so, whenever people ask me what i do during these lovely holiday days (more like stressed days because I have no money and I have no job), I start by telling them that I read the paper. Now some people seem to think that this is really a nothing-exercise. However, reading the paper is a huge undertaking. First you have to read the front page (which has its own editor at the Globe who does nothing else and usually is laid out superbly... except yesterday when they lead with "Deal at hand in bethlehem... at hand? what kind of stupid expression is that anyway?). Then you have to read the articles and the editorials which are always by some crazily impressive people. Today there's a good piece on Sharon' visit to the US by the former Strategy Advisory to UN Secretary General Kofi Annan (of course it's not online so there's no link). Then you have to read the Review section which seems to have at least one piece on something to do with the CBC and some artist or arts individual who appeals to a small portion of the population (notice today's massive picture of Tom Waits- not exactly the prettiest vocal celeb around... picture Jack Nickolson meets fruit leather meets your great-great-grandfather).

Anyway, this isn't just any old rag, nor is it the polemic lefty or righty stuff. This is the real paper and so I feel justified in considering it one of my day's activities. My mom laughed when I told her the Globe only publishes one weekend paper. She was trying to insinuate that her paper is somehow better because it has a Sunday edition. However, the Globe weekend is just so great and fun-filled that it takes two days (at least) to read. Anyway, just a little bit of insight onto my obsession with the newspaper...

grrr.. So I began a really great blog today and then it got eaten because my script was too long apparently. anyway, i was awoken this morning by a friggin' call by the Trillium Foundation. For those of you who have been blessed not to have to interact with this organization, it's a government monster. The Ontario government created the organization essentially to make arts organizations and other community groups get down on their knees and suck the gov's wang for piddly amounts of funding. However, the process takes months if not years. I submitted an application for my choir in fall. First you have to submit. Then you have to meet with them and prove your effeciency and your organization building strategy. Then you have to rewrite it. Then you have to meet with them again. Then, they call to tell you that it will be another week before they finally decide if you get any money at all.

The worst part is that it's a big front for taking government money (snatched away from the gambling-addicted as it all comes from lottery revenues) and make people prove that with this piddly sum, your organization will suddenly become a massive revenue-making machine and be totally self-sustaining. I don't buy any of that bullshit so I just had to fill our application with wonderful bureaucratic buzzwords like "organizational effeciency", "increased and diversified revenue streams" and the always-great gains in "audience market share." blah, just give me my fucking money...

The news today had an interesting clip from the defeat party of French far-right candidate Jean-Marie Le Pen. Playing in the background was the Village People's YMCA. What has the world come to that a far-right extremist who polemically argues against immigration, even calling for the deportation of thousands of "unwanted immigrants" finds a homosexual liberation song inspiring? Maybe there's more to Le Pen than anyone expected :) It reminds me of a really long time ago when I did political rallies and Gary Filmon's campaign team played "You Oughta Know" by Alanis Morissette as a warm-up tune. I'm all for Canadian content but somehow "will she go down on you in a theatre" seems inappropriate for a potential Premier? Maybe I'm just getting stodgy in my old age...