First of all, the Art Bar feature was a blast. It was one of my best features ever and I had so much fun doing it.
The Rust Belt Slam, an event I sadly will not be able to make it to, at least the finals, is a four day event taking place in Toronto (It started tonight with a slam for two spots on the "Wildcard Team" with Tomy Bewick and Dwayne Morgan). It continues tomorrow night with the preliminaries at the Poor Alex Theatre (Dundas/Bathurst) and Saturday at noon at the Trane Studio (Dupont and Bathurst) and the Finals at Bloor Cinema, which I predict will be a great venue, on Saturday night. There will be a free showcase in Kensington Market on Sunday.
The Rust Belt Slam is an annual poetry slam in its tenth year. Previously, it has taken place only in the mid-western United States and is venturing into Canada for the first time ever. Other than the Canadian Festival of Spoken Word, which took place in 2006, this will be the biggest spoken word event the city has likely ever seen.
One other thing I want to make note of, Rochdale Rhymes and Readings is back next Thursday at the Regal Beagle. There will be a spoken word extravaganza featuring Gypsy Eyes and Truth Is.. from Toronto and Nolan Guiffre from New York State.
Thursday, May 28, 2009
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
Wild times
I don't have much time to write as I am off to do perhaps the biggest feature I've ever done at the Art Bar at Clinton's tonight. The Art Bar, still the flagship poetry series in T.O. (and possibly Canada) was my introduction into the scene when I came here in March of '06. I am so bloody busy in the next two weeks. Two slams this past weekend (Toronto Poetry Slam and $100 Slam) which were fantastic to see, Art Bar tonight, trying to make it to see at least the prelims for the massive Rust Belt Slam in Toronto this weekend (I'll explain all the jargon at another time), my cousin's Jack and Jill on Saturday, Rochdale Rhymes and Readings' huge spoken word extravaganza next Thursday and then my birthday next Saturday. I apologize I haven't edited this for spelling or grammar, but I have to run. I'll give a bigger plug and share details to the appropriate events later, I promise.
Saturday, May 16, 2009
Swine Flu Paranoia
The World Health Organization has reported 8,451 worldwide cases of swine flu, now termed H1N1, since April. The outbreak was reported by the Mexican government on April 23. Hysteria ensued.
“It really is all of humanity that is under threat during a pandemic,” WHO Director General Margaret Chan said after a level 5 alert was issued for the first time in the organization’s history April 29.
Travel advisories were issued for Mexico. When the flu did spread into the U.S., vice-president Joe Biden suggested riding planes and subways was not safe.
Seventy-two people have died worldwide, including 66 in Mexico. 187 people have been infected in Ontario with no deaths, in comparison to 500 deaths per year and 9,000 reported infections of the seasonal flu.
Paranoia can be hurtful and dangerous. Taking precautions to prevent the spread of illness is always wise and common sense should prevail. But those in Toronto remember the worldwide superstition that ensued during the SARS crisis. Tragically 44 people in the Greater Toronto Area died, but the magnitude of the virus was blown out of proportion. The city’s tourism industry never fully recovered, with or without aid of the Rolling Stones.
The danger of issuing alerts suggesting the world is on the brink of a worldwide pandemic if it is not, is ending up with the old example of the little boy who cried flu. When something close to the 1918 Spanish flu outbreak (something to really be scared of) occurs, the reaction may become, “we heard this before. Leave me alone.” Maverick U.S. congressman and former presidential candidate Ron Paul has noted in 1976 more people died from mass inoculations than the virus during that “swine flu” outbreak.
Sometimes it really can hurt to be careful.
“It really is all of humanity that is under threat during a pandemic,” WHO Director General Margaret Chan said after a level 5 alert was issued for the first time in the organization’s history April 29.
Travel advisories were issued for Mexico. When the flu did spread into the U.S., vice-president Joe Biden suggested riding planes and subways was not safe.
Seventy-two people have died worldwide, including 66 in Mexico. 187 people have been infected in Ontario with no deaths, in comparison to 500 deaths per year and 9,000 reported infections of the seasonal flu.
