Independent Lens

Here's just a little taste of the GENIUS of Billy Strayhorn, the gay, black writer, arranger who wrote and arranged so many of Duke Ellington's hits, including "Take the A Train."

Go the library or a good book store and read "Lush Life," the wonderful bio of Strayhorn. Without him, there was no American music.

Rush-ing to Judgment

Here's another wonderful discovery.

A website/blog called "Media Matters." In this edition, the writer(s) chronicle a seemingly endless list of Don Imus-like racist, sexist disgusting comments from rich and famous American Radio Talk Show Hosts.

Check this out!

Duplicity Exposed

This is great!

A blog called "The Real McCain" that completely skewers this double-talking phoney deparado, including marvelous video.

If you believe in the basic, inherent falseness of most politicians (and why wouldn't you?), then you'll love this.

"We've Hit an Iceberg"

Today is the anniversary (April 15, 1912) of one of the greatest sea stories of all time - the sinking of the Titanic. No wonder this story has been made into at least 3 movies that I can think of, although there may be more.

The Maritime Museum, right here at Kits Point, terribly underfunded, has real Titanic memorabilia stashed away in its basement stores. It's worth a visit. And, of course, Victoria has a HUGE wave of Titanica on right now and that certainly seems worth a visit.

Finally, go to your specialty video store - Videomatica on 4th Avenue is a great one, and their website is right here in the right-hand column - and rent "A Night To Remember," made in 1958. Not anywhere near as spectacular as James Cameron's great and great, big movie, it is nevertheless just as powerful for the way all the stories told become one tragic and terrifying story.

The Big Wrinkle

Nobody wants to die.

Especially in Canada, where we have one of the fastest grow "old" populations in the world.

No surprise then that the "anti-aging" pharmaceutical and herb industry is positively raving these days.

Read this piece in the NY Times this morning, and remember: Sucker beware. We all come with an expiry date.

More For Kevin

The headline out of Australia is "Islamic Hate Film Gets PG Rating."

You have to read this to believe it. A movie that urges children to blow themselves up and vilifies Jews as "pigs" has been approved for general viewing by the Oz bureaucrats.

Ask Kevin Potvin to read this and ask him if he understands what happened on September 11th?

Nowhere to Run, Kevin

O.K. Now I've read Kevin Potvin's original editorial about 9/11. And you can read it too.

Sometimes people go out of their way to be fresh, original, daring. Remember Don Imus?

Potvin's newspaper, "The Republic," is a valuable addition to the local scene. It truly is different. And with the "convergence" of print, broadcast and cyberspace under the (mis)management of one or two families or corporations, we urgently need other voices. Including Potvin's.

But the now famous editorial in which Potvin rejoiced at the sight of the twin towers collapsing in on themselves is unforgettably awful. Cheering on Osama and declaring the 9/11 insanity an attack on "corporatism and militarism," is so dead wrong that one wonders how Mr. Potvin can recover.

Certainly, if I were the leader of a national political party, I would not have Potvin run for election on my banner. Let's hope Elizabeth May, Green Party leader, is a clear thinker.

The River of De-Nial

It is sad - and instructional - to witness the public whimperings of PoCo Mayor Scott Young.

This is a case study in addiction denial.

"This is not the person I am known to be and that is certainly out of character."

Would somebody please expunge for all time the deceptive phrase "out of character?" Anything we do is in character. If we did it, it is us.

It may not be all of us all the time for all time, just as swimming (something I do occasionally) is not All David All the Time for All Time, but, as I do splash about in waters once or twice a year, apparently I am a swimmer.

And, yes, I OWN that ominous responsibility.

Which young Scott does not. He drinks, he breaks down doors, he hits people, but none of that is his "character."

Question. Whose character is it? Was someone wearing his clothes at the time?

Now, look at the first part of Young's sentence. "That is not the person I am known to be."

In other words, it is the narrative of my life, the fictive arc that really counts, not what I actually do or say. Life is all presentation. Really?

"Young denies allowing his addiction to affect his work as mayor," says The Sun report. Really? What does he call his present circumstance? Smooth sailing? Business as usual?

Denial in full flight. This is a text book entry on the subject.

"At the end of the day all our family are there for one another," says the Mayor. This is just after he explains how many members of his family are alcoholics.

News flash, Scott: Drunks are not there for anyone. In fact, one of the single best definitions of an addict is that he is never there for anyone, self included.

Please get this guy into A.A. asap.

There's nothing scarier that real self knowledge. And nothing more curative.

End of The Bush Trail/Trial

The last 2 days I've brought your attention to the Paul Wolfowitz scandal at the World Bank.

Over breakfast yesterday morning, my son and I were agreeing that it is truly a wondrous thing to see each of the president's men - Rumsfeld, Rove, The Wolf Man, AG Gonzales, hell, maybe even Cheney -falling by the weary wayside.

This morning, the New York Times in their wisdom has agreed with us. Check out their analysis of the bubbling background plots...here.

