Newman and the essence of artistic creativity

The first time I saw Barnett Newman's Onement 1 (1948), I voiced in abject perplexity, "what is it?" Little did I know that this was precisely the question Newman wanted me to ask, so he could answer, while stifling a chuckle, "it is...what it is."

Demand a plan to end gun violence

Lincoln Alexander leaves Queen's Park for the last time

Signing guest register. Photo courtesy Ann Green

I was able to get downtown last night to pay last respects to Lincoln Alexander and shoot this video of his motorcade pulling out and heading to Hamilton.

There's plenty written about his life, work and legacy all over the internet - he lived a life dedicated to not only making Canada a better place, but also to inspiring people to do the same. 

I'll just echo one quote of his that I particularly embrace:

"I'm proud of being black, but my role in Canada is to serve all the people. I'm a Canadian. Period."

Birds, miracles and Elgan's big move

Yesterday we moved Elgan into his dormitory to start grade nine at a private boarding school, out of town, but within a half hour’s drive if traffic isn’t killer.

A remarkable thing happened when we arrived but, in order to appreciate it, I’ve got to tell a story of something that happened to me a few years ago.

Spain's bailout indicative of a bigger problem

I read today that Spain is going to need a $125 billion bailout.

Here are some relatively recent unemployment rates according to Wikipedia:

North America

• Canada, 7.2 percent
• United States, 8.2 percent

Europe

• Germany, 5.4 percent
• United Kingdom, 8.1 percent
• France, 10.2 percent
• Italy, 10.2 percent
• Portugal, 15.2 percent
• Greece, 21.7 percent
• Spain, 24.3 percent.

Spain's 24.3% unemployment rate gains perspective in that Canada's highest rate during the Great Depression was 19.3% in 1933, while the United States reached 24.75% in that toughest of years.

What’s curious about this is that Spain “a few years ago took pride as the continent’s economic superstar only to see it become the hot spot in the Eurozone debt crisis.”

What’s the value of a system that can call a nation a superstar even while the very machinations of its undoing must have already been underway? How do they get to Depression Era unemployment numbers without us seeing it coming?

Should a country called the "economic superstar" that is situated on the same continent and in the same economic zone as Germany - a country that is home to many strong global brands such as Porsche, BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Audi and Volkswagen - have had to earn such a lofty credit by having an economy based on stability and long-term viability?

How could a system miss a country like Germany while naming Spain its superstar? As if to say, "you should pattern your economy after the standards set by our superstar, Spain". 

And now, from where is the money supposed to come, to bail out Spain? From the other countries who were not deemed to be economic superstars?

This is not about picking on Spain. It is calling out a system that doesn't make a whole lot of sense.

Diffusion of responsibility, NIMBYism and deciding to be someone in support of a free society

Scenarios

In 1964 New York City, Kitty Genovese is repeatedly attacked over the course of a half hour in the courtyard encircled by several apartment buildings. No one calls police. 

In your typical baseball game, a high fly ball is falling in shallow centre. The 2^nd baseman has tracked back while the centre fielder as ranged forward. At the last moment, both stop and the ball drops between the two millionaire professional baseball players.

In a standard social psychology textbook, these are examples of what is called “diffusion of responsibility.” And, in the case against Luka Magnotta (born Eric Newman), diffusion of responsibility can't impose upon jury availability if we want justice, but who is going to want to view the video evidence of the murder, indignities and dismemberment of Jun Lin?

What it takes to level the playing field: handicapped parking and affirmative action

I recall actually wondering to myself, “Why am I penalized by having to walk farther from where I can find a parking space to the mall entrance, just because I am not handicapped? Here are five empty spaces, why can’t I park in one if they’re not even being used?” It challenged me to stop and think through the idea, after which I chided myself, for ever having “thunk such thoughts” (although, the rigor did result in graduating to better thoughts).

Equality (think “balance”) is about everyone having an equal chance. It is not about guaranteeing equal results, but that one’s chances for success are equally-accessible. It recognizes that society has evolved with success geared towards the normative (whatever that may be, rightly or mightly) and that, as such, anyone who is not within the normative group (often through no “fault” of their own) will have a more difficult time accessing resources.