A Season for Endings: Gil Courtemanche Service Today

A writer friend just asked me if I were going to the ceremony for journalist and novelist Gil Courtemanche who died two days before Jack Layton did and whose farewell is this evening.

"Did you know him? Do you want to say good bye?"

No, I replied, I only met him once. To go would probably be presumptuous, although I greatly admire his work. His novel A Sunday in Kigali is probably the best evocation of love and ethnic war that I've ever read. And up until his daeth the day after his 68th birthday Courtemanche pointed his finger at evil and spoke out strongly. He will be missed.

Are Books Dead--and What about Writers?

The Guardian has an interesting piece by Ewan Morrison on the end of publishing, and the rise of "free." Worth reading if you're a "content creator" or a reader.

Pears Are Ripe: A Case of Benign Neglect?

Sunday evening in the middle of Irene, a young man knocked on the door and asked if he could climb in our backyard to take down some of the pears that remained on the trees in back. I said no because I knew just how hard the remaining fruit would be to get and I didn't want him to break his neck on our property. On Friday morning I spent nearly an hour perched on a laddler harvesting, and what remained was clearly out of reach.

He was the second person this year to ask about harvesting the pears: a woman up the street also asked if she could "get up on a little stool" and pick some. I told her my concerns about the dangers of what was left and brought her some that I'd sucessfully picked. As for the young man, I told him to take whatever was on the ground since the high winds were shaking loose some of the fruit on the highest branches.

All of this is rather strange, since the pear trees got zero care this year. We always get some fruit, and sometimes get more than the squirrels can eat, but this year there appears to be a bumper harvest. There are two that are ready to eat for lunch today (you pick pears a little green and then let them ripen,) and we'll appreciate them all the more, knowing that they are an unexpected, unearned. bonanza.

Photo: not this year's crop, I must admit, but the one three years ago which also was a good one.

Good Sense from The Gazette, for Once: Leave the Car at Home

We've not been readers of The Gazette on a regular basis for years (long story, having in part to do with a class action I'm involved in against it) but today I was tempted to take a peek when Radio Can mentioned an editorial that for once makes sense.

"An autumn resolution: Leave the car at home" reads the headline. It goes on: "... while we all know that using public transit is the proverbial Good Thing, too many of us still don't do it. Faced with the prospect of squeezing ourselves in with many dozens of other people in a jammed bus or métro car on a sweltering day, it's pretty appealing to instead get behind the wheel or into the passenger seat of a comfortable, quiet, air-conditioned car. It's the wrong choice, but many of us do it anyway...

"If just five per cent of the population used public transit, even some of the time, it would get 400,000 cars off the road every day.

"That's an astounding figure - and one worth aiming for."

Amen.

Saturday Photo: So This Is an Idea of What it Looks like..

This is probably the most eloquent pair of pictures before and after the fire. The small photos are what the staircase looked like the day afterwards, and the large one, what it looked like this week.


Much remains to be done, but we're back in and even hanging pictures on the walls.

Krugman on the Complicated Question of Economic Recovery: A Remiinder That We Also Need Hard Headed Ecomonic Goals

Paul Krugman as usual has some interesting things to say today. This time he asks why Ben Bernanke, head of the US Federal Reserve, doesn't do what Ben Bernanke, economist, recommended for Japan in 2000.

At the time, Bernanke advocated : "purchases of long-term government debt (to push interest rates, and hence private borrowing costs, down); an announcement that short-term interest rates would stay near zero for an extended period, to further reduce long-term rates; an announcement that the bank was seeking moderate inflation, “setting a target in the 3-4% range for inflation, to be maintained for a number of years,” which would encourage borrowing and discourage people from hoarding cash; and “an attempt to achieve substantial depreciation of the yen,” that is, to reduce the yen’s value in terms of other currencies."

Sounds complicated, doesn't it? But that's part of the problem with economics: it sometimes seems above the ken of ordinary mortals. Yet economic policy and strong economic goals--like full employment--are what we need. It's going to be up to the NDP in Canada to push for them since for sure the Harper Conservatives won't come through with them.

When the tears are dried, it has to be back to work for the Dippers and their supporters. The country needs and wants strong opposition, a fact which should not be forgotten in sadness surrounding the near-Greek tragedy of Jack Layton's death.

A Laugh Because We Need One: The Air Farce Remembers Jack

With apologies to our American friends who apprently can't access Ari Farce material for copyright reasons.

