Christmas Day 2011

In addition to being exposed to new opinions, events, products, techniques, people, places, various artistic expressions and the best and worst of the human race, YouTube also allows us to spend Christmas Day with folks from around the world.

So with that being stated, here is a smattering of my finds on YouTube on this rainy, blustery, December 25th, 2011:

Merry Christmas!

The Red Wagon

I had to go to the Hastings Sunrise area of Vancouver today for an appointment. On my way there, I drove past this restaurant called The Red Wagon. As I drove by it, I could see that it was packed inside and there were people standing by the door waiting to go in. As an ardent fan of the weekend brunch, I’m always on the look-out for new restaurants to try - especially the ones that serve the all day breakfast specials!

So after my appointment, I went to The Red Wagon. Luckily, there was one spot left at the counter when I had arrived (a perfect example of why it pays to be single in Vancouver!). I sat down and was greeted by a friendly young lady who immediately brought me a coffee and a copy of The Vancouver Sun.

Walking into the restaurant, you’ll notice that the interior is pretty basic. You won’t find any funky art hanging on the wall. It’s basically a space filled with tables and chairs. I saw a chalk board with the specials written on it and an old sign advertising Crush (a soft drink). But other than that, the walls were void of any distractions. There’s plenty of natural light coming-in from the large windows and the combination of eclectic patrons and wait-staff makes the environment hip and welcoming at the same time.

As I sat there taking in my surroundings, I noticed that my place mat was essentially a plain white piece of paper. Now I realize that this may not be much of a surprise to very many people, but I thought it was a very good idea for the simple reason that some diners might want to use it to jot down ideas, contact information, etc. And for parents dining with their kids, it can act as a blank canvas for their children to draw on, thus occupying their attention while giving their parents some much needed R&R.

Now as many of you know, the state of a restaurant’s washrooms can be enough to make a patron run for the hills! But not in this case, for the unisex bathroom was spotless! In order to access it though, you have to walk past the dish pit and the kitchen. And unlike some Asian restaurants in the city, a trip to the bathroom at The Red Wagon won’t leave you wondering if and when you’ll be “praying at the porcelain altar”!

But watch your step! The floor can be slippery - Whooooooooooosh!

My coffee was never cold thanks to the awesome service from the staff, and the smoked salmon scramble was delicious. Mind you, my bill for a coffee and breakfast came to a total of $14.92. So it isn’t cheap! And a post-meal walk within the neighbourhood revealed other restaurants offering the “All Day Breakfasts” for less than $10 (and in some cases, $5!).

But I didn’t mind paying the extra amount and in fact, I ended-up leaving a twenty. In my haste to get to the appointment on-time, I forgot to take my wallet with me. The staff were totally cool about the situation and entrusted me with the task of doing the right thing. No raised eyebrows. No third degree. Just a simple understanding that I would be back to pay my bill.

By the time I came back, the restaurant was stilled packed and there were still people waiting for a seat by the door (which really didn’t surprise me considering my experience earlier today).

Thank to The Red Wagon, I now have a reason to come back to the Hastings Sunrise Neighbourhood and more importantly, a new place to pay homage to the almighty brunch!

For more info visit: http://www.redwagoncafe.com/

Occupy Vancouver.

Photo credit: Jason Payne, PNG

As I stepped-off the bus and made my way towards the corner of Howe and West Georgia, I felt the cold air etching into my bones. Having under-dressed for the weather, I quickened my pace towards my destination, navigating around the usual throng of weekend pedestrians, silently cursing myself for leaving those extra layers at home.

Photo credit: ctv.ca

Crossing Howe Street, I could see various posters coming into view, hanging from a piece of rope along the perimeter of the tents. Their hand-written messages were as varied as the multi-coloured paper they were written on. While each message was unique, they all had a common theme:

Conflict.

Whether it was the need for greater love in the world or a call for action against corporate greed, the conflict between the expectations of the authors versus what society had to offer was very evident as I walked towards to centre of the encampment.

