" target="_blank">fixed election dates</a>, on a platform of economic stability and no deficits. It's first act of business: to introduce a fiercely partisan economic update that virtually ignored the world-wide economic crisis in favour of financially crippling the opposition parties. The <a href="http://www.theglobeandmail.com/blogs/brian-topp/coalition-redux-the-prime-minister-makes-a-big-mistake/article1382092/" target="_blank">opposition parties reacted</a>, and Harper found himself in a long discussion with the Governor General over the merits of using an obscure parliamentary procedure to avoid losing the confidence of the House.<br /><br />Fast forward to now, after the largest deficit in Canadian history (by far), a couple of lily-livered attempts by the Opposition to knock the Conservatives out of power, and a relatively stable year of polling showing that Canadians are not comfortable with anything more than a minority of blue on the government's side of the aisle, and Mr. Harper decides to give the GG a ring. "One more time," he asks, "after all, everything worked out for the best last time round, eh?"<br /><br />This is a strategic move, yes, but I believe it's only the first step and not the endgame.<br /><br />See, if the government learned anything from its last year in power, it understands that it <i>does</i> indeed have a lot of power. None more than when the House isn't sitting. Mr. Harper is never so popular than when he's not defending his government and its policies (or lack thereof) in the House. Rather, he looks better when he's on trade missions, or announcing money for projects via stimulus funds, or even (strangely enough) <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-57ydwbqb_M" target="_blank">singing</a>. <br /><br />Through prorogation, the government effectively buys 2 months of time in which they can set the publicity agenda through vehicles like "Canada's Economic Action Plan" in which taxpayer's money is used to promote the government, while the opposition parties must use their own money to get any airtime. And if (and when) they do, this conveniently allows for the PMO to send out one if its infamous "Alerte-Info-Alert" emails to Tory MPs and supporters which outlines talking points to defend/dismiss any criticism. And, of course, to fundraise for more money into the Conservative's election war chest.<br /><br />Ibbitson, in the article linked to above, refers to a statement made by an anonymous government official, who notes:<blockquote><span style="font-style:italic;">"... the government wanted to give itself time and breathing room to think through how to manage the economy as it emerges from recession and to put in place a long-term strategy for balancing the budget."</span></blockquote> I believe him/her.<br /><br />But only because I've seen this before. In essence, s/he is saying: <blockquote><span style="font-style:italic;">"The government has learned its lesson from last year: the 2008 economic update was much too hasty a policy-cum-political document to be (at all) effective. We had just barely recovered from fighting an election campaign and we didn't realize how seriously the economic crisis was going to affect Canada. We were rash; we didn't think things through. <br /><br />This time will be different. <br /><br />This time we can design a budget that much more discretely aligns our political motives with one more year of stimulus spending, while beginning to cut programs under a facade of fiscal responsibility. This time we can create a document that much more effectively traps the opposition parties into either supporting us or being woefully embarrassed. This time, if they don't support us, it will be they who loses the public support, they who cause a $300 million election, and ultimately they who provide us with the means to finally win a majority government. And they won't have that pesky coalition option to fall back on. <br /><br />This time, we can take the time to get it right."</span></blockquote> Whoa. Cynical much? <br /><br />Maybe. But yet I keep seeing in the media that the government intends to continue spending stimulus funds through 2011, and yet introduce a leaner budget in 2010. That the government has no intention of increasing taxes but rather intends to freeze or cut spending in order to get the deficit under control. <br /><br />Something has got to give.Aaron Talbothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11256778948996343352noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6836822506978164672.post-91235632407388467102009-09-23T10:42:00.004-04:002009-09-23T11:19:13.342-04:00Equity weighs in on BC<a href="http://www.caea.com/EquityWeb/Images/AboutEquity/Arden-Ryshpan.jpg"><img style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 125px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 159px" alt="Arden R. Ryshpan" src="http://www.caea.com/EquityWeb/Images/AboutEquity/Arden-Ryshpan.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><h2>Ms. Ryshpan penned a letter</h2><br /><a href="http://www.caea.com/" target="_blank">CAEA</a> Executive Director Arden R. Ryshpan wrote a letter to BC's Premier Gordon Campbell about those stinking cuts to Arts & Culture. She writes: <blockquote><em>"The budget update delivered by Minister Colin Hansenearlier this month makes no particular reference to arts and culture and certainly doesn’t explain why you see the need to cut funding by over 90%. This is a completely disproportionate share of the burden. When times are tough, we all recognize the need for restraint, but the cuts you propose are far more severe than mere fiscal prudence. Furthermore, Minister Hansen suggests that while it is expected that the B.C. economy will shrink by 2.9% in 2009, he is anticipating 1.9% growth in the next year (...) so it is unclear to us why such draconian cuts are necessary in our sector."</em></blockquote>Indeed. Although I didn't realize that the government had acutally forcast growth in 2010. Brutal.<br /><br />Now, even if the government's economic prediction pans out (which is not certain), it doesn't necessarily follow that the government's revenues will increase along with the economy. This is because corporations can wait up to five years to write off losses in their tax returns. This is why governments still must budget deficits even after the economy grows after a recession.<br /><br />Nevertheless, the point is moot because these cuts were not about the money. The relatively small amount of money the government saves by virtually eliminating its Arts & Culture budget barely makes a dent in its projected deficits. It's just too little money to make a difference.<br /><br />And, Ms. Ryshpan recognizes this: <blockquote><em>"Every other government in Canada is looking at the Creative Economy as a way to revive dying industrial and resource-based economies, and the arts are a driving force in that new landscape. At a time when your government is investing tens of millions of dollars in other industries, <strong>the cuts in arts funding represents a tiny percentage of your overall expenditures and yet means so very much to our industry.</strong></em> (emphasis mine)<em> I would ask that your government explain to the thousands and thousands of artists in the province why their jobs are not important but other people’s are."</em></blockquote> More to the point: how can the BC government justify gutting an entire industry for the sake of political image? <br /><br />You can read Ms. Ryshpan's letter in full <a href="http://www.caea.com/EquityWeb/NewsAndEvents/News/2009/LetterBCGovReFundingCuts.pdf" target="_blank">here</a>.Aaron Talbothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11256778948996343352noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6836822506978164672.post-24258092977699271892009-09-14T16:37:00.020-04:002009-09-21T16:03:52.694-04:00Impact and Change<h2>What's the best way to get the public on your side?</h2><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhqQqENCAf6Mtx07tQgENGBIDEx2zWRzubQedi9NdgHLu_2EclVZjK297_uiTfNy306K4Xe-18Xtqw_voocaCEPqEjJn4p5ORoCxmso34HjrduEZINbHSYyQ7wwRbgWdz3FiXQtr1aQ9A/s1600-h/kim+catrall.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 98px; height: 137px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhqQqENCAf6Mtx07tQgENGBIDEx2zWRzubQedi9NdgHLu_2EclVZjK297_uiTfNy306K4Xe-18Xtqw_voocaCEPqEjJn4p5ORoCxmso34HjrduEZINbHSYyQ7wwRbgWdz3FiXQtr1aQ9A/s320/kim+catrall.jpg" border="0" alt="Kim Catrall"id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5384007087947210850" /></a><br /> Over at the <a href="http://thenextstage.wordpress.com/" target="_blank">Next Stage</a>, there's a video link to a news item on Global BC about the recent cuts to funding for Arts & Culture in BC's provincial budget. <a href="http://www.globaltvbc.com/video/index.html?releasePID=GAFjvbRg2C9oQz1wqMfkGwbZuqbZNcIY" target="_blank">Check it out.</a><br /><br />Three questions should immediately pop up for all artists concerned about BC after viewing this item:<ol><li>Why did this story air?</li><li>How effective was it?</li><li>How do we get more stories like this on air?</li></ol> After watching the story, you realize that the reason why Global took an interest is because <a href="http://www.kimcattrall.net/" target="_blank">Kim Catrall</a> got on board and <a href="http://http://www.canada.com/Stars+could+take+Liberals+walk+shame/2012055/story.html" target="_blank">criticized the BC government for its excessive cuts</a> to Arts & Culture.<br /><br />Some would be annoyed that the only reason that this issue has made it to air on a major network was because a celebrity mentioned it. Not me. I think this is great news. <br /><br />If you recall during the last Federal election, Arts & Culture became an issue (and made it to the national debates for the first time in history) only <em>after </em>prominient Québec artists criticized the PM for $45M in funding cuts, made months earlier. The PM <a href="http://www.thestar.com/FederalElection/article/504811" target="_blank">responded</a>, and the rest is history.