Why There's Not Much of a Post Today

Little Jeanne is coming over to play today, the day before her first birthday. Got to wash the kitchen floor because her way of getting around is scooting on her bum (unless, that is, you hold her hands so she can walk.)

Funny, I feel worse about having a dirty kitchen floor with her around, than I did with my own kids. Of course we had a dog then who was a real chow hound and perhaps the floor never got as dirty!

Photo: one of the world's best dogs, Trout Fishing in Canada (1972-1985.) She was a collie/shepherd mix who was terrific with children, loved ot swim, and kept our kitchen floor clean.

Jack Would Approve: Radio Nederlands Series on Protest Songs

One of the brief uncomfortable moments at Monday night's vigil at the foot of Mount Royal in memory of Jack Layton was the interminable version of "This Land Is Your Land" by a group of well-intentioned Anglophone musicians. The song's a good one, but even though they sang the Canadian version (not "from California to New York islands" but "from Bonavista to Vancouver Island") I wondered about the choice. It was written by folk music legend Woodie Guthrie, whom I revere, but, damn it, he was American. In addition, the group didn't have a song in French prepared and it was up to a few stalwarts Monday night to start a rendition of "C'est à ton tour" by Gilles Vigneault (also called "Gens du Pays.)"

Perhaps the Guthrie song was one of Layton's favourites, and that was the reason for the choice. I don't know. But I'm pretty sure he'd have loved a series on protest songs by Radio Nederlands which I just came across. Here's the link to the part about Brazilian protest music, featuring my hero Chico Buarque.

Save Sept. 19 for an Interesting Evening of Reading and Love

Last winter in the depth of our despair the Quebec Writers' Federation asked me if I'd like to be one of two writers to present a favourite novel that has been translated into the other official language as part of the Festival international de littérature. The date proposed was September 19 which seemed epochs away, but I was extremely pleased to be asked and settled on Neil Bissoondath's The Unyeilding Clamour of the Night.

But time passes, and yesterday the festival's programming was announced, so I can officially invite you to Reading: Un Acte d'amour (or Lire : An Act of Love, depending on your linguistic preferences. ) François Barcelo will be presenting Tarmac by Nicolas Dickne and Sherry Simon, noted translater and literary theorist, will animate the evening. Both novels have been translated elegantly, the Bissoondath by Paul Gagnon and Lori St-Martin and the Dickner by Lazar Lederhendler.

So save Monday, September 19 for a interesting evening: 7:30 p.m. at the Sala Rossa, 4848 St.Laurent in Mile-End.

Jack's Reach...

Just a note--I got more hits on my blog yesterday than I ever had, all with search terms like "Jack Layton House." (Most went to a posting from shortly after the election about Rick Mercer's item visit to Jack and Olivia chez eux along with a photo of Stornoway.) A man who was loved by many and obviously people want to find out details about his life.

Jack

Saying Good Bye: Jack's Last Letter and a Link toward a Page of Condolence

Here are a couple of links that may be useful to people saddened by the loss of Jack Layton.

The official condolence page in English

Et en français

And here's the last letter he wrote:

August 20, 2011

Toronto, Ontario

Dear Friends,

Tens of thousands of Canadians have written to me in recent weeks to wish me well. I want to thank each and every one of you for your thoughtful, inspiring and often beautiful notes, cards and gifts. Your spirit and love have lit up my home, my spirit, and my determination.

Unfortunately my treatment has not worked out as I hoped. So I am giving this letter to my partner Olivia to share with you in the circumstance in which I cannot continue.

I recommend that Hull-Aylmer MP Nycole Turmel continue her work as our interim leader until a permanent successor is elected.

I recommend the party hold a leadership vote as early as possible in the New Year, on approximately the same timelines as in 2003, so that our new leader has ample time to reconsolidate our team, renew our party and our program, and move forward towards the next election.

A few additional thoughts:

To other Canadians who are on journeys to defeat cancer and to live their lives, I say this: please don’t be discouraged that my own journey hasn’t gone as well as I had hoped. You must not lose your own hope. Treatments and therapies have never been better in the face of this disease. You have every reason to be optimistic, determined, and focused on the future. My only other advice is to cherish every moment with those you love at every stage of your journey, as I have done this summer.

To the members of my party: we’ve done remarkable things together in the past eight years. It has been a privilege to lead the New Democratic Party and I am most grateful for your confidence, your support, and the endless hours of volunteer commitment you have devoted to our cause. There will be those who will try to persuade you to give up our cause. But that cause is much bigger than any one leader. Answer them by recommitting with energy and determination to our work. Remember our proud history of social justice, universal health care, public pensions and making sure no one is left behind. Let’s continue to move forward. Let’s demonstrate in everything we do in the four years before us that we are ready to serve our beloved Canada as its next government.