One of the first things that I noticed was the fountain. Drained of its water, I could clearly see the chunk of missing tiles broken-away from its core. It was like seeing a handsome face but with broken teeth. As my mind conjured up the imaginary circumstances that could have preceded this attack, I could hear the distinctive sound of the didgeridoo emanating from the steps of the art gallery.

The indigenous sounds mixed with rhythmic beats were fuelling a small group of revellers on the dance floor in front of me. As their bodies twirled around and around, I could see two women completely absorbed in the moment. The grins on their faces reminded me of the images that I once saw of Woodstock in a TIME-Life Magazine. The only thing that was missing were the dandelions in their hair.

As I walked around, I couldn’t help but to notice all of the people taking pictures. With their expensive-looking gear, these people seemed out of place amongst the weather-worn collection of tents, cardboard signs and dirt. I wanted to ask them why they were taking so many pictures? It made me feel as if I were at a zoo, and the occupants were nothing more than attractions - a photo opt just there for the taking.

I wanted to engage some of these residents in a dialogue to understand their motivations for participating in this encampment, but the only ones that I saw amongst the tents were a group of young people that looked like they wouldn’t be open to speaking with an “outsider” like me. Even dressed in modest clothing, I felt as if they would have viewed me as the “enemy”, as the 1%. I wish I had the courage to challenge my notions, but in the end, my own fears in addition to the damp chill won the upper-hand.

I decided to make my way towards the Pacific Centre across the street, a refuge from the cold and from the alien world that I just entered. As I left the heart of the encampment, I couldn’t help but to notice the towering symbols of opulence and material wealth that surrounded the tents. With their imposing structures looming over me, The Hotel Vancouver, The Hotel Georgia and the TD Bank Tower were vivid reminders of the fact that we live in a capitalist society that will always be comprised of the ‘haves and the have-nots”.

As I walked past the Hotel Georgia on my way to the mall, I saw a vastly different scene being played-out before me. Through the Gaussian blur of translucent curtains, I saw a dining room filled to capacity with hotel patrons engaged in various forms of conversation and consumption. Amid the glow of candlelight, a cast of handsome waiters performed their obligatory duties, fluttering around the patrons like a team of butterflies, each one helping to create a cocoon from the ugliness outside.

Photo credit: vancitybuzz.com

Walking past the front doors, I overheard the doorman expressing his views about the scene before him to a couple of hotel patrons standing nearby. The short snippets of commentary that I managed to catch indicated that he was not in favour of what he saw (Which didn’t come as much of a surprise to me given the fact that he was just “toeing the party line”).

But I wondered if he ever stopped to think about just how easy it would be for him to end up on the “wrong side” of the street.

The very same attitude that fuels our indifference towards individuals who are marginalized by society is the same attitude that we will need to rectify if there is to be any lasting change as a result of the occupy movement. The attitude that these people don’t matter to us and have no effect on our lives or the ones that we love should serve as a warning to us all that no one lives on an “island”.

Just ask anyone who has ever been victimized by crime. How easily we forget that a downturn in the economy, a bump to the head, a flick of a pen, or just simply being in the wrong place at the wrong time can land any of us on that “side of the street”.

After Monday, the tent city will be no more. A court injunction will make sure of that.

But once the clean-up is complete and the repairs have been made, will there be any lasting change as a result of Occupy Vancouver?

The need for money in order to survive will never change. And as long as we live in a capitalist society, there will always be those who possess more material wealth than others. But for those of us who are not part of that exclusive membership, we have to be willing to exercise our purchasing power in order to create any lasting, meaningful change.

After all, in a society where money "talks", it’s the only way for any of us to really be heard.

Bhangra

The Deep Fryer

GIANTS

It takes guts to be an artist. 

After all, you’re basically putting yourself out there, risking possible humiliation should your idea of comedy, acting, entertainment, artistic what-have-you, not meet the expectations of your audience members.

(If you don’t believe me, just go to YouTube and search for “hecklers at comedy shows” – 'Nuff said!)

Nothing can be more unpleasant than feeling that intense sensation of dread when a joke is met with dead silence or a video, lighting and/or audio cue gets f***ed-up, leaving you to improvise on the spot.