<br /><br />What local arts groups need to do now is try to figure out how to get more celebrities on board. With the 2010 Olympics only months away, and Vancouver (and BC) becoming increasingly in the spotlight, this may be just the opportunity we've been waiting for... I'll get back to this in a minute.<br /><br />The other detail about the story that I noticed is that Global also spent extra time, energy and money to profile how local groups (like <a href="http://www.carouseltheatre.ca/" target="_blank">Carousel Theatre</a>) will be impacted by the funding cuts. This is significant when you consider how much easier it would have been to broadcast a 15-second bit featuring Catrall's comments and then move on. The question is: why did they bother? Was it just good reporting? Does Global have a proclivity for focusing on the "human" angle? Or, is it something else entirely...<br /><br />Well, maybe. Global TV (along with fellow broadcasters CBC, CTV and A-Channel) is embroiled in a major public relations battle with cable providers Rogers, Bell and Telus. At issue is whether the broadcasters should be able to charge the cable providers for access to their programming. You may have seen 'Save Local TV' commercials or clicked on their <a href="http://localtvmatters.ca/" target="_blank">website</a>. What's important to note about this conflict is that the broadcasters (especially Global, which needs the extra income most desperately) are furiously branding themselves as the champions of local television, and by extension, local communities. <br /><br />I see the possibility for a mutually beneficial relationship...<br /><br />What's happening in BC right now is an underground movement to build momentum and help get the public on the side of artists and cultural workers. As more events are planned and executed in support of culture -- like last week's <a href="http://artofthebiz.wordpress.com/2009/09/09/dandilions-and-firelighters/" target="_blank">Art Strike</a> -- two publicity objectives need to pursued and met. <br /><br />First, there needs to be celebrity voices, or the voices of prominent members of the community, on side and (if possible) on sight. This makes the event sexy to the broadcasters.<br /><br />Second, any and all press releases, backgrounders, etc., need to start angling the story so that it's not just about the government cutting funding. <br />Our story needs to be about protecting <em>local </em>culture and <em>local </em>communities. Our story needs to mirror the messaging and the language that the broadcasters themselves are using to demonize the cable providers. Our story needs to give the broadcasters a reason to move the story up to near the top of the news, or a reason to do an "in-depth" feature.<br /><br />See... whether we artists realize this or not, this issue is more important than just the state of culture in BC. This is about how important culture is to Canadian politicians. If this issue gets legs -- if national outrage can start to mimic the same momentum that was seen in the 2007 Federal election -- then maybe we can stop this brutal political habit of unfair cuts to the Arts to sustain an image of fiscal responsibility. I've <a href="http://superherolive-righteousness.blogspot.com/2009/09/war-on-culture.html" target="_blank">written before</a> that the only reason why Arts & Culture suffer the deepest budget cuts is because it appeals to a certain constituency. It only serves to create an image of "toughness" and "hard choices" but it really doesn't affect the bottom line. <br /><br />The situation in BC is dire, but there is real opportunity to get some traction and support for this issue. There are the Olympics in only a few short months, and the eyes of the world will be upon us. There are major broadcasters that could could be sympathetic to our cause. There are prominent (read: <em>famous</em>) voices that could sing out on our behalf.<br /><br />If politicians lose more capital by cutting the arts instead of defending them, then there's no further reason to see those cuts happen in the future. Simple as that.<br /><br /><em>Now go make some noise.</em>Aaron Talbothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11256778948996343352noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6836822506978164672.post-73257898802600326202009-09-08T13:13:00.009-04:002009-09-08T16:27:13.302-04:00The War on Culture<a href="http://images.military.com/Shock/images/IraqiExplosion_110703.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 394px; height: 410px;" src="http://images.military.com/Shock/images/IraqiExplosion_110703.jpg" border="0" alt="Boom" /></a><br /><h2>Artists must find a way to avoid being collateral damage of deficit budgets</h2><a href="http://praxistheatre.com/2009/09/culture-implodes-in-british-columbia/" target="_blank">Praxis Theatre's recent post</a> concerning the <em>insane </em>funding cuts to BC's Arts Sector got me thinking about the newest fad in Canadian politics: the war on culture.<br /><br />Was it only last year that arts funding actually <a href="http://superherolive-righteousness.blogspot.com/2008/09/were-all-fools.html" target="_blank">became an issue</a> in a national election? And didn't the artists all rally together (under the lead of Québec) to make enough noise so that the Conservatives were once again hamstrung with another minority government? Did we not see the birth of the <a href="http://departmentofculture.ca/" target="_blank">Department of Culture</a> and the phoenix-like resurgence of <a href="http://www.thewreckingball.ca/" target="_blank">The Wrecking Ball</a> onto the national scene?<br /><br />And yet, here we are again, not even a year later and arts funding has become a major casualty in a political marketing campaign. <br /><br />Er... you mean "casualty due to a recession budget," don't you Aaron?<br /><br />No, I don't. Look at the numbers. At the very worst (and there always are, and will continue to be, <em>many</em> different and contradictory numbers tossed around where arts funding is concerned), there will <strong>$17.25 million</strong> cut in core arts funding this year. In the face of <a href="http://www.cbc.ca/canada/british-columbia/story/2009/09/02/bc-liberals-defend-deficit.html" target="_blank"><strong>$2.8 billion </strong>projected deficit</a>, what's $17M?<br /><br />It's nothing. It's a drop in the bucket. It doesn't make any financial sense. In other words, it's political.<br /><br />Where other industries in BC are looking at an average of 7% cuts in funding, the arts sector is looking at reductions of 80-90%. And this is an industry that continually makes the most with the least in terms of dollars. Why are we always the punching bag? <br /><br />Charles Campbell, of The Tyee, makes <a href="http://thetyee.ca/ArtsAndCulture/2009/09/04/FlexYourMuscles/" target="_blank">a compelling argument</a> for fighting back. But, other than <a href="http://artofthebiz.wordpress.com/2009/09/04/update-on-financial-cuts-to-the-arts/" target="_blank">a couple of posts</a>, all is quiet on the Western (blog) Front. Why are we content to continue to be the punching bag?<br /><br />... Mind you, I don't follow a lot of BC based theatre blogs, so please point me in the right direction if you know of some hot-headed responses to BC's September Budget update. Thx.<br /><br />The point is, however, until we can figure out why politicians find it more expedient to obliterate arts funding rather than defend it, we're going to continue to be casualties on this new war on culture.<br /><hr><br /><strong>UPDATE</strong><br />Answering my own question, the <a href="http://www.allianceforarts.com/blog" target="_blank">Alliance for Arts and Culture</a> seems pretty righteous to me.Aaron Talbothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11256778948996343352noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6836822506978164672.post-40823665784909454702009-09-04T16:04:00.003-04:002009-09-04T16:11:08.982-04:00Oh, office FWD'd email... you make my day<h2>Some lighter fare for the Labour Day long weekend</h2> This email, subject name "Brilliant" is pretty self-explanatory. I hope this makes your long weekend folks. Happy BBQ'ing!<br /><blockquote>I was going to share this with a line like, "It's crazy how many of these thoughts I've had." But after doing a Google search to find out who wrote it, it's evident that hundreds of bloggers have already shared it and said the exact same thing and that perhaps it's universality is what makes it brilliant. <br /><br />Anyway, it's funny. Enjoy. <br />...<br /><br />Random thoughts from 25-35 year olds:<br /><br />- I wish Google Maps had an "Avoid Ghetto" routing option.<br /><br />-More often than not, when someone is telling me a story all I can think about is that I can't wait for them to finish so that I can tell my own story that's not only better, but also more directly involves me.<br /><br />-Nothing sucks more than that moment during an argument when you realize you're wrong.<br /><br />-I don't understand the purpose of the line, "I don't need to drink to have fun." Great, no one does. But why start a fire with flint and sticks when they've invented the lighter?<br /><br />-Have you ever been walking down the street and realized that you're going in the complete opposite direction of where you are supposed to be going? But instead of just turning a 180 and walking back in the direction from which you came, you have to first do something like check your watch or phone or make a grand arm gesture and mutter to yourself to ensure that no one in the surrounding area thinks you're crazy by randomly switching directions on the sidewalk.