NaPoWriMo #1 ice

napowrimo #1: let’s get it started, and, poet, can you spare a word?

Welcome to National Insanity Poetry Month!
The trick: join 5 nouns (things in front of you) in a metaphor
ice, lake, crystals, sunlight, shadow


Lake ice twinkles in the sunshine
Tessellations of crystals crumble
Shattering as they become saturated
In the sunlight shadows flicker
Demons haunt me
Shaking their fists

Plain Truth - April Book Review

This is the title of the book I just finished. It is such a glorious pleasure to lie on the couch, cat sleeping comfortably beside me (snoring - she gets that from my husband!), the fire roaring, on a cold, cloudy unSpring-like Muskoka day.

I am privileged. For many years I devoured articles about pedagogy: how to improve, the latest research, how to be more creative in my teaching, how to incorporate music/art/drama/dance (MADD) into curriculum, how to do things I'd done 10 years before...

Lately, I do research that interests me and enjoy, so very much, books by writers for whom I have never been able to find time.

This writer, Jodi Picoult, is a blessing. Her bio reads of a perfect life: stay-at-home husband, kids, and a writing career totally supported by her income and her family. She writes some damn fine books, too!

Plain Truth - about an Amish girl accused of infanticide. I have read a lot about the Amish, and her creation, this dairy farm that works around the circle and cycle of a deep faith, rings true. Her characters are real and have depth and breadth, as well. Her portraits of the land, the people, and this world are genius.

I read Keeping Faith a week ago by the lake. How amazing. It, too, created a character formed by her history and changed by her present until she rises, like the phoenix, to grow, learn and heal. Ms. Picoult's portrayal of society is phenomenal.

Originally, in preparing for this monthly book review, I had read only these two books. I have been off at a DART Conference in Muskoka. Things were busy. The conference was full of reports and stories by the OPP, a psychiatrist, and Women's Violence workers. We heard gruesome 911 calls, information about PTSD experienced by women, children and BABIES who are deeply and profoundly affected by such assaults. Now home I began a new novel: picture perfect. I had no idea about its content - I just brought 4 more of Ms. Picoult's books home. It turns out that this novel clearly depicts the insidious way that male offenders creep into a woman's life, and turn from a loving, caring partner, into someone who demeans, controls and despises the woman they think they love. It has deep insight into the abuse some women face, and how difficult it is to leave the men who control them, their relationships and their finances. It is a must read for all DART workers, as well as those who love women, sisters, mothers, fathers, daughters, who have been abused.

Click on the icon below and read other Book Club Reviews!

Copyright laws in Canada

There are some bloggers finding that they are prone to theft of their intellectual property. This include images and written content of all kinds. Sam, in Singapore, created a succinct post on this. He also told me to visit: Copyscape, to determine if your site has been plagiarized.

I think that most media would find it is a crime. When they pay a journalist to write a piece, how can a blogger just reproduce it? Which is what they are doing. I contacted a media outlet, and they did not seem too concerned since the blogger had posted the original URL location. But I think it a slippery slope. Fairness aside, when we can read the entire news article elsewhere, why not post a reflection on the article, with a link? You are not adding to the body of knowledge by recreating a news item word-for-word.

In my mind, many are happy to have you quote a few sentences, but some people copy the entire post. Some put a link to the original post. but I don't think that is good enough.  In my mind, we amateurs are not so much reporting news, as presenting a take or a rant on an issue. Even news 'reporters', the professionals, are embedding their work with bias and a left or right point of view.

Copyright Act - R.S.C., 1985, c. C-42 (Section 29.2)

29.2 Fair dealing for the purpose of news reporting does not infringe copyright if the following are mentioned:

(a) the source; and

(b) if given in the source, the name of the

(i) author, in the case of a work,

Copyright Act (R.S.C., 1985, c. C-42)

Full Document:  

• HTML | 
• XML [464 KB] | 
 
• PDF [758 KB]

Act current to 2011-11-14 and last amended on 2005-12-12. Previous Versions

If you put on your site that it is copywritten, then it is an infringement. I think the media must clamp down on this. You have to teach others how to respect your rights and stand up for yourself.

