Friday 26 April 2013

Today in weird press releases

"Calgary Student Kills Chicken in School Cafeteria; United Poultry Concerns Calls for Prosecution" Apparently it was performance art. As someone who has ever killed a chicken (long story, but it was for food, not art) I can tell you it is not that easy and they struggle a lot so I'm surprised it seems to have happened so quickly. I get that animal rights groups care, but honestly? Chickens probably get treated worse every day. If you're going to charge this student you better be charging Ontario chicken farmers, too.

Monday 8 April 2013

The difficulties of communicating in the fast changing times

It's hard to say why I've done a poor job keeping this up to date. It might be related to why I've been less active on Twitter as well: Tumblr. The ease of updating and the expectation that it will be a series of shorter posts, or reposts, takes the pressure off. This is the difficulty of keeping up with so many social media platforms - you can't really split your attention in that way. So for those still checking in here on occasion to find out what I'm up to: My job hasn't changed, I'm still writing (and essentially editing) HRM Online Canada. I'm still living in the same apartment, with the same flatmate, and that's going well. I love my part of the city, and some friends have moved to the area recently so come spring/summer I'll be out and about even more than I already am. So overall not much has changed. Perhaps that's why I haven't written anything? I did become a member of the ROM, which is amazing - I'm super excited because the ROM is amazing and this way I can visit whenever I want :) And I invested a little extra and I got the "guest" version, so I can always bring a plus one. It's a fun prospect. And finally, a list of great books I read recently that I'd recommend: The Yellow Birds Indian Horse Mother Night Literary Rogues I'm going to try to post more often, but shorter messages, and I've now got this hooked up to my Hootsuite account so I literally have no excuses!

Friday 18 January 2013

A (belated) response to Julia Burchill's Guardian Observer Column


Dear Ms Burchill,

I, like you, am lucky to have been born white, in a developed country, cisgendered, straight. This has protected me from many of the obstacles that others must overcome simply to get the same rights and opportunities that you and I take for granted. However, unlike you I am also part of the future. It is my generation that is directing where society will go next and how attitudes will change, regardless of how that might frighten you.

So here is the truth that you apparently cannot see: the future is acceptance. The future is equality and tolerance and understanding.

I could try to educate you on transgender issues, on cis-privilege and transphobia, but that community doesn’t need me to speak for them. So I am speaking for my community, for the people who know that you have no place in our society. Your hate speech and vitriol can’t damage the world we’re building. Your ignorance, wilful or not, cannot hold back the progress we are making. Your lack of empathy only increases my empathy. Your lack of understanding makes me more determined to educate myself and others.

I was going to say that one day people will look back at statements like yours and be shocked that these ideas and prejudices thrived in our society, but the truth is that day is already here. You just haven’t caught up yet.

Sincerely,
Caitlin Nobes

[x] Original post
[x] Guardian response

Friday 23 November 2012

Called out

Peggy informed me that no, it does not count as a blog if it's never updated so I shall endeavour to do better in the future!

It's been a busy month, as always, but I'll go back to my last message and try to start from where I left off!

Towards the end of October I made it to the Halloween Haunt at Canada's Wonderland. It was amazing and so scary I almost pulled my friend's arm off! He was very staunch and never jumped, which was an excellent counter to my over-reactive non-stop freak out. There were ten houses and each was themed - fairy tales, steam punk, zombies, corn maze, swamp, asylum, pirates, vampires, knights and castles... The last three were the scariest for sure - I screamed and spun in circles and grabbed for a human shield. The pirate one was sneaky. I would check the dark corners for nasties and think I was safe, but they'd made it well so you couldn't even see the person in there! I'd look, relax, then be jumped at! It was overwhelming and a lot of fun, I'm definitely intending to go back. You can also go on the rides so we hit up Leviathon, which is the new rollercoaster with a crazy drop that feels amazing.