<br /><br />-That's enough, Nickelback.<br /><br />-I totally take back all those times I didn't want to nap when I was younger.<br /><br />-Is it just me, or are 80% of the people in the "people you may know"<br />feature on Facebook people that I do know, but I deliberately choose not to be friends with?<br /><br />-Do you remember when you were a kid, playing Nintendo and it wouldn't work? You take the cartridge out, blow in it and that would magically fix the problem. Every kid in America did that, but how did we all know how to fix the problem? There was no internet or message boards or FAQ's. We just figured it out. Today's kids are soft.<br /><br />-There is a great need for sarcasm font.<br /><br />-Sometimes, I'll watch a movie that I watched when I was younger and suddenly realize I had no idea what the f was going on when I first saw it.<br /><br />-I think everyone has a movie that they love so much, it actually becomes stressful to watch it with other people. I'll end up wasting 90 minutes shiftily glancing around to confirm that everyone's laughing at the right parts, then making sure I laugh just a little bit harder (and a millisecond earlier) to prove that I'm still the only one who really, really gets it.<br /><br />-How the hell are you supposed to fold a fitted sheet?<br /><br />-I would rather try to carry 10 plastic grocery bags in each hand than take 2 trips to bring my groceries in.<br /><br />- I think part of a best friend's job should be to immediately clear your computer history if you die.<br /><br />-The only time I look forward to a red light is when I’m trying to finish a text.<br /><br />- A recent study has shown that playing beer pong contributes to the spread of mono and the flu. Yeah, if you suck at it.<br /><br />- LOL has gone from meaning, "laugh out loud" to "I have nothing else to say".<br /><br />- I have a hard time deciphering the fine line between boredom and hunger.<br /><br />- Answering the same letter three times or more in a row on a Scantron test is absolutely petrifying.<br /><br />- Whenever someone says "I'm not book smart, but I'm street smart", all I hear is "I'm not real smart, but I'm imaginary smart".<br /><br />- How many times is it appropriate to say "What?" before you just nod and smile because you still didn't hear what they said?<br /><br />- I love the sense of camaraderie when an entire line of cars teams up to prevent a dick from cutting in at the front. Stay strong, brothers!<br /><br />- Every time I have to spell a word over the phone using 'as in'<br />examples, I will undoubtedly draw a blank and sound like a complete idiot. Today I had to spell my boss's last name to an attorney and said "Yes that's G as in...(10 second lapse)..ummm...Goonies"<br /><br />-What would happen if I hired two private investigators to follow each other?<br /><br />- While driving yesterday I saw a banana peel in the road and i instinctively swerved to avoid it...thanks Mario Kart.<br /><br />- MapQuest really needs to start their directions on #5. Pretty sure I know how to get out of my neighborhood.<br /><br />- Obituaries would be a lot more interesting if they told you how the person died.<br /><br />- I find it hard to believe there are actually people who get in the shower first and THEN turn on the water.<br /><br />-Shirts get dirty. Underwear gets dirty. Pants? Pants never get dirty, and you can wear them forever.<br /><br />-I can't remember the last time I wasn't at least kind of tired.<br /><br />- Bad decisions make good stories<br /><br />-Whenever I'm Facebook stalking someone and I find out that their profile is public I feel like a kid on Christmas morning who just got the Red Ryder BB gun that I always wanted. 546 pictures? Don't mind if I do!<br /><br />- Is it just me or do high school girls get sluttier & sluttier every year?<br /><br />-If Carmen San Diego and Waldo ever got together, their offspring would probably just be completely invisible.<br /><br />-Why is it that during an ice-breaker, when the whole room has to go around and say their name and where they are from, I get so incredibly nervous? Like I know my name, I know where I'm from, this shouldn't be a problem....<br /><br />-You never know when it will strike, but there comes a moment at work when you've made up your mind that you just aren't doing anything productive for the rest of the day.<br /><br />-Can we all just agree to ignore whatever comes after DVDs? I don't want to have to restart my collection.<br /><br />-There's no worse feeling than that millisecond you're sure you are going to die after leaning your chair back a little too far.<br /><br />-I'm always slightly terrified when I exit out of Word and it asks me if I want to save any changes to my ten page research paper that I swear I did not make any changes to.<br /><br />- "Do not machine wash or tumble dry" means I will never wash this ever.<br /><br />-I hate being the one with the remote in a room full of people watching TV. There's so much pressure. 'I love this show, but will they judge me if I keep it on? I bet everyone is wishing we weren't watching this. It's only a matter of time before they all get up and leave the room. Will we still be friends after this?'<br /><br />-I hate when I just miss a call by the last ring (Hello? Hello?<br />Dammit!), but when I immediately call back, it rings nine times and goes to voicemail. What'd you do after I didn't answer? Drop the phone and run away?<br /><br />- I hate leaving my house confident and looking good and then not seeing anyone of importance the entire day. What a waste.<br /><br />-When I meet a new girl, I'm terrified of mentioning something she hasn't already told me but that I have learned from some light internet stalking.<br /><br />-I like all of the music in my iTunes, except when it's on shuffle, then I like about one in every fifteen songs in my iTunes.<br /><br />-Why is a school zone 20 mph? That seems like the optimal cruising speed for pedophiles...<br /><br />- As a driver I hate pedestrians, and as a pedestrian I hate drivers, but no matter what the mode of transportation, I always hate cyclists.<br /><br />-Sometimes I'll look down at my watch 3 consecutive times and still not know what time it is.<br /><br />-It should probably be called Unplanned Parenthood.<br /><br />-I keep some people's phone numbers in my phone just so I know not to answer when they call.<br /><br />-Even if I knew your social security number, I wouldn't know what do to with it.<br /><br />-Even under ideal conditions people have trouble locating their car keys in a pocket, hitting the G-spot, and Pinning the Tail on the Donkey - but I’d bet my ass everyone can find and push the Snooze button from 3 feet away, in about 1.7 seconds, eyes closed, first time every time...<br /><br />-My 4-year old son asked me in the car the other day "Dad what would happen if you ran over a ninja?" How the hell do I respond to that?<br /><br />-It really pisses me off when I want to read a story on CNN.com and the link takes me to a video instead of text.<br /><br />-I wonder if cops ever get pissed off at the fact that everyone they drive behind obeys the speed limit.<br /><br />-I think the freezer deserves a light as well.<br /><br />-I disagree with Kay Jewelers. I would bet on any given Friday or Saturday night more kisses begin with Miller Lites than Kay</blockquote>Aaron Talbothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11256778948996343352noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6836822506978164672.post-14990093605792970052009-09-02T16:06:00.009-04:002009-09-02T16:51:53.020-04:00Did I call it?... Maybe not<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipl66U_IBx8u7qMjj4k6622Xywqt6CrjHburlDJ1KCNHkUMBTIMVRuu8yK5uvt5mwMu4yu3uRtWFyiwh4dPhmijEZAOBF_0LP7MSOAc58LoaA6pK5R7tfgxPMLEwwRrZEcQ8T2lq9jqBc/s1600-h/spider-man-musical.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 112px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipl66U_IBx8u7qMjj4k6622Xywqt6CrjHburlDJ1KCNHkUMBTIMVRuu8yK5uvt5mwMu4yu3uRtWFyiwh4dPhmijEZAOBF_0LP7MSOAc58LoaA6pK5R7tfgxPMLEwwRrZEcQ8T2lq9jqBc/s200/spider-man-musical.jpg" border="0" alt="Spider-Man: Turn Off The Dark"id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5376969961355664978" /></a><br /><h2>Spider-Man musical to resume production</h2><br />According to <a href="http://splashpage.mtv.com/2009/09/02/production-on-spider-man-turn-off-the-dark-musical-set-to-resume/" target="_blank">MTV's Splash Page</a>, <a href="http://spidermanonbroadway.marvel.com/" target="_blank">Spider-Man </a>will be hitting the Great White Way after all. From the report: <blockquote><em>According to Variety, production on "Turn Off The Dark" could resume as early as this week or as late as next week. <br /><br />No official comments have been made by the show's producers, who suspended the musical due to "a cash-flow problem" in August, but <a href="http://www.variety.com/article/VR1118007987.html?categoryid=15&cs=1&nid=2562" target="_blank">Variety's</a> report cites rumors around the theater industry that "Spider-Man" will swing back into action shortly.</em></blockquote> However, despite what I predicted in <a href="http://superherolive-righteousness.blogspot.com/2009/08/disney-owns-marvel-comics.html">Monday's post</a>, MTV goes on to say:<blockquote><em>As for who saved "Spider-Man," the obvious guess is the Walt Disney Company, who recently acquired Marvel Entertainment in a $4 billion deal. But the musically-minded entity is apparently not responsible for "Turn off the Dark's" salvation, according to the report.