The Official Website & Blog of Paxton Allewell. Communications Specialist, Educator, Writer and Designer.
Allan Greg Anniversary Special – full show
Oct 17th
I enjoy watching Allan Gregg’s show, and as I like to usually do on the weekends, today I went to tvo.org to see what new videos they might have up. I came across this great anniversary special and I thought I’d share it – because I can.
“Allan Gregg looks back at highlights from the past 16 years of Allan Gregg shows; in celebration of TVO’s 40th anniversary.” from tvo.org
Douglas Coupland is Everywhere!
Oct 15th
He even has a new Roots signature clothing line…
`
I keep coming across his name. I read his Biography on Marshall Mcluhan in the spring. I caught an interview of him on tvo.org in the past month or so; just last week he was in the Globe and Mail where he wrote a huge spread called “A radical pessimist’s guide to the next 10 years” with 45 tips and more. Then two nights ago I was at the Pen Center in St. Catharines and noticed a new Roots store opened up. I began scouting out the store and I noticed the name again. Douglas Coupland. This time it was Coupland’s clothing line called “RootsXDouglasCoupland”, a first ever for Roots and Coupland. I could hardly believe it.
Douglas Coupland, as you may know, is a Canadian author, visual artist and now clothing designer. He’s done a few public sculptures in Toronto and Vancouver that I know of, and perhaps he’s most famous for his book Generation X. (coupland.com)
The Coupland clothes that I saw were pretty unique and a refreshing change from what you’ve come to expect from Roots. I ended up buying a t-shirt with a graphical beaver on the front of it. I really do like Roots and was proud to host a couple iYellow Wine Club events at their Flagship Toronto store a couple years back.
I have to give Coupland credit. He’s got a great gig. It’s nice to see opportunities keep coming his way and that he takes them. I have to say that he’s been an inspiration for me, and I really like the diversity and number of things he’s been able to accomplish. I like to see creativity, like his, being rewarded. His stuff is real art, and it’s Canadian to boot. It stands out and is different. Kudoos to him. I look forward to what he does next…. I’m not worried to find out what, I’m sure I’ll read about it, or see it in a store somewhere.
Here’s a couple official videos on Coupland’s new clothing line. I like the second one quite a bit. Enjoy!
The Art of Life Management
Oct 3rd
Join Jesse Jacobs and his “good friends, and role models Leo Babauta, author of the awsome blog Zen Habits, Four Hour Workweek author Tim Ferriss, and VP of the San Francisco Zen Center, Susan O’Connell as [they] have tea, and connect on the meaning of life, zen, and how to live with joy in a world full of technology and distraction.
Topics Include…
- What is Zen?
- How to meditate
- How these people manage their lives
- How to live with meaning
- How to use the technology and the tools of our times”
Quoted from Jesse Jacobs’ vimeo page.
This is a great topic and I think we need more of this type of interviewing, especially from good society role models. I find it interesting and useful to learn how “successful” people live their lives and choose their everyday routines and strategies. Sometimes it reaffirms my choices and actions, and sometimes it can open my eyes and mind to new opportunities and approaches. Enjoy!
Good Morning, And Good Luck: On TV’s early days…
Oct 3rd
On ‘Good Night, And Good Luck’
& Meet The Press’ 50th Anniversary of the Great Debates
—
It’s Sunday morning as I write this, and I’m one of those types who really enjoys my Sunday mornings. I enjoy watching the political shows or arts shows such as Meet The Press, CTV’s Question Period, Bravo’s Arts & Minds…I like being able to lounge around but feel intellectually stimulated at the same time.
Last night I watched the movie “Good Night, and Good Luck.” Perhaps you’ve seen it? It’s by no means a new release (I think 2006), but this time around it stood out on the Library DVD shelf so I grabbed it.
The movie is based on a true story as you may know. I don’t know the whole history, but it’s essentially the story of the first ever investigative Television journalism, and how it came up against conflict because of threats to sponsorship being pulled etc. In the 1950′s – when Television was still an infant – CBS Anchor Edward R. Murrow and his crew’s investigated Senator Joseph McCarthy and the House Un-American Activities Committee, who was on an unethical ‘witch-hunt’ for communists in America. The news team helped bring light to the issues of the committee and address the wave of fear that was sweeping the country.
The movie is a film buff’s type of film as it’s all in black and white with fancy lighting and sophisticated subject matter. Being that I have a Communications degree, this is exactly the type of thing we studied at school so I couldn’t help but enjoy it. The movie explores the influence of media on society, the impact of new media on old media, and also the impact of business and power on the media (messages) themselves.
The movie has some of the appeal of the TV show Mad Men. Of course everyone is smoking, like Mad Men, but it also paints a picture of what the world was like back in the 50′s, and puts you in a context where TV was new.
As we spend more and more time on the internet these days, I think this type of movie is good for us. It reminds us that we are in the early days of the Internet. It reminds us that society has undergone a significant change in the past few years because of this new communications technology, just as TV did.