I've started taking a public relations course at the University of Toronto. Long term I'm very interested in corporate communications so I wanted to make sure that I would have the knowledge necessary for whatever role I find. The course has been very good in that way - lots of practical and hands-on lessons. We have a group project due in a couple weeks so that's been a focus (to the detriment of other things, like my social life.) I got lucky and my group is awesome - we're all working hard and I think we're on top, or even ahead, of things.

The first few weeks of November were very exciting, with two stand outs: I met Patrick Rothfuss and I went to Montreal.

Patrick first: For those not in the know, Patrick Rothfuss wrote an amazing fantasy novel called The Name of the Wind. Then he wrote an amazing sequel called The Wise Man's Fear. Stop reading my blog and go find the first one. No, really, it will be much more rewarding than listening to me ramble! Patrick was in town for a convention and made it to a local bookstore for a signing. He read stuff and answered questions and was generally entertaining and warm and fuzzy and nice and shiny. It was great, AND I got him to make a little video for Peggy AND I got a photo with him for me so it was overall an amazing experience.

Last weekend I went to Montreal with a (special) friend. I took a long weekend so we left on Thursday night. After a bit of an adventure finding our hotel we had three days to explore the city. Day one was an adventure around Old Montreal. With the cobblestone streets and alleys, and the view across the river - it was like a little piece of Europe. That night we went to a bar in the basement of another hostel for some dancing/drinking/socialising. They had live music from a band called Descalso, which was very good and I'd recommend looking them up.

Day two was the St Joseph Oratory - a lovely surprise that looks like a traditional basilica from outside but inside is delightful modernist architecture and art. The stained glass windows were beautiful and we had excellent timing to see the sun recreate the pictures on the wall next to them. From there we walked through the cemetery - reported to have more than a million people buried there! - which was beautiful. The historic section was interesting because usually those parts of graveyards are run down and a bit forlorn, but the Montreal graves were immaculate. I suspect there is some kind of city program to keep them in order, which is a lovely sentiment and I wonder how long they will maintain it. The look out in the park was next, watching a tour group of some sort do the pre-requisite "gangster style" and "jumping" photos.

After lunch, we hit the Museum des Beaux-Arts. Lots of great pieces, although I was marginally disappointed that they mention El Greco in the brochure but only had one painting, a portrait that didn't really show his distinct style. The Impressionist exhibit more than made up for it - a beautiful, almost chronological exhibit showing how the style developed. I'm a sucker for Degas so it was great to see so many of his works there.

That night we had poutine for dinner, it is a required activity for a tourist in the city, I believe. It was delicious but too much food. I think I ate the equivalent of two or three big potatoes, and I didn't even finish mine. Drinks at a lovely bar called The Piano Rouge (it did indeed have a red piano) which had a lovely bartender and I tried a few too many gin cocktails (pfff... no such thing as too many.) The big UFC fight was on, and it was important to my companion to see it so I spent half an hour watching half naked men try to dominate each other. I can think of worse ways to spend an evening but it would have been better if we had been able to get inside where it was warm!

Sunday was our last day so we went on a mission to a famous bagel place called Saint-Viateur for lunch. It lived up to its reputation and we picked up some bagels to take home with us. I didn't get to sleep until about 1am, which made Monday somewhat painful.

This weekend I have study group and a movie night, so it won't be quite as exciting, but I do need a break so I can ever buy groceries and do laundry!

Hope you're all well and starting to get amped up for the holidays. I'm very excited and just posted gifts for my family. Not entirely sure how/where my Christmas/New Year is going to line up but I'm excited regardless - and very grateful that it hasn't snowed here yet!

Tuesday 23 October 2012

Does it count as a blog if it's never updated?


So it’s been a long time since I updated, but not too much has changed. Job is the same, weather is getting worse (sob) and I’m still busy with socializing and travelling. I headed to Ottawa recently for a weekend and a wedding – always worth visiting my second family there.

I’ve just started taking a course at the University of Toronto in Publicity and Public Relations because I figure I’ll move into communications in the next year or so. It’s something I’ve been thinking about since I started in journalism. I miss newspapers and the non-stop deadlines, but if I can’t have that I think I might as well get paid well and advocate for a bank or something.