Paranoia can be hurtful and dangerous. Taking precautions to prevent the spread of illness is always wise and common sense should prevail. But those in Toronto remember the worldwide superstition that ensued during the SARS crisis. Tragically 44 people in the Greater Toronto Area died, but the magnitude of the virus was blown out of proportion. The city’s tourism industry never fully recovered, with or without aid of the Rolling Stones.
The danger of issuing alerts suggesting the world is on the brink of a worldwide pandemic if it is not, is ending up with the old example of the little boy who cried flu. When something close to the 1918 Spanish flu outbreak (something to really be scared of) occurs, the reaction may become, “we heard this before. Leave me alone.” Maverick U.S. congressman and former presidential candidate Ron Paul has noted in 1976 more people died from mass inoculations than the virus during that “swine flu” outbreak.
Sometimes it really can hurt to be careful.
Thursday, May 14, 2009
Youth Slam
On Wednesday I was a judge at the second monthly Toronto Youth Slam, put on by the Toronto Poetry Project. Truth is... was the feature and was great as always. I was not sure what to expect. I expected a lot of teen angst from the 12-19 year-olds, but was surprised by a lot of the maturity of the work. These kids may not be ready to contend for big championships now, but a chance to hone their skills will help them develop and help the art of spoken word in general. Also a big thanks goes to Yehuda Fisher for hosting. He has committed a lot of time and energy to spoken word in the last year.
It was funny. One contestant, who was about 12 or 13 went on a tirade about how someone was ugly and stupid and had a big butt and I sat there thinking, "how do I score this? She's 12." Then at the end she explained these were things she'd say to herself in the mirror before going to school and trying to be one of the most popular girls. It was a brilliant way to turn it around and I gave her a 9.7.
It was funny. One contestant, who was about 12 or 13 went on a tirade about how someone was ugly and stupid and had a big butt and I sat there thinking, "how do I score this? She's 12." Then at the end she explained these were things she'd say to herself in the mirror before going to school and trying to be one of the most popular girls. It was a brilliant way to turn it around and I gave her a 9.7.
debate on whether or not the NHL draft is a way to build a championship
I just finished watching Game 7 of the Wings-Ducks series (I find Wings vs. Ducks to be funny for some reason). That was a hell of a game. Detroit's penalty killing was fantastic and I do see them winning it all from here, though Dan Cleary (from Newfoundland, we’re constantly reminded) had a quite controversial game winner. At the beginning of the playoffs I picked now-departed Washington and Detroit in the final. Arguments against Detroit goaltending I see as invalid as the same stiff backstopped them to the championship last year. Come to think of it, that same stiff backstopped them to the '98 championship (and was labelled a stiff then) and then you forgot about him until last year.
I also find it amazing how apart from one year (1989-90), Detroit has remained a very good, competitive team since the late 80s. They spent many years choking, but managed to get over the hump with Scotty Bowman. The stars come and go (Yzerman, Shanahan, Hasek, Konstantinov, Fedorov, Larionov...) but they don't need to tank to bring up more stars like Datsyuk and Zetterberg. I cannot think of an example like them in sports. If I were to pledge allegiance right now to a team it would be the Detroit Red Wings. You can count on them to be good. Unfortunately, I already pledge allegiance to the woeful Toronto Maple Leafs, a team that is trying to win by being bad for years.
I was reading an online debate between ESPN's Bill Simmons and famous Canadian historian and thinker Malcolm Gladwell. I did not know Gladwell was as knowledgeable about sports as he is. Gladwell proposed putting every NBA team into the lottery and giving them all an equal shot, or even giving picks out from best team first to worst team last, forcing them to try to be competitive rather than see them tank. He argued the draft helps no one as much as free agency as the same teams are always bad. He is almost right. Basketball is more of an individual's game, so landing LeBron in Cleveland's case, AI in Philadelphia's case, Shaq and Penny in Orlando's case way back when, can turn a sad sack team into a contender. Tim Duncan is another example, but that only occurred after San Antonio flopped in the year of superstar David Robinson being injured. Apart from that year, the Spurs have been great since the early 90s and Duncan helped them get over the hump and win titles.