</em></blockquote> Then... who is responsible? According to a snarky report from the NY Post's <a href="http://www.nypost.com/seven/09022009/entertainment/theater/bono_a_spider_man_superhero_187773.htm" target="_blank">Michael Reidl</a>:<blockquote><em>Bono's too smart to put his own money in the show, but word on the street is that he's tapped into his vast network of rich friends and business associates to restart production.</em></blockquote> Hm...<br /><br />On the lighter side, here's some video from the musical's open casting auditions (courtesy MTV):<br /><embed src="http://media.mtvnservices.com/mgid:uma:video:mtv.com:376173" width="512" height="319" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" flashVars="configParams=type%3Dnormal%26vid%3D376173%26uri%3Dmgid%3Auma%3Avideo%3Amtv.com%3A376173%26startUri=mgid%3Auma%3Avideo%3Amtv.com%3A376173" allowFullScreen="true" allowScriptAccess="always" base="."></embed><div style="margin:0;text-align:center;width:500px;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;font-size:12px;"><a href="http://www.mtv.com/ontv/" style="color:#439CD8;" target="_blank">MTV Shows</a></div><br />And here's G4 Tech TV's analysis of what Disney ownership might mean for Marvel:<br /><object classId="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" width="480" height="418" id="VideoPlayerLg41060"><param name="movie" value="http://g4tv.com/lv3/41060" /><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always" /><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true" /><embed src="http://g4tv.com/lv3/41060" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" name="VideoPlayer" width="480" height="418" allowScriptAccess="always" allowFullScreen="true" /></embed></object><div style="margin:0;text-align:center;width:480px;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;font-size:12px;color:#FF9B00;"><a href="http://g4tv.com/" style="color:#FF9B00;" target="_blank">Video Games</a> - <a href="http://g4tv.com/e3" style="color:#FF9B00;" target="_blank">E3 2009</a> - <a href="http://g4tv.com/attackoftheshow/index.html" style="color:#FF9B00;" target="_blank">Attack of the Show</a></div> <br />More responses can be found on <a href="http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/herocomplex/2009/09/disneymarvel-reaction-from-the-fanandcomics-side-of-things.html" target="_blank">Hero Complex</a>.Aaron Talbothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11256778948996343352noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6836822506978164672.post-80082311910235017452009-08-31T10:08:00.002-04:002009-08-31T10:22:09.963-04:00Disney owns Marvel Comics<h2>Mickey just bought Spiderman for $4B</h2><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.dailygalaxy.com/photos/uncategorized/2007/05/15/marvel_comics.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 550px; height: 825px;" src="http://www.dailygalaxy.com/photos/uncategorized/2007/05/15/marvel_comics.jpg" border="0" alt="Marvel characters" /></a>From today's <a href="http://www.theglobeandmail.com/globe-investor/disney-buys-marvel-for-4-billion/article1270467/" target="_blank">Globe and Mail</a>: <blockquote><em>The Walt Disney Co. (DIS-N) said Monday it is buying Marvel Entertainment Inc. (MVL-N) for $4-billion (U.S.) in cash and stock, bringing characters like Iron Man and Spider-Man into the family of Mickey Mouse and WALL-E.</em></blockquote> Not sure what to make of this yet... <br /><br />I'm thinking The Incredibles crossover with the Fantastic Four maybe?<br /><br />Maybe not, but <a href="http://www.theproducersperspective.com/my_weblog/2009/08/schadenfreude-for-spiderman.html" target="_blank">Broadway Spider-Man's cash-flow troubles</a> may just have been solved.Aaron Talbothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11256778948996343352noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6836822506978164672.post-9817280984133021282009-08-28T13:09:00.005-04:002009-08-28T13:39:28.896-04:00I have great friends<a href="http://youvegotmail.warnerbros.com/img/ygmlogo.gif"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 178px;" src="http://youvegotmail.warnerbros.com/img/ygmlogo.gif" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><h2>All of a sudden my email was filled with Facebook notifications</h2>I import this blog to my Facebook profile automatically. Generally, if I do an interesting post, I'll get more comments on FB than on my blog. But, in most cases, there's not too much activity on either format.<br /><br />That is, until <a href="http://superherolive-righteousness.blogspot.com/2009/08/well-is-dry.html">Wednesday's post </a>was imported to my profile.<br /><br />Below are some of the responses to that post. I feel like I need to share them with the wider blogosphere because 1) they reminded me that I'm not alone with these feelings, and 2) other artists feeling the same shit can benefit from my friends' wisdom.<br /><br />I just wanted to thank you all for reading and responding, and how much it meant to me.<br /><br />Cheers!<br /><br /><blockquote><em>might need a good vacation somewhere new and something that will inspire - India maybe... become a yogi..:)<br /><br />Dig a new well my friend.<br /><br />Can I just say I relate? You're right, getting stuck in the past is not a good place to be. But recognizing how where you are is different than where you want to be is a good thing.<br /><br />In my experience it all comes and goes in waves. Much like life. No sense stressing when the tide is going out, just trust that it will come in again.<br /><br />I totally relate too... But one thing I've found helpful is to not give myself the option of waiting for creative inspiration (which frankly, for me, rarely comes) and to treat my passions like a job. I try to write something. Every day. Whether I want to or not.<br /><br />check out <a href="http://www.dailyom.com/" target="_blank">http://www.dailyom.com/</a> You can subscribe and get a "daily om" emailed to you each day. They're freaky with their timing, things I'm feeling or thinking about (or stressing about) seem to be the next day's topic.<br /><br />I can relate too... What I found familiar - besides being discontented with joe-jobs, that's what I always call them too! :) - was how I compare the present self/situation with past triumphs/failures - for me, it is not very helpful as it results in alot of "I should's", and takes me away from what is happening in the present.<br /><br />There is a serious tendency in this profession to forget that we are humans first and performers second. It is impossible to give anything to your art or your job if you haven't anything left in you to give. ...It's hard to be a professional story teller if you don't take some time to generate a few stories of your own. Live your life. See other peoples' work from time to time to remind your self what you enjoy about theatre and what you'd like to change. But live your life. How else are you going learn what it is you have to say?</em></blockquote>This one takes the cake: <blockquote><em>I think you need one of <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pPKtBM99kAc" target="_blank">these</a>.</blockquote></em>Aaron Talbothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11256778948996343352noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6836822506978164672.post-69683943773594663342009-08-26T12:39:00.004-04:002009-08-26T14:38:01.624-04:00The well is dry<h2>What the hell is up with me, lately?</h2> I'm trying to <em>own </em>my current bout of creative malaise. I'm trying to investigate why I feel so tired and uninspired lately. Why I've stopped writing. Why I feel like I have nothing to offer.<br /><br />It's weird. I don't know how to answer these questions.<br /><br />I'm not depressed or sad or anything. In fact, outside of my creative life, things have been better than ever. I love my wife, our house, my family and, well, I've had worse <a href="http://superherolive-righteousness.blogspot.com/2009/03/update-city.html">joe-jobs</a>. <br /><br />I'm a little frustrated about my lack of progress in my creative/producing endeavors as of late. And more than a little nostalgic for days of yore. By end of August in 2006, I had completed 2 acting gigs, 2 directing gigs, received 2 grants, a reading for my play and had the rest of the year and my next season already mapped out. In 2009, I've done one acting gig and received one grant... and very little sits on the horizon.<br /><br /><em>Eeyuck</em>. I don't want to be that guy. I don't want to be stuck in the past. I hate thinking about that shit, and I'm sorry that I wrote it down. <br /><br />But I'm trying to own it. So there it sits in my post.<br /><br />My biggest concern right now is that I feel locked in by a number of factors. Yes, my joe-job is not terrible--but it's not good either. It pays well, it's stupid easy, but it has nothing to do with what I want to be doing with my life and will not lead me there. At the same time, I have more responsibilities than I did in my twenties (family, mortgage, etc.), and I can't just quit and hope that something better comes along. I'm not sure if there is something better: we all know that artists need supplementary income. Do I want to go back to waiting tables? Hell no. Do I want to teach? No -- that's not a secondary job, that's another career entirely. I don't know what I want to do.<br /><br />I also feel locked in by my artistic choices. I feel like whenever things get rocky, I drop everything and move on to something new. Which is irresponsible and wasteful. I want to follow through. But at the same time, I'm spinning my wheels on this current thing. WTF am I supposed to do? I'm afraid if I try break my bad habit, I'm going stay stuck in the same creative void for even longer. Another year? Two? <br /><br />Sigh. <br /><br />Before starting this post, I checked out <a href="http://superherolive-righteousness.blogspot.com/2007/05/beginning.html">my very first post on this blog</a>, and two things caught my eye. I wrote, <blockquote><em>Another word about this blog. About 2 or 3 years ago, my good buddy Shaun told me that all he wants to do is wander the earth and spread righteousness. I'm gonna try to emulate that here.