The exciting thing this week (which will not sound exciting but really is): I got Ken Follett’s latest book at the library and am working my way through the 900+ pages about World War 2. The first book, Fall of Giants, was fantastic and this one is shaping up to be similarly educational. I’ve already learned a lot about Germany in 1933 so by the time I finish reading I’ll be an expert.

It’s been interesting following the US election, especially on Tumblr where people tend to be a bit more relaxed and therefore focus on the weird/funny, not the polls and serious side. I’m loving the instant memes – binders full of women, horses and bayonets – but my favourite has been Romney’s statement that Syria is Iran’s route to the sea… So many scathing maps, my knowledge of middle east geography has never been stronger.

And to finish up, here is a repost from Facebook of things I like about living in Toronto:

A year ago today I arrived in Toronto and not long after wrote a heartfelt note about the things that Canada does badly. It was well received, and saw immediate action from the government, which is phasing out the penny. Sure, I could add to that list, but anniversaries are times of celebration, right? So here is a list of things that are awesome about living in Canada, and in some cases specifically Toronto.

There's always something happening. Always.
You can buy pizza by the slice
It's easy to meet people and make new friends because other cool people go to the same kinds of events that you attend
Dollarama
Books are way cheaper than NZ
Sometimes they make movies nearby and Robocop motorbikes past your apartment or your street gets turned into a disaster scene or a New York City block
You can take a bus to New York City when you get sick of seeing fake New York taxis
The ROM and the AGO are world-class
I love the architecture of the AGO and OCAD
The Toronto Islands are amazing. I would live there except it would be really inconvenient and a little too rustic and actually no I would never live there but I might think about it sometimes when there's a homeless guy peeing outside my apartment building.
Caesars are actually quite nice, as long as they have enough hot sauce in them.
I like living in an apartment building. You never get Mormons or Jehovah's Witnesses, although there are the occasional drunk girls knocking at 3am. (That was really only once.)
Kensington Market, Chinatown, The Beaches, Leslieville, walking through the Yonge-Dundas fountains...
Hot dogs
It has a subway. It's not a great subway, but it's better than not having a subway!
Standing on Bay St looking north past all the financial buildings to Old City Hall. Best view in the city.

I’m sure there are dozens of things I’m missing and I’m not listing people because I’m sure to miss someone but suffice to say it’s been a great year and I expect to stick around for a couple more at least ;)


