On the DEWLine 2.0: Dwight Williams

Political Analysis: This lone-wolf operative is shaping Ontario’s political discourse
- Adam Radwanski for the Globe and Mail

CBC Radio's Tapestry - Sacred Space 1: Architecture and Region

There will be more like this. My attention seems to flit around hither and yon of late.

We lost the man who gave us the Vinyl Cafe stories today.

I said he was the most ruthless storyteller we've yet produced as a country, and I stand by that. It was never a complaint, and I am glad to have been able to thank him via Canada Post while I still had the chance for all of that.

I miss him anyway.

Randy links to a tale of quieter heroes...

Originally posted by rfmcdpei at [URBAN NOTE] "How construction barriers are bringing downtown's gritty past to life"

Specifically Windswept by Adam Rakunas. Thanks to james_nicoll for drawing my attention to it by reviewing its sequel and suggesting to start with Windswept and go to Like a Boss from there. Turns out the Ottawa Library has a couple of copies of Windswept in the circulating collection, so I was able to get a look for myself. Glad I did.

FYI: The reason I include "labour dispute" and "human rights" among the tags for this entry is because of themes in both novels.

The books we read all use a calendar system that puts events in the timeline on either side of the Battle of Yavin from A New Hope. I am becoming increasing convinced that the characters themselves are not using any such calendar-dating convention within the events of their lives.

What are some workable alternatives?

This is a thing that happens here where I live every year now. Used to be even-numbered years only, but that's changed. I think that change is for the better.

If you're interested in the artform, the business or both, you might want to take a closer look.

Disclosure: I did some volunteer work one year shortly after graduating from Algonquin Animation school. Not doing it any more, but the event matters to me anyway.

Chris Hadfield, known as much for his musical acumen now as for his exploration work, speaks to the legacy of Ray Bradbury.

And in respect to the start of the Pan An Games here in Canada tonight, I give you - with the help of CBC Music - Serena Ryder and accompanying musicians:



The essay and the song should be linked more closely in our minds than I have words for at the moment.

But I've been talking with a guy over on Facebook about the merits and values and cultural assumptions of X-Files and Agents of SHIELD. They both come at the "Men in Black" thing from different places, governmental conspiracies and other such memes as well.

I do think we need both of these shows on the cultural stages of the world, precisely because of that difference of perspective.

In the process of reaching that conclusion with the other gent, I had a thought or two about SHIELD-as-TV-series and what I want from that in the months or years to come. If they can get to it between disruptions by assorted Marvel movies' plotline requirements. Which isn't guaranteed.

One: Skye's coming around to Coulson's way of thinking about various issues seemed a bit rushed. Which we can tie back to Winter Soldier to some extent. What I want is for both Skye and Coulson to find on occasion that maybe that rush has had its bad consequences for both of them. (Granted that Coulson's own TAHITI-related issues may have helped push him in Skye's political direction somewhat. Perhaps not far enough, given how fast Coulson got his answers about that.)

Two: The whole core team needs their own Sidney Freedman. Or Simon LaGrieve from the old Ostrander-written Suicide Squad comics. Psychological counselling, competently delivered no matter how weird the situation for the lead characters got. Even if the characters had to ignore the counsel for whatever reasons.

Not sure that Marvel would go that route, not with the back half of this year's episodes already probably half "in the can", but I want it.