</em></blockquote> And then I quoted from my <a href="http://www.superherolive.com">superhero </a>play:<blockquote><em>"There are two kinds of people in this world: those who might imagine a whole other, fantastic reality from the world we know… and those who participate in that reality."<br />-- Shady Character (Episode 2)</em></blockquote>What happened to that guy?Aaron Talbothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11256778948996343352noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6836822506978164672.post-5038582635418706402009-08-24T14:53:00.007-04:002009-08-24T17:18:48.934-04:00In defence of Canadian Heathcare<a href="http://www.prelovac.com/vladimir/wp-content/uploads/2008/01/health-others.gif"><img style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 382px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 308px" alt="GDP Spending on Healthcare" src="http://www.prelovac.com/vladimir/wp-content/uploads/2008/01/health-others.gif" border="0" /></a> <h2>Interesting math concerning our socialist... I mean, 'single-payer' system...</h2>Please forgive this post, for I make a lot of big assumptions and generalizations below.<br /><br />If you're like me, you might feel somewhat divided about President Obama's efforts to reform the American Healthcare system. Yes... you want him to succeed, you believe that he's doing the right thing... <em>for Americans</em>. But at the same time, what he's really advocating is a two-tiered system, something that I'm profoundly against, here in Canada.<br /><br />But I think that a person can be both pro-AmericanHealthCareReform and pro-CanadianUniversalHealthCare at the same time, because their system is so much shittier than ours.<br /><br />Forget the GDP arguement. It's often repeated that Americans spend a higher percentage of their country's GDP on healthcare than any other industrialized nation. But that doesn't really mean anything to anyone. The real questions are how much do <em>I</em> spend on healthcare, am I getting value for my money, and are others getting better value for less?<br /><br />It's suprisingly complicated to try to get answers for any of these questions. Trying to figure out how much an average Canadian spends on healthcare is difficult because spending is based on taxation, and taxation in Canada is progressive (meaning that your income tax percentages differ based on how much you make -- American taxation is also progressive BTW.) We also have sales taxes and corporate taxes, which means that there are pools of money going towards healthcare that aren't coming directly from your wages (some may argue this point, though). Finally, because healthcare is administered provincially rather than federally, there's no real national percentage of how much of a Canadian taxpayer's dollar is invested into health.<br /><br />As such, if you're not a professional statistician and you're only armed with Google and some basic math skills, any answers you'll find will be way over-simplified. I'm <em>not</em> a professional statistician, and my math skills are a little suspect, but apparently I had some time on my hands, so I did a little digging.<br /><br />Wikipedia has nice little compartive chart in its <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taxation_in_Canada#International_taxation" target="_blank">Taxation in Canada</a> page that lists average Income Tax rates in different countries. The below info is from that chart --<br /><br />In 2005, a Canadian who was:<br />Single with no children, paid 31.6%<br />Married with 2 children, paid 21.5%<br /><br />In 2005, an American who was:<br />Single with no children, paid 29.1%<br />Married with 2 children, paid 11.9% (wow, no wonder they have deficit problems)<br /><br />Now, this doesn't mean much unless you know how much income you're paying tax on. According to <a href="http://www12.statcan.ca/english/census06/data/trends/table_2.cfm?T=PR&LINE_ID=408&TOPIC_ID=400" target="_blank">Statistics Canada</a>, the average household income in Canada in 2006 was $53,634. Meanwhile, the median US household income in 2005 was approximately $46,000, at least according to <a href="http://wiki.answers.com/Q/What_is_the_national_average_American_income" target="_blank">WikiAnswers</a>.<br /><br />Okay... some of these sources are legit, and some are less so. I reference two different years when comparing annual household incomes. There's no accounting for the difference in currencies. But, for brevity's sake, let's call it even.<br /><br />Using the above numbers, simple math tells me that --<br /><br />In 2005, a Canadian who was:<br />Single with no children, paid about $16,948 in personal income taxes<br />Married with 2 children, paid about $11,531 in personal income taxes<br /><br />Now... how much of that went towards healthcare? Because I live in Ontario, I'm going to use this jurisdiction as a base. In 2009, Ontario is projected to spend <a href="http://www.fin.gov.on.ca/english/budget/ontariobudgets/2009/sectors/healthsh.html" target="_blank">43 cents of every tax dollar on healthcare</a>. In 2008, it was 46 cents. <br /><br />If we round this to about 45% of the provincial budget, and we pretend that sales/corporate/miscellaneous taxes don't exist, we can see that this equals about:<br /><strong>$7,627</strong> for single persons, spent on healthcare annually<br /><strong>$5,189</strong> for families with 2 kids, spent on healthcare annually<br /><br />How does this compare to America?<br /><br />Well, I found this tidbit on <a href="http://healthinsurance.about.com/od/faqs/f/avgpremium.htm">About.com</a>: <blockquote><em>The federal government tracks average spending on health insurance for people with job-based coverage. The most recent figures are from 2005, and indicate that the average individual's job-based premiums were <strong>$3,991</strong> that year, while families spent an average of <strong>$10,728</strong>.</em></blockquote> Something's off here... the American tax system seems to be geared towards giving families a break on taxes. But, compared to my numbers above, American families pay way more on health care coverage than do Canadians.<br /><br />Futhermore, as far as I'm concerned, if you're paying job-based premiums, that's really no different from a payroll tax. It's a benefit, sure, but if that money wasn't going towards health insurance, then it would be going into that employee's wallet. Thus, I think it's only fair to add this to the Americans' average income taxes... how much was that again? <br /><br />According to our numbers, in 2005, an American who was:<br />Single with no children, paid about $13,386 in personal income taxes, for a total of <strong>$17,377 </strong>with healthcare costs added in.<br />Married with 2 children, paid about $5,474 in personal income taxes, for a total of <strong>$16,202 </strong>with healthcare costs added in.<br /><br />And these people are considered lucky because they have insurance through their employers.<br /><br />However, these numbers (inaccurate as they are) are even more damning when you consider:<br />-How much I inflated the Canadian costs by not including sales or corporate tax revenue in my equations... I just assumed that healthcare is paid for entirely by Income Tax, and that's not the case at all.<br />-That the Canadian's tax dollars cover <em>everyone</em>, not just those who can afford premiums, and even those who fall upon hard times and are in most need of healthcare will still be covered.<br />-That the Canadian system cannot disqualify a taxpayer for "pre-existing conditions" or any other kind of nonsense.<br />-That all of the revenue generated for healthcare goes towards <em>healthcare</em>, rather than lining the pockets of insurance company execs or stockholders.<br /><br />Our system is not perfect. But it's a helluva lot better than theirs.<br /><br />I know this is supposed to be an arts blog. But, what more can I say <a href="http://parabasis.typepad.com/blog/2009/08/health-care-and-the-arts.html" target="_blank">when this post on Parabasis</a> sums up this issue so much better than I ever will.Aaron Talbothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11256778948996343352noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6836822506978164672.post-16633344178225723812009-08-21T09:58:00.004-04:002009-08-21T10:12:51.748-04:00Wow, did you see that storm last night???<h2>Toronado hits GTA</h2><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7BPza80TWjxGEQiUFqGmfcE51rNE_iOef8jCyEQDfMvXLtJ3rjVEenH57WBiCAIBaJz9e-1CZidaGQraYoMMfjrwaxU50pe_TxCG_0ArTgFmlc8WXwdoqDqYAI51TfEUi0TQ2L5V0S-Q/s1600-h/20090821_storm005.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 278px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7BPza80TWjxGEQiUFqGmfcE51rNE_iOef8jCyEQDfMvXLtJ3rjVEenH57WBiCAIBaJz9e-1CZidaGQraYoMMfjrwaxU50pe_TxCG_0ArTgFmlc8WXwdoqDqYAI51TfEUi0TQ2L5V0S-Q/s400/20090821_storm005.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5372417527926544642" /></a> Check out crazy pics and vids over at <a href="http://www.blogto.com/city/2009/08/massive_storm_hits_toronto_tornados_reported_across_gta/" target="_blank">Blog TO</a><br /><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/TTxTWc0ShAg&color1=0xb1b1b1&color2=0xcfcfcf&hl=en&feature=player_embedded&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/TTxTWc0ShAg&color1=0xb1b1b1&color2=0xcfcfcf&hl=en&feature=player_embedded&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allowScriptAccess="always" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>Aaron Talbothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11256778948996343352noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6836822506978164672.post-41567279357692696912009-08-19T14:20:00.006-04:002009-08-19T16:08:19.073-04:00The next step...