I’ve embedded the final clip of the “Good Night, And Good Luck” movie below which I think summarizes the whole film and calls people to use TV/Media in a better way. Also, funnily enough, I went online this morning to see if I could get some clips from Meet The Press on their website and I came across a clip of a 50th anniversary panel discussion discussing the first ever (infamous) televised Presidential debate between John F Kennedy and Richard Nixon. It was almost perfect timing after seeing the movie last night. The Meet The Press clip examines another TV first, and watching the movie last night before hand helped put this time of history in context.
Since it’s in the morning that I’m writing this, I’ll sign off by saying Good Morning, And Good Luck!
Getting Ready for Algonquin Park…
Sep 23rd
At McMicheal Gallery's Cemetery - Lauren & Bess Harris' Headstone
A few weeks ago I went with a friend to the renowned McMichael Art Gallery in the village of Kleinburg just north of Toronto for the first time. It’s a gem of a place. I noticed a picture in the gallery near the cafe of Pierre Trudeau and his son from way back at the gallery having fun. I felt very Canadian at that point, but yet very international too, and proud of it. I was in the right place. And I was grateful to be there.
I went specifically this time to see an exhibit called Following in the Footsteps of the Group of 7. This unique exhibit “trace[d] the work of Jim and Sue Waddington who have a passion for locating the actual sketching sites for artworks by members of the Group of Seven… Juxtaposing the original artworks with photographs taken by the Waddingtons in the La Cloche Hills in Killarney where these Group members camped, canoed, portaged and sketched, the show allow[ed] visitors to examine iconic images of the northern Ontario landscape and discover the real inspiration behind them.”
It was a very insightful exhibit and to top it off Jim and Sue were there that day too, the last day of the exhibit. Jim and Sue were at the exhibit often I was told. And they kindly answered questions and shared their stories. They told us to check out www.groupofseven.ca more more info and an interactive website featuring their work etc. Do check it out, you’ll get a feel for the concept.
I’ve been a Lauren Harris fan for quite some time now and also have certainly grown to appreciate the rest of the Group of 7 as well, including Tom Thomson (especially this time at the gallery) and Emily Carr.
The visit at McMichael was inspiring in many ways, but after that visit I knew I wanted and needed to get into the great outdoors and explore like the Group of 7 did, in the place(s) they explored. I’ve done some outdoorsy stuff in the past, but it has been awhile and it’s about time to renew that part of my life. Algonquin Park came to mind and was an obvious first step as I have never been.
Many of the paintings at the gallery were in the fall (with their beautiful fall colours) and since it was the end of summer when I visited McMichael I figured it was nearing prime time to go…so why not this Fall!
I suggested the idea to a outdoorsy friend of mine, and almost miraculously, it turned out he was thinking of the same thing – going to Algonquin Park! I’m pleased to say that I’m going this weekend just a few short weeks since visiting Algonquin, and three of us plan to hike one day and do a canoe portage one day. We won’t be staying on the camp grounds this time around, but at a nearby motel.
In preparation for this trip I went on YouTube for some insights and came across a couple songs that I really enjoyed. I thought I would share them here. Enjoy!
Justin Trudeau Video: “Find Your Path to Make a Difference”
Aug 24th
I watched this video not too long ago on Justin Trueau’s website. It’s a very simple video – not flashy at all – and it’s just Justin speaking to kids at a school this past February 2010.
It’s fun to watch because he’s genuinely trying to inspire them. It’s actually quite easy to slip back into feeling like a kid or high school student again. Justin does a great job encouraging them to make a difference and to help shape the world around us. I don’t want to forget that I’m still in my youth and that I can make a difference, and that I should try to make one. This video was refreshing because it reminded me to not necessarily see how the world is today (the negatives), but to see how it could be or should be and to act towards making it better place for everyone.
I saw Justin speak a few years ago and he was very impressive. I’m a fan of his father Pierre Trudeau and I look forward to what Justin will do for Canada and the world in the years ahead!
“The Future is Yours” ~ “Find Your Path to Make a Difference” Justin Trudeau
Note: This is actually part 3 of his talk, but if you’re interested, you can watch the beginning of his talk on You Tube here >>
SHAD – Rose Garden (Official Video)
Jul 26th
I’ve heard this song “Rose Garden” a couple times on CBC Radio 2 and had to go find it online…very catchy stuff, cool that he’s Canadian too – raised in London, ON. More info on SHAD here >>
and LAUGH (HA HA)…Feeling this song today…
Jul 22nd
I’m feeling this song today and thought I’d share it! If you listen to it, be sure to listen till the end. There’s a cool chanty dance beat at 4:09.
I find myself quite often looking for good yoga-type music and this is a good example of what I’m looking for. YouTube has some decent meditation/yoga songs, but there’s a lot not so great stuff too. Hit and miss. I’m probably going to end up buying some music on iTunes or at the music store, but I’m also on the hunt to put together a good YouTube playlist too… Enjoy!
>