Sunday, December 13, 2009
It's Growing On Me
There is something wonderful about living here despite the cold. I know that whenever my path pulls me away to warmer climes I will be forced to leave a part of me behind. There is something truly magical about watching people pull toboggans full of groceries home from the corner store, snowmobilers taking an evening ride, the way during winter dusk the white of the sky blends with the white of the snow on the horizon so it feels you are driving a narrow strip of asphalt into a place between earth and sky. It is truly spectacular how the snow drifts like a swirling smoke across the road and the way the trees are bare and white with frost. The way the air shimmers with ice crystals and the horizon goes on and on forever leaving you with an exhilarating sense of freedom. Yes, it will definately be hard to part with this strange landscape. But for now it seems if all works out I may be given more than ample opportunities to stay here for another 1-4 years. If I finish my teaching degree here and then work here as a teacher for two years it sounds like the government will reimburse me for my schooling. And that would be wonderful. But for now baby steps. We will see how I deal with January's -50 Celsius weather before considering that too hard!
Monday, December 7, 2009
Good Literature
Today in Literary Criticism class our professor asked us each to come up with 2 books we thought everyone should read. They could be fiction or non-fiction. (In some cases they were identified by author not title.) Here was what we came up with...
Official suggestions:
The Bible
Faust
1984
The Making of the English Working Class
Seymour
Huckleberry Finn
Aesop's Fables
Jane Eyre
East of Eden
Oscar Wilde
Infinite Jest
White Noise
Qur'an
The Hobbit
The Communist Manifesto
Zarathustra
Crime & Punishment
Brave New World
Borges
Slaughterhouse Five
Unofficial Suggestions:
Fight Club
Shakespeare
Our Prof then asked us to look over the list. He asked whether we thought we would get a good education taking a class that had these works for the book list. We all agreed we would. I thought to myself it would be a very heavy course!
Looking at this list there are a lot of religious, social and political themes. However, I feel a lot of areas are unrepresented. This seems like a very useful book list in a course based in a Caucasian, Middle-Class, Western neighbourhood. For sure we are not being biased just to look within the Christian faith for our texts but how far are we willing to expand these limits? The Qur'an is not that far away from The Bible in many senses. Also there is very little literature representing women, people from different culture groups, gender minorities or even local or Canadian authors. We might learn a lot about the classics, about European and North American history... but what type of education are we really receiving by reading this book list? A good one we say... but good how? Good because from a viewpoint of a literary critic these books are important milestones in literature? Good because these are some of the titles that we would expect to see appear if someone asked you what books you think everyone should read? Are these books good for expanding our horizons and making us more open to our fellow man? It is important to ask ourselves these questions I think.
It is also important to realize that of these books there is very little pop. fiction. Most of the books are intellectual or literary landmarks, many are classics. If you asked me my favorite book it would not be on this list. However if you asked me what book I thought everyone should read I would hum and haw for a bit (just as I did) and then say (as I did) Huckleberry Finn or Aesop's Fables. These aren't my favorite books. They were good books for sure and significant landmarks in literature. But what does that mean exactly? I certainly would not have said Harry Potter or Twilight or Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy or The DaVinci Code or any book of that nature when adding to this list... the question is why. I think perhaps literature is still stuck in an elitist notion. Good literature is about structure, aesthetics and big ideas that are portrayed in an intelligent and well thought out manner. Good literature is art. Pop Literature is entertainment. Basically literary critics are book snobs and terribly biased. Something important to think about. Or at least I believe it is.
What two books would you choose?
Official suggestions:
The Bible
Faust
1984
The Making of the English Working Class
Seymour
Huckleberry Finn
Aesop's Fables
Jane Eyre
East of Eden
Oscar Wilde
Infinite Jest
White Noise
Qur'an
The Hobbit
The Communist Manifesto
Zarathustra
Crime & Punishment
Brave New World
Borges
Slaughterhouse Five
Unofficial Suggestions:
Fight Club
Shakespeare
Our Prof then asked us to look over the list. He asked whether we thought we would get a good education taking a class that had these works for the book list. We all agreed we would. I thought to myself it would be a very heavy course!