<h2>Interesting first release choice for MarvelMotionComics.com</h2><object id="flashObj" width="400" height="300" classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=9,0,47,0"><param name="movie" value="http://c.brightcove.com/services/viewer/federated_f9/16681868001?isVid=1&publisherID=184253309" /><param name="bgcolor" value="#FFFFFF" /><param name="flashVars" value="videoId=29888581001&playerID=16681868001&domain=embed&" /><param name="base" value="http://admin.brightcove.com" /><param name="seamlesstabbing" value="false" /><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true" /><param name="swLiveConnect" value="true" /><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always" /><embed src="http://c.brightcove.com/services/viewer/federated_f9/16681868001?isVid=1&publisherID=184253309" bgcolor="#FFFFFF" flashVars="videoId=29888581001&playerID=16681868001&domain=embed&" base="http://admin.brightcove.com" name="flashObj" width="400" height="300" seamlesstabbing="false" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowFullScreen="true" swLiveConnect="true" allowScriptAccess="always" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/shockwave/download/index.cgi?P1_Prod_Version=ShockwaveFlash"></embed></object><br /><br />This is pretty cool. <br /><br />If I'm not able to get a proper staged version of my <a href="http://www.superherolive.com" target="_blank">Superhero LIVE!</a> play produced, pursuing something like this might be my next option.<br /><br />Or... maybe pursuing something like this might lead to a proper staged version of SHL!...<br /><br />hmmm..............Aaron Talbothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11256778948996343352noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6836822506978164672.post-24534549103850767232009-08-17T14:20:00.009-04:002009-08-18T15:59:16.149-04:00A little something cool; a little something inspiring...<h2>Back from vacation, here are some neat links</h2>Hey kids;<br />Sorry I haven't blogged in a while: was on a little vacation and just got back. I never know what the protocol is for vacation non-blogging ...<br /><br />... erm... that's not entirely true. <a href="http://artofthebiz.wordpress.com/2009/07/27/on-vacation/" target="_blank">This is the appropriate post</a> while on vacation. But I worry about announcing to the world that my pad is empty whenever I take off for a few days.<br /><br />But maybe that's a pre-historic attitude for a blogger in this here 21st century, digital/information age. After all when you look at somebody like <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jeff_Jarvis" target="_blank">Jeff Jarvis</a>, a news-media critic and social media analyst who recently decided <a href="http://www.buzzmachine.com/2009/08/17/the-public-life-2/" target="_blank">to blog to the world about his prostate cancer</a>, you kind of feel like a luddite when refusing to share about your little trip to NYC. (We had a great time BTW.)<br /><br />I'm totally inspired by Jeff's transparency, moreover because I don't think I could do it if I were in his shoes. I hope he has a speedy recovery... and since he lives in America, I hope like hell he's got good insurance.<br /><br /><a href="http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/.a/6a00d8341c630a53ef0120a4dea392970b-pi"><img style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px" alt="" src="http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/.a/6a00d8341c630a53ef0120a4dea392970b-pi" border="0" /></a>On to something a little lighter...<br /><br />There's quite a bit of interest bubbling about <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Cameron" target="_blank">James Cameron's</a> newest movie since <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0120338/" target="_blank">Titanic</a>: <em><a href="http://www.avatarmovie.com/" target="_blank">Avatar</a></em>. I hadn't heard very much about it, until my film buddy started excitingly telling me about over sushi last week. Then I come across a cool interview on the <a href="http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/herocomplex/" target="_blank">L.A. Times' Hero Complex</a> blog. Here's <a href="http://www.blogger.com/">part 1</a> and here's <a href="http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/herocomplex/2009/08/james-cameron-the-new-trek-rocks-but-transformers-is-gimcrackery.html" target="_blank">part 2</a>.<br /><br />My favourite portion of the whole interview is right off the top when it notes that Mr. Cameron is indeed a "Canadian" filmmaker. <br /><br />... Except, when's the last time he did a Canadian film?Aaron Talbothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11256778948996343352noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6836822506978164672.post-16167599780587637832009-07-28T16:38:00.000-04:002009-07-28T09:42:03.337-04:00Big Buzz about Apple's new iTouch Tablet<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0d2J_A1IsnU7hKg6xyO-M03XM6l-8ykselDScuEXE7W5Rjs0h7qA6V3HtOp_kWHhXLsGEwALfjIh0dV5y3xPzxU_cM6LQOGyWBANUjkURqLu-3m0oiorAVSIIbSFH2-hehruTt6aY3yE/s1600-h/apple+logo.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 110px; height: 129px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0d2J_A1IsnU7hKg6xyO-M03XM6l-8ykselDScuEXE7W5Rjs0h7qA6V3HtOp_kWHhXLsGEwALfjIh0dV5y3xPzxU_cM6LQOGyWBANUjkURqLu-3m0oiorAVSIIbSFH2-hehruTt6aY3yE/s320/apple+logo.jpg" border="0" alt="Apple logo"id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5363504800811743922" /></a><br /><h2>Apparently Apps will eventually replace websites</h2>Before now, I had never heard of Apple's iTouch Tablet, but <a href="http://seekingalpha.com/author/jason-schwarz" target="_blank">Jason Schwartz</a> has. He's an investment strategist with a pretty good record on predicting trends in the tech world.<br /><br />According to Jason, the soon-to-be-released iTouch Tablet -- basically an <a href="http://www.apple.com/iphone/" target="_blank">iPhone</a> that has devoured an <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Kindle-Amazons-Original-Wireless-generation/dp/B000FI73MA" target="_blank">Amazon Kindle </a>-- is going to start (yet) another revolution in how we utitilize the World Wide Web.<br /><br />To wit: <blockquote><em>The iTouch Tablet is about to change society as we know it. The demand for this product is going to overwhelm Apple.</em></blockquote>(<em>Sigh</em>... and I haven't even started a <a href="http://artofthebiz.wordpress.com/2009/01/05/2009-is-all-a-twitter/" target="_blank"><em>Twitter </em></a>account yet...)<br /><br />Jason provides 4 reasons for his hyperbolic conclusion. The one that interested me most was his prediction that people will start to prefer <a href="http://www.apple.com/webapps/whatarewebapps.html" target="_blank">Web Apps</a> over websites to access the Internet. He says: <blockquote><em>We are witnessing a transition in the way the Internet is used. Mobile content requires a tailor made user experience that is not efficiently delivered by the traditional website model. Although we have grown accustomed to navigating the Web by browsing websites on our PC, consumers are showing an affinity for the App Store model...<br /><br />The trend is in place that shows consumers will desire an app rather than visit a website. Perhaps we will one day see that apps are more popular than actual websites.</em></blockquote>You can read <a href="http://seekingalpha.com/article/151137-why-apple-s-itouch-tablet-will-become-its-flagship-product?source=yahoo" target="_blank">Jason's full blog post here</a>.<br /><br />I have no idea whether he's right or wrong... I can't afford an iPhone, and I'm pretty sure the iTouch Tablet will be <em>waaaayyy </em>out of my league.<br /><br />Before Apple ignites the Web 3.0 revolution, maybe it can start by addressing issues of affordability first. <hr /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzs8TlGjpww-aLpZ_dYa-6U2ZdO6_Y-irLe6Wck_GHCp_rzKWmtzd1kwQWp1iULWIDrp7TkE6FJ1NWTZjc7tc2POc8_Cs99jAYtbl6tibWs5tMzHEw_bkjm9IlNPk3F_f9q_SoZJS5MyU/s1600-h/Happy+Harbour+Comics.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5363251385265773762" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 78px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 75px" alt="Happy Harbour Comics Edmonton" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzs8TlGjpww-aLpZ_dYa-6U2ZdO6_Y-irLe6Wck_GHCp_rzKWmtzd1kwQWp1iULWIDrp7TkE6FJ1NWTZjc7tc2POc8_Cs99jAYtbl6tibWs5tMzHEw_bkjm9IlNPk3F_f9q_SoZJS5MyU/s320/Happy+Harbour+Comics.jpg" border="0" /></a>In a totally unrelated story, a big congratulations over to Jay Bardyla and <a href="http://www.happyharborcomics.com/" target="_blank">Happy Harbour Comics</a> in Edmonton for being nominated for the <a href="http://www.comic-con.org/cci/cci_eisners_spirit.shtml" target="_blank">2009 Will Eisner Spirit of Comics Retailer Award</a> at the San Diego Comic Con. This is a world wide competition, and Happy Harbour has been nominated for this prestigious award twice!<br /><br />Happy Harbour produced the 2007 production of <a href="http://www.superherolive.com/"><em>Superhero LIVE!</em></a> at the <a href="http://www.fringetheatreadventures.ca/" target="_blank">Edmonton Fringe festival</a>, and is a huge community organizer. It's not question of <em>why </em>such a fantastic company has been nominated, but rather of <em>when </em>they're finally going to bring the hardware home.<br /><br />Congrats guys!Aaron Talbothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11256778948996343352noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6836822506978164672.post-63401451503700691072009-07-23T12:12:00.009-04:002009-07-23T17:30:40.967-04:00Even though we've seen this before... WTF!!!