Being an artist is not for the weak. And that’s why it’s no surprise that the name of Vancouver’s newest up-and-coming comedy project is so aptly called:

Photo credit: http://blog.thecultch.com/

As part of my goal to try out new and interesting experiences in the city, I decided to take in my first show at The Cultch, one of Vancouver’s most innovative and respected theatres. Having pre-paid for my ticket, it was a sure fire way to keep me from bailing out at the last minute and I have to say, it was a great investment of both my time and money!

After stepping through the beaded doorway of the VanCity Culture Lab, I was immediately drawn in by its cabaret-style layout of high-top tables, red chairs and funky art. The air was electric with anticipation as I took my seat near the front of the stage. Sounds of chatter and laughter were intermixed with the occasional clinking of ice cubes as groups of youthful theatre-goers revelled in their merriment.

Now THIS is what I’m talking about!

After having just finished a run at one of the local “community” theatres, it was refreshing to see so many young people in the audience. Their care-free attitudes, mop-top hair and stylish threads were a welcome sight after having spent so many nights catering to their “grandparents”.

As the lights dimmed and the chatter began to dissipate, a video started playing on a big screen. Luckily for me, the fine folks at GIANTS Comedy decided to post their videos on YouTube, thus saving me the trouble of putting the following into words:

From screen to stage, the evening’s line-up of performers ranged from the wacky to the absurd. It included a mock news cast by Emmett Hall (Loved the weather report by-the-way!), a stand-up comedian (Thanks to Graham Clark for teaching me something new about Ron MacLean!), sketch comedy by the dynamic duo Chris Wilson and Peter Carlone (Fantastic dance and mime sequences guys!), MORE sketch comedy by Devin Mackenzie (Comedy that's totally beyond my reach!), a wicked rap-dance-custom-t-shirt-promo-number by the one and only Andrew Barber (Luv the jeux-jeux bro! Long live the Bejeweler!) and a hilarious performance by Kevin Lee and Sean Devlin in the show’s main attraction, “Town Hall: Attendance Mandatory”.

Photo credit: Andrew Barber

Despite the few technical glitches at the start of the show, I was immensely impressed with the courage, motivation and wherewithal of these young, innovative artists. Not only did they have to conceive, create, and perform their material, but they also had to find a venue, market their wares and promote the evening’s line-up with the hopes of satisfying a potentially fickle audience while convincing them to come back for more!

Like I said, it takes guts to be an artist.

So many of us talk a good talk, but very of us ever bother to take action to bring our dreams to fruition. And that is what this evening symbolized for me. Had these talented young artists not taken action to bring these performances to life, I wouldn’t have had the privilege of sitting in the audience, experiencing the birth of something new and wondering what possibilities lie ahead for my own artistic endeavours.

Thank you guys for reminding me what is possible when you mix action with courage and really bad comedy.

Just kidding.

For more info on GIANTS and their upcoming shows, visit: http://giantscomedy.com/

False Pretences

Being part of a theatrical production is like having to attend a family event (you know the ones where your attendance is mandatory and your only motivation is to make it past dessert without strangling someone). But unlike Thanksgiving where you can say your good-byes at the end of the night, grab your left-overs and run for the hills, a typical community theatre production will have you starring in your own little re-make of “Ground Hog Day” for two to three weeks.

Photo credit: Brian Campbell

Same people. Same location. Same script. Repeat.

And just like family, there will be some members of the cast that you look forward to seeing night after night. They are the ones that greet you with a smile and genuinely care about your well-being and success. Then there are those whom you can barely tolerate and whose mere presence can cause you to break-out into hives.

Welcome to my recent experience with community theatre.

As an actor, I didn’t receive any monetary compensation for my time and efforts. I knew that right from the get-go and anyone who has every volunteered for a community theatre production knows that you can’t be in it for the money "Cause you ain’t gonna get any!".

Instead, actors like myself volunteer our time and talents in the hopes of receiving an enriching experience full of artistic growth, lessons learned and kindled friendships.

But when expectations fall short (and I mean REALLY short!) and your balance sheet records more debits than deposits, you’re forced to make a decision:

Photo credit: Brian Campbell

Shall I stay or shall I go?