Looking at this list there are a lot of religious, social and political themes. However, I feel a lot of areas are unrepresented. This seems like a very useful book list in a course based in a Caucasian, Middle-Class, Western neighbourhood. For sure we are not being biased just to look within the Christian faith for our texts but how far are we willing to expand these limits? The Qur'an is not that far away from The Bible in many senses. Also there is very little literature representing women, people from different culture groups, gender minorities or even local or Canadian authors. We might learn a lot about the classics, about European and North American history... but what type of education are we really receiving by reading this book list? A good one we say... but good how? Good because from a viewpoint of a literary critic these books are important milestones in literature? Good because these are some of the titles that we would expect to see appear if someone asked you what books you think everyone should read? Are these books good for expanding our horizons and making us more open to our fellow man? It is important to ask ourselves these questions I think.
It is also important to realize that of these books there is very little pop. fiction. Most of the books are intellectual or literary landmarks, many are classics. If you asked me my favorite book it would not be on this list. However if you asked me what book I thought everyone should read I would hum and haw for a bit (just as I did) and then say (as I did) Huckleberry Finn or Aesop's Fables. These aren't my favorite books. They were good books for sure and significant landmarks in literature. But what does that mean exactly? I certainly would not have said Harry Potter or Twilight or Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy or The DaVinci Code or any book of that nature when adding to this list... the question is why. I think perhaps literature is still stuck in an elitist notion. Good literature is about structure, aesthetics and big ideas that are portrayed in an intelligent and well thought out manner. Good literature is art. Pop Literature is entertainment. Basically literary critics are book snobs and terribly biased. Something important to think about. Or at least I believe it is.
What two books would you choose?
Sunday, December 6, 2009
It's that time of year again...
Snow is everywhere, the air is cold, people who didn't do their holiday shopping early are stressing and I'm stressing over end of term stuff. It is this time of year that I turn to my favorite online seasonal stress reducer game: Penguin Baseball. So if you are feeling stressed at this busy time of year take a whack at it! (pun intended)
Have a great Sunday and hope your weekend was fabulous!
Have a great Sunday and hope your weekend was fabulous!
Thursday, November 26, 2009
Exams and Term Papers
As some of you may know I am in my third year of University. I likely won't have anything to write here for the next couple weeks due to all the exams and papers in my near future.
To my American readership Have a Happy Thanksgiving!!!
To my American readership Have a Happy Thanksgiving!!!
Thursday, November 19, 2009
Artists and Music Lovers!
I have been asked by my good friend Sleepy from Baltimore to post this around. It is a live internet broadcast he and a friend are working on. Check it out! (And send your music if you want.)
Saturdays
9pm est - 1am est.
Indie artists...send your mp3 to be played. styleons@gmail.com
Include track name, artist(s) name, and location and contact info.
All videos are archived at:
http://www.justin.tv/eightsense
Need to advertise your website or business, email me at styleons@gmail.com
Come support me and join in the chat and in the discussions.
Peace
Sleepy
http://www.justin.tv/eightsense
Saturdays
9pm est - 1am est.
Indie artists...send your mp3 to be played. styleons@gmail.com
Include track name, artist(s) name, and location and contact info.
All videos are archived at:
http://www.justin.tv/eightsense
Need to advertise your website or business, email me at styleons@gmail.com
Come support me and join in the chat and in the discussions.
Peace
Sleepy
http://www.justin.tv/eightsense
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
Best Blog Award Nominees
You will see that I received the "Best Blog Award" from SunTiger in the below entry. I will now nominate 15 new recipients. In order to claim this award you must post the blog award pic below, give a link to the blog of the person who nominated you and pick 15 new nominees. Here are my 15 nominees for this award:
Vegetarian/Vegan Cooking Blogs:
Although I had to temporarily give up my vegetarian eating habits due to the mandatory school mealplan that does not support healthy eating for vegetarians I have found many great recipes on these blogs!