<h2>So blatant, so appalling, so... typical</h2><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIIPvkF6SI_5Xzi4imGF-wXsFkriDbMbZ8JlgW7rAetUbpV5tQNfZqbGFN-6B-we-Zry-3OE3JE5GHrJQj6-use-3_f9vJJvY9mQkC0wFlRE0PflwrSeMJoSqC6lhFFsO2ypyXn3O56YY/s1600-h/Divers_Cite1.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5361740159793274482" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="www.digitalapoptosis.com" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIIPvkF6SI_5Xzi4imGF-wXsFkriDbMbZ8JlgW7rAetUbpV5tQNfZqbGFN-6B-we-Zry-3OE3JE5GHrJQj6-use-3_f9vJJvY9mQkC0wFlRE0PflwrSeMJoSqC6lhFFsO2ypyXn3O56YY/s320/Divers_Cite1.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />I haven't really been inspired with righteous political anger on this blog since <a href="http://superherolive-righteousness.blogspot.com/2008/12/prorogation-official.html">parliament was prorogued</a> last winter. Time to fire it up again.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.diverscite.org/2009/francais/index.htm" target="_blank">Montreal's Divers/Cité festival</a> was denied a $155,000 grant from the federal government's <a href="http://www.ic.gc.ca/eic/site/dsib-tour.nsf/eng/h_qq00160.html" target="_blank">Marquee Tourism Events Program (MTEP)</a>, part of the economic stimulus plan.<br /><br />Divers/Cité features international performers that are homosexual. This year, the festival is scheduled to run July 26 - August 2. Festival organizers found out about losing out on the stimulus money on Tuesday. Yeah... <em>this</em> Tuesday. <p></p><p>This, <em>after</em> festival organizers were assured by federal civil servants at Industry Canada that the Divers/Cité application had met all the MTEP criteria, and was only waiting for final approval from Industry Minister Tony Clement's office.<br /><br />Clement, who just recently took over the reigns of this program from Tourism Minister Diane Ablonczy, claims that issues of "regional fairness" were the reason why the festival lost out. Since approximately $42M has already been awarded to festivals based in Quebec, he felt he needed to spread the money around.<br /><br />Couple of things:<br /><blockquote><p>1) MTEP is a $100 Million program. The 150K that Divers/Cité requested was just a drop in the bucket. Even if nearly half of the kitty had already been spent in Quebec (about the same amount that has been allocated in Ontario, BTW), would funding Divers/Cité really have made all that much of a difference? But, like I've written before, <a href="http://superherolive-righteousness.blogspot.com/2008/11/diabolical.html">insignificant amounts of money seem to make no difference to this government when comes to matters of ideology</a>.<br /><br />2) Clement took over the MTEP file in <a href="http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/gay-pride-grant-trips-up-tories/article1209698/" target="_blank">a flurry of controversy</a> when <a href="http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2009/jul/09070615.html" target="_blank">it was suggested by a Conservative backbencher</a> that the PMO wanted to punish Ablonczy for allocating $400K to <a href="http://www.pridetoronto.com/" target="_blank">Toronto's Pride Week</a>. Conservative MPs vehemently denied it. Even Suzanne Girard, director of Divers/Cité, sprung to the defense of the PMO, saying that right wing elements of the Conservative Party were trying to undermine the government. She said, “It could do exactly what the right wing does, which is block the whole thing and it stops.” Then, Clement confirms everyone's worst fears by yanking funding 4 days before the festival is set to begin.<br /><br />3) Regional allocation for funding is nowhere to be found in the eligibility criteria for the MTEP. Criteria outlines that <em>only events or festivals that can prove that they attract large numbers of tourists</em> could apply for funding. By the government's own regulations, most of that funding would be streamlined to Ontario and Quebec... which shouldn't be an issue since the demise of these provinces' manufacturing sectors are at the core of the recession, they need the most help.</p></blockquote>To me, Clement's claims for trying to check stimulus funds earmarked for Quebec under the guise of "regional fairness" reads like CPC code for "we're just trying to avoid another <a href="http://www.cbc.ca/news/background/groupaction/" target="_blank">sponsorship scandal.</a>" Which is a sad cover for a blatant appeasement of the Conservative base. Not only does it financially <a href="http://www.afterthewhistle.com/en/Rules/20022003/slewfooting02.htm" target="_blank">slewfoot</a> an openly homosexual festival, it also addresses other key CPC base points: less public funds for the arts and less money for Quebec.<br /><br />But really, $150K is nothing. It's really hardly anything to the government's stimulus budget. The stimulus program for infrastructure alone is $12 Billion. GM's Canadian division got a $10.5 Billion bailout. <p>To me, this is just another sad attempt to appease those in the CPC who have been alienated by the government's... well, <em>governance</em>. But pulling $150K away from one gay festival, when a much larger, more prolific gay festival in Toronto got nearly triple that amount just a few weeks before... seems to me a pretty weak gesture.<br /><br />That... and a totally disgusting and shameful way to conduct business.Aaron Talbothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11256778948996343352noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6836822506978164672.post-28819935990178465862009-07-21T17:02:00.004-04:002009-07-21T17:39:05.497-04:00Great Expectations<h2>What does Josh Bell on a street corner teach us?</h2><br />Recently I got a chain email about taking the time to appreciate art. The email referred to a social experiment that the <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/" target="_blank">Washington Post</a> conducted in 2007.<br /><br />In a nutshell, the Post commissioned violinist <a href="http://www.joshuabell.com/" target="_blank">Josh Bell</a> to play classical classics on his $3.5 million <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stradivarius" target="_blank">Stradivarius</a> in the middle of a subway station for change. The question was: would anybody notice? <br /><br />You can read about how the experiment played out <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/04/04/AR2007040401721.html" target="_blank">here</a>.<br /><br />The email got me thinking about theatre producers and our choices of venues when we want to make new work. It made wonder about taking audience types into account. <br /><br />For example, whenever the <a href="http://www.fringetoronto.com/" target="_blank">Fringe </a>comes into town, I invariably see a Chekov or a Moliere in the program. But is this the right venue for this kind of show? A typical Fringe audience is looking for a specific type of experience. But the same goes for a <a href="http://www.soulpepper.ca/" target="_blank">Soulpepper</a> audience, or a <a href="http://www.stratfordfestival.ca/" target="_blank">Stratford</a> audience, or a <a href="http://www.tarragontheatre.com/" target="_blank">Tarragon </a>audience. Each is particular, and each is looking for something different. <br /><br />(The wonderful thing about the Fringe is that you can produce anything you want -- I get that. I'm only using it as an example because it's current.)<br /><br />In Washington, no one stopped to appreciate Bell's music precisely because of the choice of venue. That doesn't make his playing any less brilliant, but I believe the experience of the art is an integral part of the art itself. The audience's expectations are a huge part of that equation.<br /><br />It's the paradox of community or "amatuer" theatre. Some of the most wonderful theatre can be created in this setting because both the company AND the audience wills it to be brilliant. <br /><br />Choose your venue; choose your <a href="http://www.sethgodin.com/sg/" target="_blank">tribe</a>. Knowing your audience means knowing what its expectations are predisposed to be. <br /><br />If you can connect with your audience, you can both mould those expections and you can exceed them.Aaron Talbothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11256778948996343352noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6836822506978164672.post-83425313145546027192009-07-15T17:10:00.005-04:002009-07-16T10:38:34.093-04:00Update on "throttling" hearings<h2>Key points of the CRTC Hearings thus far</h2> Check out <a href="http://www.michaelgeist.ca/content/view/4135/125/" target="_blank">this great summary on Michael Geist's blog</a> about six key revelations to come out of the CRTC hearings that I mentioned in my <a href="http://superherolive-righteousness.blogspot.com/2009/07/making-money-on-web.html">last post</a>.<br /><br />This one surprised me:<blockquote><em>The rate of network traffic growth is slowing.</em></blockquote> This one enraged me:<blockquote><em>Each day brought new and surprising revelations about how little ISPs tell their customers about their traffic management practices. By far the most egregious was Rogers, which admitted that it charges tiered pricing for faster upload speeds but that all tiers were throttled to the same speed when using P2P. In other words, the Extreme subscriber who pays $59.99 per month and is promised fast upload speeds (1 Mbps) actually gets the same upload speed as the Express subscriber who pays $46.99 per month and is promised upload speeds of 512 kbps.</em></blockquote> And this one made me laugh: <blockquote><em>The ISPs seemed surprised that the Commission regularly asked about the privacy impact of throttling and deep-packet inspection.