Streisand/Mathis - I Have A Love/One Hand, One Heart

Try singing along with this...
From Barbra's "Back to Boradway" album, she and Johnny Mathis blend 2 of Bernstein's great songs from "West Side Story." The result is electric. The video quality is not good, but just listen...

Johnny Mathis - Misty (1959)(full length)

An extraordinary classic. Saw him once at the QET and couldn't believe how finely tuned,how thoughtful, how accurate and inspired a singer he was.It's all about the words and the notes...imagine that for a concept!

Taj Mahal Diving Duck Blues

Here's a great contribution from a regular bloggster commentator. Hear it!

More on The Wolf Man

Here is the latest update from the New York Times on the woes - all self-inflicted - of one of the prime architects of the Iraq War.

Couldn't happen to a sweller fella.

Since You Asked

Pedro has asked my thoughts about Don Imus.

First thought - it's a non-subject.

Second - he's dork with way more success in life than he has deserved.

Third - some people make a career out of belligerently proving over and over again that they are not "politically correct." That's a cute gimmick as far as it goes, BUT...

Fourth - Don's comments were detestable and unfunny.

Do I think Imus will get more rich and more famous around this incident?

No. I think he will slink back onto his ranch and play dude cowboy for the rest of his life. Millions of Americans will feel sorry for him and slap him on the back when they run into his big sombrero at the local mall.

But most of us will forget him by next Wednesday.

That's show biz...

Pissing, again...

Yesterday's post about Pissing $80,000 down the hole for a hookers and johns website drew some terrific commentary.

In addition to the comments posted, check out our friend Robert's blog and his thoughts here.

Then, there is this marvelous letter from our friend, Victor, sent to Pete McMartin at The Sun, following below:

"Hi Pete:

Your column today strikes a reasonable chord. You don't want crack whores in your neighbourhood. Nor do you want to organize welcoming bake sales for the fat bald Johns ( sex addicts) who buy their favours.

So I'm puzzled at how you can suggest that Dunbar residents who don't want deranged meth addicts in their neighbourhood are guilty of nimbyism.

As a personal aside, the whole Nimby debate makes me smile. Back in the 80s I was chief PR flack for Canada's nuclear industry. Part of my job was to drag earnest scientists around Canada, trying to persuade communities to accept nuclear waste. Understandably, we were roundly rejected. The scientists would always trot out the NIMBY word. They would tell community groups that since nuclear energy was driving Canada's powerhouse, Ontario, all Canadians benefited from nuclear power, so all Canadians should accept part of the risk.

The community folks rightly told us to get stuffed. They were worried about their kids turning green and no amount of babbling blackmail would change their minds. Now the NIMBY word, once the trump card of nuclear advocates, has been adopted by woolly-headed enablers.

But then again, that crack whore might be from your neighbourhood originally and the fat bald John may be the guy down the street. Maybe the welcoming bake sale is the right thing to do. Inclusive, compassionate, non-judgmental. "

Kurt Again...

It was really wonderful to see how many comments were posted yesterday marking, with sadness and admiration, the passing of a true American Original, Kurt Vonnegut.

I know that in my early 20's I read every novel he wrote. In my 30's, I played the lead role in "Happy Birthday, Wanda June," a typically bizarre by KV. My son played my son. One of the actors was drunk a lot, and on some nights, the actors outnumbered the audience.

I have a friend in Venice, Italy who owns an oriental art gallery. Her husband is an artist. A few years ago, when in New York, for an exhibition of his very modern, very abstract paintings, my friend simply called up Vonnegut out of the blue. Vonnegut soon endorsed my friend's work and put his name to a rave review in the display book.

I know he had a difficult life, but wouldn't you just have loved to have a coffee with this guy? I bet you he would have been funny and charming.

Rest in Peace

Kurt Vonnegut died last night at the age of 84 in New York.

Read the New York Times account here.

Buy Kurt's books. Read them.

Pissing Your Money Down a Dark Hole

Pete McMartin has a terribly funny column in The Sun today.

I say, "terribly funny," because it is funny and dreadful in its heart-breaking accuracy.

Another Downtown East Side social service agency has been awarded more of your money to do less than nothing. In this case, $80,000 has been given to a group who have created a website for hookers and johns.

You can't write this kind of dark comedy. Only mandarins can come up with this kind of idiocy all on their own.

Of course, not one single hooker or john will ever see this website. Of course, the website you are now reading cost absolutely nothing (and is worth every penny, I might add!) and there were no committee meetings to get it going.

The Vancouver Agreement, the Vancouver Foundation and Vancity have all mistakenly contributed.

Madness, sheer madness. Lunacy. A living side show.

Sins of Omission

In yesterday's rant about ultrasound, I forgot to mention the obvious.

Clearly a business opportunity exists. One clinic, hundreds of huddled, anxious patients, waiting, waiting, waiting, being shuttled through strange doors to even stranger, little rooms. Why isn't the owner of this service, which is being funded by our health care system, opening a second and a third shop?

Why aren't you? Why don't I?

Open Arms by Journey

by request...