In hockey, which is more of a team-based game, the draft rarely builds a champion. Tampa Bay, which five years later is once again a bottom-feeder, got Lecavalier and a championship, but none of their high draft picks really panned out. Brad Richards was a third rounder and Martin St. Louis was a diamond-in-the-rough undrafted player. The Kings have yet to get great with years of rewards for being awful. The Islanders still have yet to go anywhere with years of high draft picks. The Islanders were able to build a great team through the 70s into the 80s, but that was an era before free agency. Excluding a surprise run to the conference finals in 1993, they’ve won a total of seven playoff games since 1988. The Penguins have yet to win the cup this time around (which would make for a good example of using the draft to build a championship). I will accept the argument those championships in the 90s came from the draft with Jagr and Lemieux leading the way, but guys like Joe Mullen, Tom Barrasso, Kevin Stevens, Ron Francis, Paul Coffey and Larry Murphy were not drafted by the Penguins.
One false example of using the draft to build a winner is the Quebec Nordiques/Colorado Avalanche. The problem with this example is none of those top three picks were the keys to their two championships in Denver. Mats Sundin was traded to Toronto for Wendel Clark in a bad trade for Quebec, Todd Warriner went with him and was a bust anyway. Curtis Leschyshyn was a valuable role player on the first championship team, but don't tell me they don't win without him. Owen Nolan was gone before a championship was won. Eric Lindros never played a shift for the Nords, but was able to command enough players and prospects to instantly help the Nordiques/Avalanche. Contrary to popular belief, Sakic was a mid-first round draft pick. The big piece of the puzzle came in the blockbuster trade landing Pat Roy after the team left Quebec City.
Other examples of teams in recent memory building a great team (and a championship) through free agents, trades and grabbing solid prospects outside of the lottery include Anaheim, Dallas, and of course, the Red Wings. Anaheim is an example of a bad team getting better through the trades, etc. (Pronger, Niedermayer, Selanne, Penner) Good drafting of players like Ryan Getzlaf and Corey Perry helped the team, but Brian Burke didn't just sit around and wait for years to eventually get better. As a Leaf fan, I'm hoping for the same this time around.
I also find it amazing how apart from one year (1989-90), Detroit has remained a very good, competitive team since the late 80s. They spent many years choking, but managed to get over the hump with Scotty Bowman. The stars come and go (Yzerman, Shanahan, Hasek, Konstantinov, Fedorov, Larionov...) but they don't need to tank to bring up more stars like Datsyuk and Zetterberg. I cannot think of an example like them in sports. If I were to pledge allegiance right now to a team it would be the Detroit Red Wings. You can count on them to be good. Unfortunately, I already pledge allegiance to the woeful Toronto Maple Leafs, a team that is trying to win by being bad for years.
I was reading an online debate between ESPN's Bill Simmons and famous Canadian historian and thinker Malcolm Gladwell. I did not know Gladwell was as knowledgeable about sports as he is. Gladwell proposed putting every NBA team into the lottery and giving them all an equal shot, or even giving picks out from best team first to worst team last, forcing them to try to be competitive rather than see them tank. He argued the draft helps no one as much as free agency as the same teams are always bad. He is almost right. Basketball is more of an individual's game, so landing LeBron in Cleveland's case, AI in Philadelphia's case, Shaq and Penny in Orlando's case way back when, can turn a sad sack team into a contender. Tim Duncan is another example, but that only occurred after San Antonio flopped in the year of superstar David Robinson being injured. Apart from that year, the Spurs have been great since the early 90s and Duncan helped them get over the hump and win titles.
In hockey, which is more of a team-based game, the draft rarely builds a champion. Tampa Bay, which five years later is once again a bottom-feeder, got Lecavalier and a championship, but none of their high draft picks really panned out. Brad Richards was a third rounder and Martin St. Louis was a diamond-in-the-rough undrafted player. The Kings have yet to get great with years of rewards for being awful. The Islanders still have yet to go anywhere with years of high draft picks. The Islanders were able to build a great team through the 70s into the 80s, but that was an era before free agency. Excluding a surprise run to the conference finals in 1993, they’ve won a total of seven playoff games since 1988. The Penguins have yet to win the cup this time around (which would make for a good example of using the draft to build a championship). I will accept the argument those championships in the 90s came from the draft with Jagr and Lemieux leading the way, but guys like Joe Mullen, Tom Barrasso, Kevin Stevens, Ron Francis, Paul Coffey and Larry Murphy were not drafted by the Penguins.