</em></blockquote>Aaron Talbothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11256778948996343352noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6836822506978164672.post-28650148056501977982009-07-13T16:33:00.008-04:002009-07-17T17:10:18.096-04:00Making Money on the Web<h2>Indie artists, new-media journalism and DPI</h2>Yes, the Internet is changing everything.<br /><br />Following up on <a href="http://superherolive-righteousness.blogspot.com/2009/07/arts-and-technology-arts-and.html">last week's post</a>, my buddy <a href="http://adrianelliscomposer.com/AdriansBlog/" target="_blank">Adrian</a> emailed me to discuss some of the ideas in the post in more depth. He writes: <blockquote><em>I think things are also in transition, and the piece speaks to that in a way - the 'answers' have not yet come out... the problems and opportunities in the democratization of the arts via the web. It's kind of exciting to be working at such a turning point; it's tough, but exciting to see the conversations happening, people inventing and creating ... like that <a href="http://mikeking.berkleemusicblogs.com/2009/06/23/how-an-indie-musician-can-make-19000-in-10-hours-using-twitter/" target="_blank">indie singer/songwriter who managed to make 19k in 11 hours using Twitter</a>, and basically just being creative. But she ended up making the money on merchandise - shirts mostly. Not selling her music. This seems to be the bottom line - the art is a promotional tool - you have to sell something which is not in endless supply (ie: an mp3). But, these can still be creative products which are an extension of your art.</em></blockquote>Is this new arts business model? Selling items that are associated with your art while giving your art away for free? Then, magically, Trent Reznor <a href="http://www.nextmedia-source.com/frame.php?id=9140502" target="_blank">weighed in </a>on the same topic, in entirely different conversation elsewhere in the blogosphere: <blockquote><em>The point is this: music IS free whether you want to believe that or not. Every piece of music you can think of is available free right now a click away. This is a fact - it sucks as the musician BUT THAT'S THE WAY IT IS (for now). So... have the public get what they want FROM YOU instead of a torrent site and garner good will in the process...</em></blockquote>What's interesting to me is how <strong>everyone </strong>is trying to rethink traditional models of monetizing their practice in the age of the Internet... and I'm not just talking about the culture sector.<br /><br />Case in point: journalism. Rebecca over at <a href="http://artofthebiz.wordpress.com/" target="_blank">The Art of the Business</a> points out an <a href="http://www.theartnewspaper.com/article.asp?id=17214" target="_blank">insightful article about the future of arts journalism</a> today by András Szántó. He notes: <blockquote><em>Amid the doom and gloom about arts journalism </em>[...]<em> innovations offer a glimmer of hope. There is no going back to the cultural and advertising dominance that newspapers once enjoyed. We should be mindful that the emerging landscape offers asymmetrical odds for art criticism (which can survive by the labour of individual writers) and arts reporting (which requires institutional firepower and protections). Writers will struggle to reclaim the access and influence they achieved with the backing of prestigious journalism brands. Even so, the faint outlines of a new system are starting to emerge.</em></blockquote><p>This is a great article about the future of one sector of journalism. Everyone knows that this industry is under tremendous pressure, and a "new model" needs to be created. Although, nobody is quite sure what that model needs to be. There are various theories -- <a href="http://www.buzzmachine.com/" target="_blank">Jeff Jarvis</a> recently <a href="http://www.buzzmachine.com/2009/01/27/what-would-google-do-on-sale-today/" target="_blank">wrote a book</a> about basing all new economic models on Google's business model. In short: focus on networks rather than traditional distribution models and shift to an economy of abundance rather than one of scarcity.<br /><br />An economy of abundance assumes that you can charge the least amount for a product or service by making it available to a nearly unlimited source of buyers (or users) via the World Wide Web. Very interesting theory. But... what if the access to the Web itself becomes limited? <br /><br />This brings me to <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deep_packet_inspection" target="_blank">Deep Packet Inspection or DPI</a>, an Internet issue garnering so much attention that the Privacy Commissioner of Canada has <a href="http://dpi.priv.gc.ca/" target="_blank">dedicated an entire website to it</a>.<br /><br />What is it? Essentially it's technology that allows Internet Service Providers' (ISPs), or anyone else I suppose, to examine web transmissions to figure out what kind of content is being sent. Today the Big 3 Canadian ISPs (Bell, Rogers & Telus) are <a href="http://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/crtc-asks-who-should-be-internet-traffic-cops/article1215954/" target="_blank">defending their positions</a> to the CRTC to use DPI technology. From what I understand, they want to disuade peer-to-peer file sharing. Their arguement is that it allows a small share of users to eat up a disproportionate amount of bandwidth. <br /><br />Now, privacy issues aside, why would this affect artists', or anybody else's, attempts to monetize their practice on the Web? Well, DPI technology basically allows ISPs to "throttle" users at their own discretion. In other words, if your ISP believes you are using too much Internet, they can and will slow down your connection. And, apparently they can do this even if you bought a package marketed as "unlimited" or if you are using a small indie ISP, like TekSavvy or Execulink. If you want to know more about why and other politics surrounding this issue, check out <a href="http://www.christopher-parsons.com/blog/technology/background-to-north-american-politics-of-deep-packet-inspection/#more-1303" target="_blank">this cool, informative post</a> on <em>Technology, Thoughts and Trinkets</em>.<br /><br />And, if you were planning on <a href="http://superherolive-righteousness.blogspot.com/2009/02/creation-design-for-virtual-space.html">producing a play </a>that, say, required you to upload a large amount of data to the Web in order for a variety of users to stream the production live... well, you'd be concerned about ISPs limiting users' access to the Internet too. <br /><br />On the other hand, there are ways around everything, it seems. For you hackers out there, <a href="http://michaelcowie.ca/index.php/articles/macintosh-hacks/219-beat-bell" target="_blank">this is a link</a> you might find interesting...Aaron Talbothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11256778948996343352noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6836822506978164672.post-6159443777146331762009-06-23T14:45:00.005-04:002009-06-23T15:36:40.621-04:00Looking for a designer<h2>Plus a couple of other cool things to check out</h2><br />Hey kids;<br />If you're a cool designer and looking for something challenging and new to work on, <a href="mailto:mail@superherolive.com?">contact me</a>. <br /><br />Seriously: I'm shifting into heavy grant writing mode, and am hoping to produce a workshop of my play <a href="http://superherolive-righteousness.blogspot.com/2009/02/creation-design-for-virtual-space.html">REALITY</a>. I'm looking for someone who likes to play with lights, set, and costumes (all at the same time, please) and is based in Toronto. I've always had heavy design elements in my previous work, and I like to give designers lots of creative freedom. Plus, I really like meeting and working with new people.<br /><br />That being said, I'm already working with a web designer and a video content designer, so as we develop our design concept, we all need to work together. Oh, and remember, all my big plans are contingent on funding etc. etc. (you know the drill).<br /><br />Speaking of my <a href=" http://superherolive-righteousness.blogspot.com/2009/01/art-for-businessladies-and-gentlemen-mr.html">web guy</a>, he just updated his website: new design, new sections, new extention demos, and an interactive "style chooser". <a href="http://www.michaelcowie.ca/" target="_blank">Check it out</a>.<br /><br />On the other side of the country, one of <a href="http://artofthebiz.wordpress.com/about/" target="_blank">my favourite bloggers</a> has just released <a href="http://artofthebiz.wordpress.com/2009/06/22/its-here-almost/" target="_blank">a new e-book on social marketing for arts</a>. Less than 20 bones, and worth every penny. But don't take my word for it: check out <a href="http://thenextstage.wordpress.com/2009/06/23/kick-starting-your-social-marketing-program/" target="_blank">this glowing endorsement</a> from Simon over at the <a href="http://thenextstage.wordpress.com/" target="_blank">Next Stage</a>.<br /><br />Back here in TO, the <a href="http://www.fringetoronto.com/" target="_blank">Fringe </a>is almost here. You can find all of the <a href="http://www.fringetoronto.com/fringe09/indoorBYOV_listings.html" target="_blank">play listings on their website</a>, and other info (like getting tix, etc.) However, if you're looking for a extensive list of previews, check out Mooney on Theatre's ever-growing <a href="http://www.mooneyontheatre.com/category/coming-to-fringe-2009/" target="_blank">Coming to Fringe 2009</a> section on her blog.<br /><br />Oh, and yes this maybe old news but... have y'all checked out <a href="http://thisistheroom.com/" target="_blank">The Room</a> yet?<br /><br />Later!Aaron Talbothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11256778948996343352noreply@blogger.com0