confluence, episode 26: making space

This week’s edition of what seems to be my weekly newsletter, for now at least. If you like to get things in your inbox, you can sign up here. If you don’t, you can read more below.

swampy trail

Hello! So, this seems to be a weekly thing now. I wonder how long that will last. I also hope you don’t feel like weekly is too often. Let me know if you do.

Last weekend was the long weekend in British Columbia and, miraculously, I had nothing scheduled. It gave me time to decompress and think and it’s actually been a long time since that happened. I read a book by my cousin-in-law, spent time cleaning out a room I’d allowed junk to accumulate in, skied in deep snow on Cranbrook Hill on Saturday and returned with snowshoes on Monday, tried an ice slide, watched a documentary about Germans idolizing Indigenous North Americans, and listened to a podcast about the importance of giving yourself time to decompress and think. It was eye-opening how healthy it felt and I need to do it more.

And, I set a secret goal (shhh, don’t tell anyone) of writing a personal post every day. Which I kept! I’m going to see how long I can do it and pursue the notion that the more you write, the better you write.

Because of this, I have less to say here which is maybe just as well. Maybe instead of a 1,000 word missive in your inbox you’d prefer a couple paragraphs and then some links, like what I’m doing here. Again– feedback welcome. This is your time, too.

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Top ten:

I wrote “One of the good ones,” on the discourse surrounding the death of Indigenous people in Canada. On that subject, I was thoroughly impressed at the handling of this topic and all the others surrounding it by Duncan McCue on Cross-Country Checkup last week. I listened to it in chunks throughout the week and believe it is a master-class in moderating a sensitive topic.

I’m quoted in this podcast saying Robert Jago is making a strong case for a position as the most vital writer in Canada right now, and after to listening to the interview, I stand by it.

Wired Magazine posted a detailed account of Facebook’s reckoning with foreign powers, powers of abuse and power over media and politics. In the end I’m left asking a question I saw posed elsewhere recently: is it ethical to use Facebook?

I’ve been reading the One Week, One Band feature on Leonard Cohen by Sabina Tang and enjoying it immensely. Since getting an iPad for Christmas I’ve found myself wanting to read liner notes while listening to albums and while that doesn’t exist, features like this one and Pitchfork’s Sunday Reviews are a pretty good substitute.

A few weeks ago I found myself with tears in my eyes after reading “long suffering” producer Jess Milton’s tribute to Stuart McLean in the Walrus. He “gave me permission to be kind” she writes, among other lovely stories. It was the first anniversary of his passing this week and the radio isn’t the same without him.

Planting Iris.

“We are fixed in our geography but we are not fixed in our mindsets”: me again, on living in a winter city.

“In praise of Asian bros” — I mentioned previously I was watching The Good Place, this has a very minor spoiler but is worth the read even if you don’t plan to watch.

Toronto’s former chief planner Jennifer Keesmaat writes, “Many municipalities talk the talk when it comes to seeking sustainable growth, yet create market distortions through flawed policy that continues to facilitate sprawl,” and hoo boy does it resonate.

If you think you had a bad week, at least you weren’t this moose. (Oh, and this email I received afterwards brought a smile to my face).

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Also:
I wrote about how an unused Prince George mascot illustrates the plight of isolated B.C. seniors, why B.C. municipalities want cash from legal marijuana (hint: because they think it will cost them lots of money), “conscious dating“, a B.C. parent trying to see a provincial report she contributed to and the loss of the Windy Point Inn near Mackenzie (never got to try the donuts). A story about the really, really complicated science of curling will be coming out over the weekend.

On the podcast, some of the above but also an interview with Premier John Horgan, a dog hotel, gender-neutral washrooms in Fort St. John and a couple of theatrical productions you can check out in Prince George this weekend.

Before I go…

I just want to alert you to a really cool event that’s coming up in Prince George. I’ve seen all the performers, they are powerful and the Playhouse is an excellent venue.

Reasons to walk: you see messages in the snow replying to writing on the wall

(In case you can’t read it, the snow says “No we don’t”).

Made this delicious pizza this week. Just used a normal crust recommended.
And, kinda tempted by this old electric piano.

Have a great weekend. Make time to rest.