A mentor actually suggested that I quit the production. After all she said, “Why should (I) stick around if I’m not having any fun? Why should (I) spend (my) time and gas money going to a theatre on the other side of town if (I’m) not being respected?”.

Well, I’m glad that I didn’t quit the play. Even though I didn’t experience the artistic growth that I had hoped, I did learn some valuable lessons.

The primary lesson that I had learned is that if you want to be loved, you have to show that you are open to it. For those of us who have experienced at an early age just how rotten people can be, this can be a very tough lesson to learn. After all, the natural tendency is to protect ourselves when we think we’re about to get hurt. But in doing so, we end up repelling the very thing that we are seeking.

Photo credit: James Rha  (L-R: James Rha, Robert Sterling)

Ironic isn’t it?

So even though I was oh-so tempted to indulge in my old behaviours, I’m glad that I didn’t. Instead, I reached-out, took a risk and more importantly, showed everyone including my inner child that I was open to loving.

Whether it’s on-stage or off, interacting with people will always produce opportunities for growth and reflection. But whether or not we benefit from these lessons will depend entirely upon our attitude and whether or not we possess an open mind.

In the end, my experience with the play was not what I had hoped it would be. But because I said “Yes” instead of “No”, I ended-up connecting with some very talented individuals who taught me the following lessons:

Photo credit: James Rha  (L-R: James Rha, Sean Ullmann)

1.) Reserve judgement until you’ve taken a look at the bigger picture.

And

2.) In the midst of all the drama, always remind yourself that there’s always laundry that needs to be done.

To Bob and Sean: Thank you for your words-of-wisdom! You guys are the best!

The Dandy Warhols Are Sound

Photo credit: spotibot.com

ARTISTS: The Dandy Warhols

ALBUM NAME: The Dandy Warhols Are Sound
LABEL: Beat the World Records

TRACKS: 13
DURATION: (53:37)

YEAR OF RELEASE: 2009

RATING: 7

WEBSITE: http://www.dandywarhols.com/

No.	Title	Length
1.	"Burned"	7:02
2.	"Scientist"	3:13
3.	"We Used to Be Friends"	4:11
4.	"The Last High"	6:27
5.	"Wonderful You"	4:28
6.	"The Dandy Warhols Love Almost Everyone"	2:12
7.	"I Am Over It"	4:46
8.	"Heavenly"	3:21
9.	"Plan A"	4:59
10.	"Rock Bottom"	3:02
11.	"I Am Sound"	4:05
12.	"Insincere"	3:30
13.	"Pete Int'l Spaceport"	4:19

It all started with a trip to the local library. In search of a new album to amuse, delight and tantalize my ear drums, I came across The Dandy Warhols Are Sound on the CD rack.

The banana on the front cover with its splayed zipper was all the motivation I needed to listen to this release and I’m glad that I did.

Whether it was intentional or simply a reflection of their West Coast roots, The Dandy Warhols Are Sound was chock-o-full of references to the all-mighty "budski". With its generous helping of  low-octave vocals, repetitive chords and streaks of galactic-sounding embellishments, this psychedelic release should have been sporting a brownie instead of a banana on its front cover.

No other track exemplified this better than, “I Am Over It”. With its shameless incorporation of the bong and lighter, it was a total trip through the "greenery":

   

Now, according to the band's website (http://www.dandywarhols.com/news/the-dandy-warhols-are-sound/) Capitol Records (their label at the time) didn't approve of this release and instead, remixed the record to create, Welcome To The Monkey House (which explains why the Capital Records logo is scratched-out on the cover of The Dandy Warhols Are Sound). Even though I haven't listened to Welcome To The Monkey House, if their mix of "I Am Over It" is any indication of what I can expect from the rest of the tracks, I'll gladly take a pass:

I found this particular mix to be rather dirty and less refined than its "twin brother from a different mother". And while on the surface it appears that the band had been amicable about their creative differences with Capital Records ("They opted out of using our preferred mixes and remixed the record on their own to create Welcome To The Monkey House, a great album that we, and most of you, also love." Source: http://www.dandywarhols.com/news/the-dandy-warhols-are-sound/), the fact that the album cover is prominently sporting the word "BURNED" makes me think otherwise!

