Thursday, 15 April 2010

Working in Ottawa today --Word-up Bitches

Good morning folks,
I am off to Ottawa today.
Today I read two shorts in the Globe and Mail, the first explaining that because economic recovery is underway we will see more cheesy pop music.  Please say it isn't so.
The second was about Republican Rapper Brian Bergondy.  No doubt Bergondy wants to rap and grief about the U.N., taxes and health-care reform.
Now I can't really complain if the changing economics results in new art form, but it is always very weird when someone takes an art form and tries to separate it from its roots and culture and then supplant a message that is hoped to be meaningful to the original art form's audience.
When Keith Richards punched out the angry fuzzed out overdrived licks in 'Satisfaction' it underscored the Rolling Stone's general distaste for America and more specifically American advertising and consumerism.  It just would not work if Richard Nixon had used the licks as background music to his 'I am not a crook' speech --well it would be mildly amusing.
Remember when Pat Boone released his rock album?  It was very disturbing to see the usually clean-cut Boone (think white shoes and a matching belt holding up a light blue leisure suit) sporting a few day's beard growth and a black leather jacket on the record cover.  He explained that he was trying to reach the young rock listeners with his messages of church attendance, and drug and sex abstinence --it only annoyed his target audience and made his regular fans think he lost his mind --I never did hear any of the tracks, but imagined 'Jericho Road" to the melody of Black Sabbath's 'Paranoid'.  Too terrible disturbing.
Let's all hope that Bergondy reconsiders, we've all already had to look away from the TV screen when some establishment type hammers out some staccato strung lyrics that he thinks is some west coast south central rap.
Have a good day - word up bitches.

Thursday, 8 April 2010

Working in Montréal today --Not worth Printing

Good morning folks,
Started writing a morning missive on the plane but it spiraled in and dove to new lows --the missive, not the plane.
Thankfully my BlackBerry has a delete key.  Have a good day anyway.
I'll be working in Montreal today, I'll likely see some of you, others I won't.

Thursday, 1 April 2010

Working in Ottawa today --Keep Running

A different feature today --In an email conversation with a friend today, I was asked this question just prior to takeoff:
"..why do men get mad when a women beats them in a race?  You can even sense anger inside of them.."
I can't fully comprehend it, but have seen that myself.
Such a man may be delusional about some perceived superiority of man over women, but then should he not be most upset with himself since he let down all men by being beaten by a mere woman?
Perhaps he is and like the car driver that cuts you off, their embarrassment causes them to lash out and flip YOU the bird.
Or perhaps he believes that a woman should be subservient to all men, and therefore is quite miffed at she or you for daring to overstep (no pun intended) your place and pass in front?
Even more interesting about the experience is that such a fellow thought he was racing against you or anyone else for that matter.
Any run I have ever engaged in was a timed event, that is the runner is running against the clock, against the runner's previous time, training, stamina, preparation and state of mind; running against and with the road, the wind, heat and being one with endeavor.
His loss.
Have a good day, keep running.