Sometimes, when you have something or some things that you want to say they start to build up. "That's great," you think, "but it needs this and this and this. I'll do that tomorrow." And then you think of something else, and something else, until it just seems so overwhelming that you don't even want to do it at all.
What I've found works for doing that is just quickly put out some version of the thing. It's not as polished or in-depth as it was in your mind, but its key advantage is that it actually exists.
All this is to say, hey, haven't done a newsletter in a while. I had some good ideas, but you're getting this. Hopefully it's adequate.
Writing
Kurjata - some thoughts on legacy
Next Steps - I have a new job
On Luck - and how to get it
Community Vision - How a proposed neighbourhood in Blackburn could shape the future of Prince George
Travel Notes
I like Toronto, and I like Montreal. Oddly, I feel more comfortable in those cities than in Vancouver, the big city I spend the most time in. They feel more lived in. Vancouver, to me, always feels like people are visiting, whereas Toronto and Montreal it's pretty easy to encounter people just out and about in parks, at soccer practice, that sort of thing. Maybe I'm just in the wrong part of Vancouver (and don't get me wrong, it's still nice. But it feels less relaxed).
Anyways, if you do go to Montreal I recommend you get some version of theMontreal Museum Pass... either the one that let's you go to unlimited places on three different days or, if you're just there for a while, grab the Metro version that gives you unlimited transit and museums over the course of three days.
Eat at Joe Beef. Make a reservation early (like, now). Get coffee at Café Olimpico. And rent a bike. We had good luck with Fitz & Folwell.
Also, Quebec City is lots of fun for a weekend.
What I'm Thinking About
Haven't done a good job tracking this lately, but...
"Against Editors" by Hamilton Nolan - less against editors, more against the model where if you are a writer who wants to make a living you have to quit writing... and start editing
"Politics and the English Language" by George Orwell - "When there is a gap between one's real and one's declared aims, one turns as it were instinctively to long words and exhausted idioms, like a cuttlefish spurting out ink."
"The End of Neighbours" by Brian Bethune - How our increasingly closed-off lives are poisoning our politics and endangering our health
-> related: how strangers affect your well-being
"The CD Case" by Steven Hyden - Compact discs may be more out of vogue than ever, but some albums will always sound best with lasers
"What is Public?" by Anil Dash - some good thoughts on how your position, gender, and race might make you feel differently about "default public" online
"I'm Coming Home" by MG Siegler - oddly enough, LeBron James captures many of my feelings about why I choose to live in Prince George
"I'm Ira Glass, Host of This American Life, and This Is How I Work" - Ira is always fascinating
"Racism Fatigue" by Cord Jefferson - What it's like to write about hate over and over
"Tim Hortons: The Canadian Icon Canadians Won't Work For" by Jason Kirby -"Since when did it become the job of government to subsidize flawed business models?"
podcast: "The Tyee" on Canadaland - Jesse Brown interviews the founder of Canada's oldest online news source. Lots of interesting parts in here, but I was particularly struck by the portion where he spoke about the news as an ecosystem (around the 25 minute mark). "We took the risk, and we had our areas of interest... but does that go to the top of the chart with a bullet right away on the media landscap? Except the CBC... they verified it and then suddenly it became a great story... If you have a healthy enough ecosystem with enough creatures swimming around big and small, they can be cooperative, they can be collaborative, they can thrive."
My Jams
If you haven't yet, listen to "Awesome Mix" from Guardians of the Galaxy. It's a fun soundtrack for a fun movie.
Over on Daybreak North, I'm putting together a Canadian version of what a science fiction soundtrack might include. So far "I'm A Stranger Here" by the Five Man Electrical Band and "Calling Occupants of Interplanetary Crafts" by Klaatu. Full list is coming, and you can make your suggestions by email daybreaknorth@cbc.ca.
You should also check out our last playlist: "Empowering Female Anthems of the '90s." Shania, Alanis, TLC, Spice Girls and more.
My repeat song of the moment, though, is "Cherry Licorice" by the Felice Brothers. Check it out.
Vine of the week (month?)
digdigdigdig