Lorelle explains what to do when you find your work has been stolen: talk to them, print out violations, request they do something. I would say demand it! I have blogged about plagiarism, an issue in universities, as well as high schools. I often had to teach students the difference between copying paragraphs and rewriting in your own words. Unfortunately, some parents did not see the problem! However, with incidences of Economic Espionage, we must be vigilant and set high standards across the board.

TIP:
One important thing for those with photos is to avoid putting such high resolution photos on that may be used by someone else. I keep mine, or try to, lower than 640 pixels.

Click on the icon to read about other points of view.

My World Tuesday

As Barbara (Toronto) said, "Ah, spring: sunny one day, the next rain or snow. "

In My World, sometimes it's all on the same day!

Clouds moved to let the sunset peek through. In My Muskoka, the sun peeked through the clouds, as the ice gave up its moisture. Fog dances, the ducks watched the beautiful view.

Music: Dance of Spring., by Jesse Cook, major stud muffin, I've seen him perform!

My world includes concern over health care, and senior's issues, as well as other miscellaneous reflections and musings. I continue to read, write, and reflect. Copyright issues continue to concern me in this age of sharing of information.

Live~Love~Laugh

I do not often cross post. This time I will! Great things are going on in Muskoka.

With great delight I attended a day-long session for hospice volunteers Live~Love~Laugh - a workshop for hard-working volunteers.... I am taking the Foundations of Palliative Care course and this is the training all of these volunteers fo through. It is am amazing course. We know so much about managing death and the dying process. The day was such a positive experience for all the volunteers who attended. It is primarily women, who tend to be the caregivers, but there are a few male volunteers.

Many volunteered to set up tables, and create beautiful displays of, for example, the door prizes.

The keynote speaker in the morning was Jane Galbraith-author of Baby Boomers Face Grief. Jane is a nurse and a medical consultant, who is giving workshops on managing grief in middle age. While she no longer does bedside nursing, Jane does medical legal expert nursing opinion consulting, and also sits on the CPP Disability Tribunals as a medical member.

Many of us are not familiar with the grieving process. I have found, in my research, that in this the sandwich generation, it is tough managing careers and caring for ailing parents. Once they pass over, our work begins. And work it is. Her book is a good read for those of us who face bereavement at this stage of life. It is a process that has a terrible impact even if it is a 'good' death, or an anticipated one. My father, we knew, was palliative but this does not make it easier. In the case of a sudden death of a parent, we are suddenly orphans in a strange way it is a passage for which we are not prepared.

It was so much fun, since I was able to trade books with the other authors who were there! Muskoka is full of authors and workshops faciliatators.

In addition to Jane, Elke Scholtz was there to lead a workshop on Loving Your Life. She does creative workshops on this topic and is working on her Master's using expressive arts. We know that such therapy does wonders for all of us at all ages. I eagerly look forward to reading her book!

I cannot thank the volunteers enough for preparing us a delicious soup and sandwich lunch. The decorations were beautiful on all the tables. I truly felt welcomed and appreciated. The conversations I had with participants, as well as presenters, helped me see the caring, loving individuals with which we are blessed in this community.

One of the fun things was performance by the Bracebridge U.C. Bellringers. I caught a photo of the press getting photos! How wonderful to be honoured with their delightful music.

media coverage

I have blogged a couple of times about the disparities of rural vs. city news. Apparently, with the economy news stations are cutting back on local news to save a buck, while keeping the US-based TV shows which garner a higher audience. In these times, however, it is important to have local information. For those without jobs, laid off in the impact of the auto industry failures, they must rely on local news, read local papers to determine how and where to retrain. They cannot rely on the fear-mongering of the big Media to encourage and support all of us in these trying times. For it is my premise that the bailout money needs to go to employees to retool and regroup and find new industries.