While listening to the release, I was surprised by the vocal range of lead singer Courtney Taylor-Taylor. Especially during the track, “Plan A”. Hearing Courtney hitting those higher pitches reminded me of the first time I head legendary folk singer Judy Collins on Sesame Street:

Okay. Why does this feel so wrong? 

Hmmmm..maybe it's because I'm showing a clip of little kids on a wholesome children's television show when reviewing a CD that pays homage to the "Toke-Puff-Bong". 

(If you say it quickly enough, doesn't it sound like a Vietnamese law firm?)

Well, if I had to take a guess, I'd say that Judy inhaled during her protest days so maybe I shouldn't feel so bad.

  

All-in-all, The Dandy Warhols Are Sound is a fun little release that’s as easy on the eardrums as it is on the noggin. 

Now breathe deep and hold it...hold it....h-o-l-d...i-t!

REVIEWED BY JAMES RHA

HOPE.

HOPE

The loon laugh lingered in my mind

Like a waggish whisper of the kind

To relinquish the malady from my mind

From those days when I could not find

The werewithal to leave my doubts behind.

                                             JAMES RHA



ju·vie /'jo͞ovē/

Warning: Course Language.





$11, 084.75

I finally did it!

After nearly eight years of monthly payments, I finally paid-off my student loan.

And as I look back on my days as a college student, I wonder whether or not things would have turned-out differently had there not been a government student loan program made available to me? And I wonder if I would have even pursued post-secondary education had I been brought-up in a different socio-economic class?

It's a humbling experience when you realize that the decisions you make in life are actually shaped by not only the society you live in, but also by your ethnicity, your parents, and even the country you live in.

After taking a closer look, I've come to realize that attending college wasn't simply a matter of personal choice.

According to a Government of Canada report titled, Participation in Postsecondary Education: Graduates, Continuers and Drop Outs, Results from Youth In Transition Survey Cycle 4, factors such as age, gender, family structure, high school marks, geography and even race, can play a role in determining the likelihood of someone attending and completing, a post-secondary program.

The survey (conducted by Statistics Canada and HRSDC) collected information from a sample of Canadians aged 18 to 20 in 2000. They were then interviewed over a period of six years on education and employment experiences as well as on their personal characteristics and educational aspirations.

The results indicated that there are a wide variety of factors and characteristics that distinguished youth who pursued post-secondary education from those who didn't.

And one of them is age.

For as long as I can remember, I've always had an expectation that I would pursue post-secondary studies. But it wasn't until I was 25 years old, that I became a college student. Up until then, I had worked full-time supporting myself while volunteering at the local TV station. Thinking back, I don't think I would have made-it through college had I enrolled right after high school. There was too much "drama" in my life at the time, and even though I had taken courses at a local post-secondary institution, being a full-time student was the furthest thing from my mind back then.

While I was attending college, I felt like an "old man" because I grew-up with the belief that one ought to pursue post-secondary education immediately after high school. But surprisingly in the survey, the proportion of youth who participated in post-secondary education increased as they got older.

Credit: pisa.gc.ca



According to the survey, in December 1999 when the participants were 18 to 20 years old, many of them were still attending high school. 54% of the youth had already attended post-secondary education, and over the next six years, the participation rate increased steadily to reach almost 80% in December 2005.

Recalling the faces of my fellow classmates, I remember that very few of them had entered the program directly from high school. The majority had either completed a post-secondary program and decided to switch career paths or like me, had decided to gain some life experiences prior to enrolling.

Whatever the reason, it was nice to know that I wasn't the only "mature" student enrolled in the program.

While the survey doesn't go into the reasons behinds the results, it does summarize a number of interesting findings such as:

Student loans were a popular method of financing post-secondary education for students. Nearly six-out-of-ten of those with completed post-secondary education or those studying reported student loans.

And

Visible minority youth were more likely to participate in post-secondary education, especially in university.

Being a Canadian of Korean descent, I can remember as a child, my grandmother telling me constantly, "Do lots of homework! Do well in school!". Scholastic achievement is part and parcel of the Korean culture and maybe that's the reason why I've always had this expectation that I would pursue a post-secondary education.