To the members of our parliamentary caucus: I have been privileged to work with each and every one of you. Our caucus meetings were always the highlight of my week. It has been my role to ask a great deal from you. And now I am going to do so again. Canadians will be closely watching you in the months to come. Colleagues, I know you will make the tens of thousands of members of our party proud of you by demonstrating the same seamless teamwork and solidarity that has earned us the confidence of millions of Canadians in the recent election.

To my fellow Quebecers: On May 2nd, you made an historic decision. You decided that the way to replace Canada’s Conservative federal government with something better was by working together in partnership with progressive-minded Canadians across the country. You made the right decision then; it is still the right decision today; and it will be the right decision right through to the next election, when we will succeed, together. You have elected a superb team of New Democrats to Parliament. They are going to be doing remarkable things in the years to come to make this country better for us all.

To young Canadians: All my life I have worked to make things better. Hope and optimism have defined my political career, and I continue to be hopeful and optimistic about Canada. Young people have been a great source of inspiration for me. I have met and talked with so many of you about your dreams, your frustrations, and your ideas for change. More and more, you are engaging in politics because you want to change things for the better. Many of you have placed your trust in our party. As my time in political life draws to a close I want to share with you my belief in your power to change this country and this world. There are great challenges before you, from the overwhelming nature of climate change to the unfairness of an economy that excludes so many from our collective wealth, and the changes necessary to build a more inclusive and generous Canada. I believe in you. Your energy, your vision, your passion for justice are exactly what this country needs today. You need to be at the heart of our economy, our political life, and our plans for the present and the future.

And finally, to all Canadians: Canada is a great country, one of the hopes of the world. We can be a better one – a country of greater equality, justice, and opportunity. We can build a prosperous economy and a society that shares its benefits more fairly. We can look after our seniors. We can offer better futures for our children. We can do our part to save the world’s environment. We can restore our good name in the world. We can do all of these things because we finally have a party system at the national level where there are real choices; where your vote matters; where working for change can actually bring about change. In the months and years to come, New Democrats will put a compelling new alternative to you. My colleagues in our party are an impressive, committed team. Give them a careful hearing; consider the alternatives; and consider that we can be a better, fairer, more equal country by working together. Don’t let them tell you it can’t be done.

My friends, love is better than anger. Hope is better than fear. Optimism is better than despair. So let us be loving, hopeful and optimistic. And we’ll change the world.

All my very best,

Jack Layton

Our Jack of Hearts Is Gone...

The country and the world will have tougher going now that Jack Layton has left us.

Saturday Photo: Flowers, Native and Otherwise

This is the season for Brown-eyed Susans, Rudbeckia or whatever you want to call this fantastic golden flower. They are native North American perennials and given some sunshine will bloom for several weeks at the end of the summer. A great flower which lifts my heart when I see it.

Other plants in other places will grow wild, and I was reminded of the impatiens I saw in Tanzania when I passed this little tree-garden. In the East Usambara Mountains where I had gone to look for wild Africn violets, impatiens were everywhere: can't find the pictures at the moment but when I do, I'll scan one and post it. There the plants will reseed, if not live for years. Here course winter will kill them. That's one of the somewhat sad things we must deal with in this climate--summers like the tropics but winters full of ice and snow.

Some people deny this--or perhaps use seasonal differences to flaunt their buying capacity. For three years this garden has featured palm trees which, unlike the figs that some old Italian gardeners overwinter by burying in the ground or bringing inside, were left to die in the cold. Seems to me it is a waste of gorgeous plants, and an affront to Mother Nature.

The Basement Is Clean! Or How to Have 35 Years of Construction Scraps Recycled.

Of course, one of the things about moving back into a "restored" house is the sharp contrast what was left over makes with the clean walls etc. Lee now has his basement workshop back, but as he organized and rearranged, the six sheets of 3/8 inch Gyproc bought maybe 15 years ago for one project, plus all the metal bits he'd saved just in case and the odds and ends of wood seemed less and less essential. In addition, the workers had left a lot of scrap which they probably should have taken away, but hadn't.

What to do? It was too much and too messy to take to the borough's drop off site, so I went looking on the web. What I found were several services, and more or less on gut feeling (can you speak of that when dealing with people virtually?) settled on Ramasse.ca.