Friday 14 September 2012

Haha, I'm in New York and you're not

As promised, a little late but an exciting update of a whirlwind tour of NYC. A few months ago a friend from NZ told me she'd be in New York this weekend so I took two days off work and booked my bus ticket (overnight bus, 10 hours, $90 return). The title is not entirely accurate any more but it was true when I started writing.
Wednesday night I got on a bus at 10pm and had an as-good-as-can-be trip other than the two hour delay... Met Jo at 10am outside our hostel and started our ambitious weekend.
Our hostel (Gershwin Hotel, $55 a night for a dorm room) was very conveniently located at 27th and 5th so right in central midtown. We started with a walk south through Soho, Little Italy, Chinatown, Tribeca and all the way to Wall St (and Century 21. Fun discount shopping!) Then a subway ride uptown to hit Times Square for the first of many times.
We knew we wanted to see a show so we joined the discount queue for tickets deciding to see Chicago or Jersey Boys. For a variety of reasons we ended us at Jersey Boys, which was so much fun. It's the story of The Four Seasons, which I knew nothing about and didn't realize how many of their songs I knew. Very well done with really stunning performances -- we laughed, we cried, we eavesdropped on other tourists ("We were in Times Square and saw more people than we thought lived on the planet." - Woman From Small Town I Guess.)
Friday morning we got a late-ish start because Jo had to sort some stuff out for part two of her trip. Then it was the walking tour of New York buildings. We saw the library, with an exhibition on the development of food carts in NY, Grand Central Station, Chrysler Building, Tiffany and Co... Basically we walked all the way up 5th Ave to Central Park. Then we had The Most Fun by renting bikes and cycling all the way around this enormous park, with a detour to see the Guggenheim.
Also, in case you ever travel with me in the future, don't put me in the lead in a place without easy landmarks. I took us the wrong way twice. Jo is much more trustworthy, except in subways.
By then it was about 5pm and we wanted to have a big night out so we headed back to our hostel to get all dressed up, via Time Square for some food.
Consulting online and Lonely Planet saw us visit the gamut of types of bars from Desmond's Tavern, where the drinks are cheap and generously poured, to Vu Bar, drinking lychee martinis on a roof with a view if the lit up Empire State Building. We had a couple drinks bought for us there, which is always nice. Our final stop was Cake Shop, a hole in the wall hipster bar with a dark dirty feel. And I saw a rat in the subway on one trip between bars so there's another authentic NY experience!
Saturday was my last day and we had Big Plans. Out by 9am, we went straight to the bottom of Manhattan to take the Staten Island Ferry part the Statue of Liberty, ticking another tourist box. Then a walk up to the Brooklyn Bridge, through a neat little cobblestone area. The bridge is under repair so big metal fences mar our photos but it was still pretty and interesting. Did you know 20 people died during its construction, including the designer, who fell off a pier while scouting locations and got tetanus (which I thought was from rusty metal so that shows my ignorance I guess).
Then a ride uptown to Moma! I love modern art so it's one of my favourites and it was a pleasure to visit again. Last time I was there a friend from high school called out my name - neither of us even knew the other was in the city so it was crazy to meet on the escalators. If it was a movie we'd have fallen in love but instead he took my picture in front of a Pollack, I flew home the next day and he got appendicitis. Always travel with insurance, kids.
We grabbed a hot dog (NY experience #51 complete) and headed to the hostel for the last time to collect our bags. Then we headed to the High Line, which is this neat reclaimed old elevated railway line, now a pathway along the west of midtown. We sat there and ate donuts and people watched for a while before deciding our last hour together would be best spent drinking tea and relaxing. It was a bit of a hunt to find a cafe but we made it in the end, had giant cups of tea and just enjoyed each other's company. All too soon it was time to leave. I hated saying goodbye but unfortunately my bus wasn't going to wait for me and Jo had to go sort out her new accommodation.
Bus home was uneventful, although the 4am customs stop was painful. Now I'm home and only need about 20 hours of sleep to recover!
Hope you enjoyed The Amazing Adventures of Williams and Nobes. See you next time when Taking Toronto returns to Toronto.

Sunday 9 September 2012

Oops

Long time no post, eh. Many family members have taken time to pester me but, hey, I've been busy...
I've done a lot in the last few weeks so to highlight reel:

Fan Expo (Toronto's answer to comicon) was a lot of fun and I got to see James Marsters, Alan Tudyk, Juliet Landau, Julie Benz and John Barrow.

Labour weekend I caught up with lots of people, saw a show at absolute comedy, made two trips to Toronto Island and had an all round excellent time :) Work has been manic since then because I have two short weeks in a row so I have to do ten days work in 6 1/2 days... Not so clever.

This Friday I did a Haunted Tour of Toronto and learned that I live across the road from the biggest unmarked mass grave in Toronto. They dumped a bunch of cholera victims in the area because at the time it was already consecrated ground thanks to the cathedral. The tour was fun, but also sad because it turns out every ghost story has to start with someone dying. The ghost stories themselves were funny, but when each starts with "After his wife and child died he threw himself into a well" or "The fire on the ship killed more than 100 peope..." or "Her lover left her so she shot herself". Not as funny when there's a tragic story to match.

This week I'm headed to New York so expect a delayed update, but probably a big one. Any suggestions are welcome - I've been before but am meeting a friend from NZ so we'll see different things and stay in a different place. I'm taking a bag that's twice as big as I need so I can shop while I'm there!

What I'm reading: Alligator, by Lisa Moore. It's okay but not great, set in Newfoundland which is fun.

Just finished The Anansi Boys, which follows on from American Gods and was a lot of fun. I really can't recommend Neil Gaiman enough :)