Looking back on my decision to attend college, I can't really say that it was based on any one particular reason. The desire to pursue a career and to fulfill an important life goal were definitely key motivators behind my decision.

But if it weren't for the availability of student loans, and the fact that I was living in a large urban centre with multiple post-secondary institutions, I know that I wouldn't have been able to pursue a post-secondary education.

And so many of those experiences that I've had since my graduation, that I can tie either directly or indirectly to my post-secondary education, would have never come to pass.

A most humbling thought indeed.

Hunter/Gatherer

It's hard to imagine that in the 21st century, there are still hunter/gatherer societies that exist in the world.

Indigenous tribes that have never been in contact with "the outside world", let alone the technology, symbols, mores and folkways that govern our lives.


Photo credits: Brazil National Indian Foundation (Funai)

So when I first saw these aerial photographs on the BBC News website of an uncontacted indigenous tribe in Brazil, I was mesmerized by their stark outward appearance and their reaction towards the plane circling above them.

According to Survival International (a worldwide advocacy group for the rights of tribal people), more than half the world's 100 uncontacted tribes live in Brazil or Peru. And they're under constant treat of extinction from disease and land loss due to illegal logging and lack of immunity against viruses such as the common cold. 

Photo credits: Brazil National Indian Foundation (Funai)


With our powerful technology coupled with our never-ending demand for land, it may be inevitable that these few remaining hunter/gatherer societies will encounter members of our society.

And then what?

Proponents of integration will argue that their way of life is best left in the "stone age" and that they would be better off living in a society that can offer a higher standard of living thanks to our technological "perks".

Ethnocentrism aside, is there anything to learn from studying these technologically simple societies? What do we stand to gain from researching a society that some would consider "inferior" to our own?

According to Sociology / John J. Macionis, Linda M. Gerber. - 6th Canadian ed. hunters and gatherers spend much of their time in search of game and plants to eat. And since they are at the mercy of uncontrollable events such as storms, droughts, accidents and illnesses, everyone must work together to raise everyone's chances of survival (85).


Photo credits: Brazil National Indian Foundation (Funai)

Which means everyone's work is equally important, regardless of gender. And while men and women perform different tasks, for the most part, they view each other as equals when it comes to socioeconomic importance (85).

And given their close ties to the natural world, they may hold the knowledge in unlocking the mysteries of homeopathic medicine and perhaps the cure for many of our pathogenic challenges.

We can stand to learn a lot from these hunters and gatherers by thinking more in terms of cultural relativism instead of ethnocentrism. But regardless of the level of technology, we all rely on the resources of the earth to sustain us. And unless we take the necessary steps to nurture and preserve our natural resources, the hunters and gatherers won't be the only ones facing extinction.

The Stone Angel



Photo Credit: http://digitalcollections.mcmaster.ca/

By MARGARET LAURENCE

Reviewed by JAMES RHA

Set in the fictional town of Manawaka, Canadian author Margaret Laurence paints a revealing picture of the impact of a lifetime of rancor and uncompromising pride through the eyes of a fictional character, Hagar Shipley.

Told in a first-person point-of-view, the reader is taken on an emotional journey that flips between past and present, as Hagar reveals intimate details of her stormy marriage, the death of her son, brother and husband, her failing health and eventual hospitalization.

Throughout the novel, Laurence executes her craft with remarkable insight and honesty as she introduces the reader to the inner workings of a mind full of disdain, suspicion, and unresolved pain.

Laurence's ability to create a three-dimensional character was evident from the myriad of emotions that I felt towards Hagar Shipley. As the story unfolded, I felt sympathy over the "senseless" death of her son, shock at the magnitude of her hostility towards Doris, respect for her resolve in carrying-out her "plan", and admiration for her final attempts at reconciliation with her son Marvin.

We live in denial of our own mortality. And like many other works of fiction that embrace the theme of carpe diem, The Stone Angel is a good reminder that no one has forever and that love is very democratic.

How much of it you receive is directly proportional to how much you give.