I'm happy to say that after our several unpleasant experiences with contractors and services these past few months, we were extremely pleased. You register on-line, pick your time, and wait. As it was, the two young men arrived exactly when promised, cheerfully loaded up our stuff, explained what they would do with it (the Gyproc they'll keep because they're renovating a warehouse, the wood and metal go to local dealers, the electronics likewise.) Pleasant, efficient and certainly less expensive than renting a van to haul the stuff ourselves. It's not a franchise either, and I'm always in favour of encouraging locally grown entrepreneurs. To be recommended...

For the Record: The Gazette Says No to Making the Armed Forces "Royal"

The Montreal English language daily The Gazette fell all over itself welcoming William and Kate, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge a few weeks ago, so you might think it would also be wowed by the idea of reintroducing "royal" into the names of Canada's air force and navy. But that's not the case.

"Surely there is no need for adding the term "royal" to make Canada's servicemen and women stand a little taller, as MacKay put it. The country owes its armed services a debt of gratitude that should be paid in decent wages and solid support, not the currency of nostalgia," the newspaper editorialized today.

Not the reasoning I'd give, but I'm glad to see another voice raised against the change.

Thursday in the Park with Jeanne and More Than Thirty Years of Subsidized Day Care in Quebec

Today Jeanne is spending the day with us, the first time she's passed a whole day away from her parents some place not her own home. It's momentous in a way, but she will be a year old in a week so she's quite ready for the experience, as are Grandma and Grandpa.

We spent much of the morning in Parc Outremont, three blocks from here where I passed many hours with Jeanne's mother and her uncle. Some things are the same: the babysitters with their charges who are often not all that good at sharing toys, the grandmothers ready to make contact with other grandmothers partly in order to share grandkid stories, and the troops of kids from the neighborhood daycares.

Anong them were the Garderie Querbes, where Jeanne's mother was the young child when it opened in September 1978. Before I knew who they were I noted how the kids looked out for each other and shared toys, and once I'd had a chat with one of the educatrices I saw that cooperation still seems to be a value encouraged there: they cheerfully packed up their sand toys when it was time to go, and raced to help wheel the big cart full of equipment back.

The Garderie Querbes was started by a group of parents as part of the big demand for child care that surfaced in the 1970s. Quebec's $7 a day, provincially subsidized, certified day cares are the lineal descendant of that period of social action. A generation of kids have passed through the system, and now many are sending their own children to daycares in this outstanding intiative. The rest of Canada should do likewise.

Certainly the demand for this kind of reliable, affordable child care is huge: Jeanne's on several waiting lists, but it may be months before there's a place for her. In the meantime, Grandma and Grandpa will help out now and then.

Further to Warren Buffet: The Gini Coefficient, a Measure of Income Inequality

When talking about taxing the rich and the effects of inequality, it's useful to look at a country's Gini coefficient. That is a measure of household income inequality where 0 would be complete equality and is based on the distribution of household incomes. The CIA makes some interesting calculations--after all, if you're an intelligence agency you ought to look at all factors that might affect a country's stablity and instabilty.

In 1994 Canada's was 31.5 and in 2005, 32.1. which isn't too bad, compared to France's 32.7 in both 1995 and 2008. The USA had 40.8 in 1997 and 45 in 2007, definitely a trend in the wrong direction. Brazil on the other hand is going in the other direction, with 60.7 in 1998 and 56.7 in 2005, after a few years of Lula's social programs.

Royal Canadian Air Farce, Or Harper Really Doesn't have the Interests of the Country at Heart

A Nanos poll reported in The Globe and Mail says that Stephen Harper's decision to add the designation "Royal" to the names of Canada's Air Force and Navy would boost the fortunes of the Bloc Québécois and Quebec nationalism. That, of course, is a major reason for the move, although Harper's strategy of targetting parts of the electorate with specific measures surely plays a role here. The Monarchist vote may not be terribly large, but it's another piece of the Conservatives strategy.

And I'm outraged. As I've mentioned before, I'm no friend of the monarchy. I even hesitated a long time before taking out Canadian citizenship because I thought I'd have to swear allegiance to the Queen (in the end it was just to uphold her laws.) This is a country whose roots were both French and English, and that now welcomes people from all over the world. We do not need this kind of silly nod to a past which wasn't all that glorious to begin with.

Bring back the Royal Canadian Air Force? No. But maybe a modern day version of the Royal Canadian Air Farce.