CHCH News in Hamilton is having some problems. As they cut local anchors, the powers-that-be have decided to try to find a buyer for the station, the staff have tried to buy out the company.
There is a Facebook site that supports these employees, with a petition to try and convince the CRTC who regulates the media and CanCon, to change the rules to permit this takeover. I truly believe that it is the small towns and employees who have to take the initiative.

There are two YouTube videos: CRTC underpressure, (see it below) and the CHCH Community Rally.

The petition website says, in part, 'They have stated that CHCH may be sold off, or possibly closed down if a suitable decision can not be found. "These stations have proud histories of serving their communities with strong independent voices,’’ Canwest President and CEO Leonard Asper said. “However, as they are currently configured, these stations are not core to our television operations going forward.”'

See also:

• Accuracy in the media
• Media in 2009
• Media Coverage
• Media shows restraint?

My town: they're back!

It is with great glee that my husband ran over to me to tell me that our feathered friends were back! I could hardly see them through the pouring rain, though. They have found open water in the frog pond. The lake is not yet fully thawed.

Thank you, all my blogger friends to the south, who tracked the progress of spring critters returning. I knew they were on their way!

The pair of ducks that arrive early appeared the previous day - sailing through the air they landed in the frog pond. This could be Oscar & Myrtle, in the top photo from last year, but it is hard to tell! They stand and preen, standing on one foot. The geese and ducks seem quite content! After a bit of a feed they will stand, alert, on one leg with the other tucked in.

I told the story of Eddie & Eva in a previous year. I haven't seen lonesome Charlie, yet! It is so good to see them. You know that things are unfolding as they should.

Pine Marten

As I watched the geese, they suddenly went out on the ice. I became suspicious. The female mallard was on the dock. I walked down to the water, yes, pouring rain, to take a photo and do a video.

I began doing the video and just as I clicked to stop filming the fisher popped up its large head. I told the story of Sady treeing the marten last November, 2007. At twice her size she just chased him up the tree.

The marten cannot figure out how to get on the ice, since the geese can spot him coming. Through a glass darkly...that eternal dance through the cycle of life.

Our lake seems low, for Spring, and while I do not wish for flooding, as with the Red River, in both Winnipeg and south - in the US, we can use this rain. Normally the water touches the dock.

The cats are not happy with the rain. Grumpy, they have to play indoors today. The crocus has poked up their little heads. For that I am grateful.






Even Peanut Hockey (see the short video!) has to stop, the deck is just drenched and Oliver, apparently, has standards of play. Sunshine and a dry deck...perhaps tomorrow!

Shadow shot #45

I happened on another meme. People are so clever and help pull that creative strand from what might be a boring blog post. I worry about copyrights, as people are prone to stealing one another's ideas, words or images.


This meme features Shadow Shots. I dug up some photos.

Yesterday the sun shone brightly. There are deep shadows, since the sun is so low in its solstice. The ice on the lake displays lovely shadows.

On this dreary day in March, with rain pouring down in puddles on the still-frozen lake, I found a phot of my cat playing shadows with my husband. We live an uneventful life!












For more shadow shots visit:

G8 2010 Hunstville

Things are heating up.

The G8 2010 approaches. Web sites, info, and an anticipated 5000 media alone.

Much excitement with OPP crews doing training.


A trip to Huntsville and I saw a full table of tactical members taking a break for lunch during training sessions. A bit creepy when they all walk in wearing bullet proof vests and all!

As we were travelling south from Bracebridge, we spotted several OPP cars screaming ahead of us. A plane flew overhead.

Then, an OPP SUV screamed past, put on the breaks and held up traffic for 3 minutes.

It didn't seem to be an emergency! One OPP officer got casually out of his car, having passed us on the shoulder of the road, and sauntered up to talk to whomever was in the OPP SUV!

I love spotting these people about, they are going to have a tough job ahead of them!

Skywatch Friday

My camera sees variable skies.













And the creatures -
with keenly honed eyes.


Click on the logo to view more skies!