Almrei & austereograms

.1. Interesting how the stories are being spun, obnoxious they (here and by different writers in most other articles) refer to Hassan Almrei as the “accused terrorist”, “suspected terrorist”, completely dehumanizing yet another Eh-Rab. I guess it takes too much sophistication and editorial time for the writer (not merely the quoted) to relay that Hassan is an innocent man accused of perhaps having terrorist links.

Calling him an “accused terrorist” or “suspected terrorist” draws on the latest version of ‘If a woodchuck could chuck wood…’ and goes a little something like: Of what is this terrorist accused and suspected? It can’t be an accusation of terrorism, as he is already a terrorist and that’s what terrorists do…they terrorize tee-hee.

Folks, remember that language is arguably one of the most important manipulators of the world through which your senses mis/construct their surroundings.

.2. Recall the type of autostereograms that were really popular about ten years back? You couldn’t walk into a university student’s apartment without seeing one next to a Dali poster of time melting. Right after some drunkard yelled out “HOW SURREAL!” another would add “I see the dog! I SEE THE DOG!” I never saw the dog, or the cow, or the little old lady in a yellow sundress and suspected most people possessing this ‘vision’ were lying. (I adapt to my surroundings and quickly learned to sit directly beneath the posters, so as to avoid getting wrinkle lines at the age of 20.)

The current powers believe the Middle East to be one gigantic austereogram; Stare at it long enough and someone will eventually yell “I see The terrorist y’all! I SEE The TERRORIST!” as they shift and squint their already shifty and squinty eyes. Today, I believe most people possessing this ‘vision’ are liars.

.3. Go Anglicans!

One song worth downloading

The Orb's A Huge Ever Growing Pulsating Brain that Rules from the Centre of the Ultraworld (Orbital Dance Mix).

I don't usually dig The Orb because their music gives me the heebie-jeebies. But this tune, mixed in this way, is worth finding.

Rafah Pundits

Check it out >> I just received a little note from the exceptional minds at Rafah Pundits that they have "created a whole category in your honour - - you are now listed under Damned Fine Reads :-)". Scroll down their site and you will find One Female Canuck under my own little category; How totally cool!

But apart from my own ego, just read all of their stuff, all of the time. ALL of the time.

“Moral Insanity: A Radical History of the Present”

One of my dearest friends, Heidi, defended her PhD today at 1:30 p.m.; She passed with a Senate Medal nomination…which, to anyone who knows Heidi, really comes as no surprise.

We met at Heidi’s local watering hole, Irene’s, to celebrate…and what a celebration it was! Among the lighter conversations had were the Iranian revolution, Durkheim & Foucault, the idea of leadership within social movements, and the faults of some social movements insofar as their focus is not on rebuilding, but on criticism of what they are fighting…and my own personal favourite, and one which Heidi and I have discussed at length: how can you be an Anarchist fighting for ‘justice’, ‘freedom’, ‘fairness’, and not believe in a higher/moral law stemming from religion (& so…when a serial rapist has the luxury of dying before he is discovered, there is no higher power to which he is held accountable? He is just lucky enough to drop dead? I still don’t buy it…)?

The most interesting individual I met this evening was Bob Gaucher, a criminology Prof at the U of O. He laid out the road map to: When in London, drink at these following Pubs, but only according to your political affiliation(s) (e.g. If an ‘Anarchist’, go to The Raven…). Make a note, you drunkards.

Felicitations, Heidi!

PTSD: Friedman, Massey, Trudeau & Dallaire

Was at the Post Traumatic Stree Disorder (& the Global Village) conference both Thursday and Friday past…searching for clues and narratives that may lead to a burning question I should take on and figure out through a PhD.

Nothing burned but my own temper, as I was left listening to the headliner >> Friedman << discuss PTSD among Israelis, without reference to or mention of Palestinians (we can never hope to live together when the 'sides' continue to deny the humanity of the other). After listening to his embarrassing lectures on the first day, I opted out of the morning half of the second day and waited for Gen. Dallaire to take centre stage.

Massey Beveridge is the quintessential ‘chap’. He presented a rather exquisite talk on violence / trauma and the reality that they do not exist in a vacuum, and so the actions of a surgeon such as himself, should not begin / end with surgery. On a greater scale, he was also talking about global citizenship. Have requested a copy of his lecture. Google this man and learn from him, STAT.

Gen. Romeo Dallaire also presented. He told us a story of one of his soldiers, a soldier who had come face to face, gun to gun, with children soldiers in Rwanda. He had a choice to kill or be killed, and he pulled the trigger, watching the heads of children shatter. I’d never heard Gen Dallaire speak before, and was completely mesmerised. And like the spaz that I am, I was crying throughout this particular story. Mascara was running, it was a real mess.

Alexandre Trudeau spoke about Liberia. This guy is a politically philosophical bulldog. My impression is that he spoke over the heads of about 90% of the attendees. Strange, but a random female later harassed me for posing a specific question…and I think the only reason I was told my question / comment was "rude" and "uncalled for" was because he was a Trudeau (and this I believe because much more controversial questions were posed to the other speakers, and went largely unchallenged). What I didn’t anticipate from Trudeau was that he is seriously aggressive in his politics / positions. We managed to chat for a few moments after he jumped off stage at the Macleans lecture later that evening; I would have liked to talk to him at length, but there were others interested in speaking with him and I didn't feel proper in taking up more of his time.

Music to get lost in

Get Arabian Travels.

Don't walk. RUN.