Herbivoracious Excellent recipes and pictures that leave you drooling for more!
Lisa's Vegetarian Kitchen Enter the kitchen and see what is cooking! Specializing in Indian cuisine there are definately some keepers among these recipes!
Vegan Lunch Box Great lunch ideas for vegetarians and vegans. Elegantly presented!
Fun Blogs
These are themed blogs and otherwise all-around fun blogs!
Coffee Messiah A blog of coffee and art. Appealing to distinguished coffee drinkers!
Uniquely Tea A blog about tea as the name would suggest. So grab a cup and sit down and read!
The Unexpected Life of the Green Frog The photographic journey of a world-traveling frog.
Presurfer The Presurfer surfs the net for the awesome and unusual and then posts links so anyone can take a look! Great fun!
Personal Blogs
Life's Free Treats A wonderful blog about life and its free treats! Take a gander!
Spiritual Journey of a Lightworker A personal life journey through pain to find light. Another wonderful blog!
Roll Call A great blog of heart-warming stories and sometimes jokes and personal life stories as well!
A Life in Indigo A personal blog of pictures and poems.
Another Dumpsite A blogger I have been visiting since the days of journalspace. Sometimes opinionated but always a great read!
Photo Blogs
Island Blog A photo blog of life on British Columbia's coast, particularly Gabriola Island.
Charleston Daily Photo I have followed Joan Perry in her blogs since the old days of journalspace. Her amazing photography brings joy to my heart each time I visit her blog. Also Check out her other blog: Concrete Thoughts
OutHouse Capital of Canada Photo blog of a Canadian blogger! Absolutely fabulous!
Vegetarian/Vegan Cooking Blogs:
Although I had to temporarily give up my vegetarian eating habits due to the mandatory school mealplan that does not support healthy eating for vegetarians I have found many great recipes on these blogs!
Herbivoracious Excellent recipes and pictures that leave you drooling for more!
Lisa's Vegetarian Kitchen Enter the kitchen and see what is cooking! Specializing in Indian cuisine there are definately some keepers among these recipes!
Vegan Lunch Box Great lunch ideas for vegetarians and vegans. Elegantly presented!
Fun Blogs
These are themed blogs and otherwise all-around fun blogs!
Coffee Messiah A blog of coffee and art. Appealing to distinguished coffee drinkers!
Uniquely Tea A blog about tea as the name would suggest. So grab a cup and sit down and read!
The Unexpected Life of the Green Frog The photographic journey of a world-traveling frog.
Presurfer The Presurfer surfs the net for the awesome and unusual and then posts links so anyone can take a look! Great fun!
Personal Blogs
Life's Free Treats A wonderful blog about life and its free treats! Take a gander!
Spiritual Journey of a Lightworker A personal life journey through pain to find light. Another wonderful blog!
Roll Call A great blog of heart-warming stories and sometimes jokes and personal life stories as well!
A Life in Indigo A personal blog of pictures and poems.
Another Dumpsite A blogger I have been visiting since the days of journalspace. Sometimes opinionated but always a great read!
Photo Blogs
Island Blog A photo blog of life on British Columbia's coast, particularly Gabriola Island.
Charleston Daily Photo I have followed Joan Perry in her blogs since the old days of journalspace. Her amazing photography brings joy to my heart each time I visit her blog. Also Check out her other blog: Concrete Thoughts
OutHouse Capital of Canada Photo blog of a Canadian blogger! Absolutely fabulous!
Saturday, September 12, 2009
Another Great Tea Spot
The Plum. Souris, Manitoba. This little tea shop and museum used to be part of a church. Full of history, with beautiful stained glass windows and plum and chocolate decor it is well worth a visit. The woman who runs it is charming and animated and the young girls who work there bake all the goodies sold there from scratch. I recommend tea and the strawberry rhubarb cake!
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