Tuesday, December 30, 2008

Lists

It's the end of the year which means it's time for "Best of" and "Top Ten" lists. I'm not going to post any myself, although I do love a good list. No, I'm just here to complain about the fact that so many people deem it necessary to contribute a "Worst of" list. What's the point of these? I can see absolutely no good reason for compiling a "Worst of" list. I hate them. They represent the worst in the reviewing system we have. Why does a reviewer feel the need to remind us of the worst things they saw that year? Not to mention singling out the people who were involved in those pieces. It's, well, just plain mean.

Actually, I think our whole reviewing system needs to be...um, reviewed. We need to get rid of the star rating. It's ridiculous to try and rate a piece of theatre, film, or dance or even a restaurant, out of five stars (or four if you're The Globe and Mail or The Star). Just give us the written reviews. We should be able to surmise ourselves what was thought of the show from the body of the review, shouldn't we?

We could even go a step further and only publish the reviews that are positive. I'm not sure about this one, although it would get rid of those reviewers who only seem to be able to write anything negative. You know the ones. They get a kick out of being clever and bitchy and like to make the review more about themselves then the piece they saw. Worst kind of reviewer is the kind that thinks they're more important then what's being reviewed.

I realize a change in the reviewing system isn't going to happen but it'd be nice to not see any "Worst of" lists next year. Too much to ask?

Friday, December 26, 2008

Reasonable Compensation

Due to the recent auto industry bailouts offered by the Canadian and U.S governments there's been a lot of talk about an auto worker's hourly rate. There's a good blog post here debunking the $70/hour wages and benefits rate as quoted by the New York Times. But what is a fair hourly rate?

Personally, I feel that the the wage (for all fields) should be related to the importance of work being done. Of course, there are a bucket of issues here on who decides what's important and how does that compare to other professions. In my mind education and health care are two of most important and essential professions/industries in Canadian society and as such I feel the people working in these essential fields should be compensated accordingly. I'm pretty sure you'd be hard pressed to find someone who disagrees with me.
And yet...


Profession and its Average Hourly Rate
Auto Worker - $34
Registered Nurse - $29.55
Teacher (Secondary School) - $27.60
TTC Operator - $26.58 (starts at $20.86 with yearly raises to $26.58 after 30 months)
Teacher (Elementary) - $26.40
Social Worker - $26.05

Sources:
The Auto worker is the average CAW wage at Ford and I took that from this CBC article.
The Nurse, Teachers and Social Worker wages came from the City of Toronto website.
I took the TTC wage directly from the Local 113 ATU Collective Agreement.

Wednesday, December 24, 2008

Christmas Songs

I have two favorite Christmas songs. The first is Fairytale of New York by the Pogues with Kirsty MacColl. I love this song. It's probably on my favorite song list of all time, but it's definitely my favorite Christmas song. I love it.

My second favorite is Baby It's Cold Outside. There are loads of versions of this song out there but it was originally written by Frank Loesser in 1944. Despite my love for this song I've always felt a little bit off about the fact that it basically seems to be a song about a date rape.

Never noticed before? Take a gander at the lyrics (these are from the Dean Martin version). For those who don't know the song it's a male/female duet and the man's lines are in brackets.

I really can't stay
(But baby, it's cold outside)
I've got to go away
(But baby, it's cold outside)

This evening has been
(Been hoping that you'd drop in)
So very nice
(I'll hold your hands, they're just like ice)

My mother will start worry
(Beautiful what's your hurry)
My father will be pacing the floor
(Listen to the fireplace roar)

So really I'd better scurry
(Beautiful please don't hurry)
But maybe just a half a drink more
(Put some records on while I pour)

The neighbors might think
(Baby, it's bad out there)
Say what's in this drink
(No cabs to be had out there)

I wish I knew how
(Your eyes are like starlight now)
To break this spell
(I'll take your hat, your hair looks swell)

I ought to say, "No, no, no sir"
(Mind if I move in closer)
At least I'm gonna say that I tried
(What's the sense in hurtin' my pride)

I really can't stay
(Oh baby don't hold out)
Ah, but it's cold out side
(Baby, it's cold out side)

I simply must go
(But baby, it's cold outside)
The answer is no
(But baby, it's cold outside)

Your welcome has been
(How lucky that you dropped in)
So nice and warm
(Look out the window at the snow)

My sister will be suspicious
(Gosh your lips look delicious)
My brother will be there at the door
(Waves upon the tropical shore)

My maiden aunts mind is vicious
(Gosh your lips are delicious)
But maybe just a cigarette more
(Never such a blizzard before)

I've gotta get home
(But baby, you'd freeze out there)
Say lend me a coat
(It's up to your knees out there)

You've really been grand
(I thrill when you touch my hand)
But don't you see?
(How can you do this thing to me?)

There's bound to be talk tomorrow
(Think of my lifelong sorrow)
At least there will be plenty implied
(If you got pneumonia and died)

I really can't stay
(Get over that old out)
Baby, it's cold
Baby, it's cold outside

Thursday, December 4, 2008

Its a brick.

Every year at Christmas my Dad would pick up a present that was rectangular in shape and a little on the heavy side and he's shake, smell, weigh, and thoroughly examine it and then make the joke - "It's a brick."

Every year.
One year my brother and I wrapped up an actual brick and gave it to him. He went through his annual routine and ended with the usual proclamation - "it's a brick." We swallowed our smiles as he opened it revealing the actual brick. I remember him being most pleased.
In other pleasing brick news there's this...


A journal of short non-fiction and poetry by amazing writers both famous and non. It's only published twice a year - Summer and Winter - and we just received the latest edition, Winter 2008, in the mail so that likely means you can now go pick up a copy at any quality book shop.
I highly recommend it and, for those of you who are writers, they accept submissions.

Works well as a Christmas present too.

Monday, December 1, 2008

Venice is sinking

There's been record rainfall in Venice resulting in flooding in almost all parts of the city. I think there's a marked difference between how the Venetians are handling the flooding and how we'd handle it. If you cut the bottom off of this photo nothing would look out of place...




Nice day to sit on the patio and relax with a glass of wine...


Awesome.