forceful subtlety.

Message from the Commander in Chief

Tue, 19 Feb 2008 11:11:00 UTC

Therefore, it would be a betrayal to my conscience to accept a responsibility requiring more mobility and dedication than I am physically able to offer. This I say devoid of all drama.

This is not my farewell to you. My only wish is to fight as a soldier in the battle of ideas. I shall continue to write under the heading of ‘Reflections by comrade Fidel.’ It will be just another weapon you can count on. Perhaps my voice will be heard. I shall be careful.

Thanks.

Fidel Castro Ruz
February 18, 2008
5:30 p.m.

Message in full

a Dalì on my wall!

Sun, 2 Sep 2007 11:47:00 UTC

From my father’s trip to Waddington’s last week -

a gift to me

zuzana preferred to keep:

but I think that may be because she saw the look on my face when I saw mine

Thank you, Hilary.

math that matters

Wed, 22 Aug 2007 12:55:00 UTC

Imagine: Lessons linking mathematics & social justice!

Math That Matters

Nice to see an education plan that’s actually relevant to something beside indoctrinating factory workers

Addendum:

Over the airwaves during the morning drive to see Jilly’s kitty: listen

"Kurt is up in Heaven now"

Thu, 12 Apr 2007 11:11:00 UTC

Kurt Vonnegut, Jr.
11 November 1922 - 11 April 2007

In any case, there’s bound to be much crying. But the oubliette alone will let you think while dying.

“The Sixth Book” in The Books of Bokonon

In his honour:

Humanist Manifesto III

In ours:

In the beginning, God created the earth, and he looked upon it in His cosmic loneliness.

And God said, “Let Us make living creatures out of mud, so the mud can see what We have done.” And God created every living creature that now moveth, and one was man. Mud as man alone could speak. God leaned close as mud as man sat up, looked around, and spoke. Man blinked. “What is the purpose of all this?” he asked politely.

“Everything must have a purpose?” asked God.

“Certainly,” said man.

“Then I leave it to you to think of one for all this,” said God.

And He went away.

- The Books of Bokonon.

“Well, here we are, Mr. Pilgrim, trapped in the amber of this moment. There is no why.” Reading

hushed silence

Mon, 9 Apr 2007 11:11:00 UTC

April 9th

We were dancing a macabre dance as our nerves just vibrated to the thousands of shells and machine gun bullets… whizzing over.
I felt that if I had put my finger up, I should have touched a ceiling of sound.

Corporal Gus Sivertz of the 2nd Canadian Mounted Rifles,
on the experience of advancing under heavy machine gun fire from the rear.
Vimy Ridge, 9 Apr 1917.

Official war photo of Vimy Ridge 1917
Photographer: Jack Turner
Source: Digital Collections website operated by the Government of Canada

Lest we forget
Photographer: j_klue
Source: Flickr: Photos from j_klue

a Dramatic reading

Sat, 7 Apr 2007 07:57:00 UTC

make sure your speakers are on deng deng

and now - a dramatic reading - of a real breakup letter - from a real person -

Breakup letter

5 minutes de répit pour la planète

Thu, 1 Feb 2007 04:01:00 UTC

The Alliance for the Planet is calling on all citizens to create five minutes of electrical rest for the planet on 1 February 2007.

Participez à la plus grande mobilisation citoyenne contre le changement climatique!

Why February 1st?

Because this is the day the new UN report on global climate change will be released in Paris.

19:55 in Paris, Bruxelles and Italy

13:55 in New York and Ontario

18:55 in London

This event affects us all, involves us all, and provides an occasion to show how important an issue global warming is to us. If we all participate, this action can have real media and political weight.

This is not just about saving five minutes worth of electricity - this is about getting the attention of the media, the politicians, and ourselves.

Five minutes of electrical down time for the planet: this does not take long and costs nothing. And will show all political leaders that global warming is an issue that needs to come first and foremost in political debate.

Don’t forget to unplug things like televisons because they are constantly using small amounts of energy thanks to their instant-on feature. Stoves and microwaves with clocks are in constant use. Unplug clock radios. Turn off your monitors.

prop rep!

Wed, 3 Jan 2007 05:24:00 UTC

1792

That’s the year we elected our first parliament. Some people say the way we vote in Ontario has stood the test of time. Other people say it’s time for a change.

What do you think?

The Ontario Citizen’s Assembly on Electoral Reform must recommend to the government whether Ontario should keep its current electoral system or adopt a new one. If the Assembly recommends a change, it will be put to a referendum expected to be at the next provincial election on October 4, 2007

website

Anyone interested in getting a discussion going? for submission, even?

begin rant

ding dong

Mon, 11 Dec 2006 08:27:00 UTC

Pinochet is dead -

and I quote:

Pinochet’s death ‘saddens’ Thatcher

wtf?

my reaction? pissed he didn’t live longer. - here

participate by not participating

Wed, 15 Nov 2006 12:53:00 UTC

Every November, for 24 hours, we remember that no one was born to shop - that we make a small choice to participate by Not participating.

celebrate as a relaxed family holiday, as a non-commercial street party, or even as a politically charged public protest.

If you’ve never taken part in Buy Nothing Day, or if you’ve taken part in the past but haven’t really committed to doing it again, consider this:
Anyone can take part- provided you spend a day without spending.

NOVEMBER 24 IS BUY NOTHING DAY - NO PURCHASE NECESSARY

THE ULTIMATE REFUND: On November 24th and 25th - the busiest days in the American retail calendar and the unofficial start of the international Christmas-shopping season - thousands of activists and concerned citizens in 65 countries will take a 24 hour consumer detox as part of the 14th annual Buy Nothing Day, a global phenomenon that originated in Vancouver, Canada.

What better way to bring the Year of Global Warming to a close than to point people in the direction of real and effective alternatives to the unbridled consumption that has created this quagmire?

View Article

Dear Jammers and Cultural Creatives,

Yup, it’s that time of year again. With Buy Nothing Day just around the corner - Friday, Nov 24 in North America and Saturday, Nov 25 internationally - we hope your plans for this year’s festival of restraint are coming along nicely.

If you’re lacking in the inspiration department, check out our brand new campaign headquarters at www.adbusters.org. You’ll get to scope out what others have in store for this year; you’ll also be able to explore our archive of previous years, download 2006 posters and handbills, see what the media is saying about BND, and find your way to affiliate sites from around the globe.

Email us at bnd@adbusters.org as your plans, posters and photos start to come together, and we’ll try to feature them on the site. Hopefully, you’ll help to inspire others in your area to take part.

And if you have an extra moment, feel free to forward this year’s press release to your local media and absolutely anyone else that might be interested in what we’re trying to accomplish.

Let the countdown begin.

Cheers, The Buy Nothing Day Team