One false example of using the draft to build a winner is the Quebec Nordiques/Colorado Avalanche. The problem with this example is none of those top three picks were the keys to their two championships in Denver. Mats Sundin was traded to Toronto for Wendel Clark in a bad trade for Quebec, Todd Warriner went with him and was a bust anyway. Curtis Leschyshyn was a valuable role player on the first championship team, but don't tell me they don't win without him. Owen Nolan was gone before a championship was won. Eric Lindros never played a shift for the Nords, but was able to command enough players and prospects to instantly help the Nordiques/Avalanche. Contrary to popular belief, Sakic was a mid-first round draft pick. The big piece of the puzzle came in the blockbuster trade landing Pat Roy after the team left Quebec City.
Other examples of teams in recent memory building a great team (and a championship) through free agents, trades and grabbing solid prospects outside of the lottery include Anaheim, Dallas, and of course, the Red Wings. Anaheim is an example of a bad team getting better through the trades, etc. (Pronger, Niedermayer, Selanne, Penner) Good drafting of players like Ryan Getzlaf and Corey Perry helped the team, but Brian Burke didn't just sit around and wait for years to eventually get better. As a Leaf fan, I'm hoping for the same this time around.
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
Rochdale Rhymes and Readings
A quick note for Rochdale Rhymes and Readings. We'll be having a spoken word extravaganza on June 4th. Featuring will be Toronto's Gypsy Eyes, Truth Is..., and New York State's Nolan Guiffre. Admission is pass the hat, as always, and there is an open mic. 8 pm, Regal Beagle, 335 Bloor St. W.
I also want to plug May 26th, because I'm reading at the Art Bar with Matthew Tierney and Kate Braid. The Art Bar is Canada's longest running weekly poetry-only literary series. It is quite a prestigious honour to be offered a reading there. It's at Clinton's, 693 Bloor St. W., at the corner of Bloor and Clinton.
I also want to plug May 26th, because I'm reading at the Art Bar with Matthew Tierney and Kate Braid. The Art Bar is Canada's longest running weekly poetry-only literary series. It is quite a prestigious honour to be offered a reading there. It's at Clinton's, 693 Bloor St. W., at the corner of Bloor and Clinton.
Toronto Blue Jays
I am very excited about the Toronto Blue Jays starting so strongly this year, but was very disgusted to find out their entire series against Boston later this month will only be available on premium television channel TSN2, which isn't available in most of Toronto. It's their second big test, after dropping two of three to the Yankees and apparently it was the team’s decision, according to TSN, to limit viewership of the games. They’re making the same mistake the Raptors made in forcing their fans into bars or to just not bother.
Yes, it could be a ploy to sell tickets. But the Blue Jays always draw great crowds when the Yankees and Red Sox are in town, partially because of the big rivalry, partially because those teams have a lot of fans outside their market and partially because those teams’ fans are well-travelled, much like Maple Leaf fans earlier in the decade.
One has to look at what limiting home game television coverage did to the Chicago Blackhawks after they stopped winning and started drawing 10,000 fans a game. Ownership eventually relented in the last couple of years. Limiting viewership will not help the Blue Jays right now, when things are just starting to get good again. It’s not like they’re challenging gate totals or fan interest of 1993 yet. Moving them to the far end of the spectrum on TV will not draw interest, even if they do draw great crowds from Red Sox fans.
Yes, it could be a ploy to sell tickets. But the Blue Jays always draw great crowds when the Yankees and Red Sox are in town, partially because of the big rivalry, partially because those teams have a lot of fans outside their market and partially because those teams’ fans are well-travelled, much like Maple Leaf fans earlier in the decade.
One has to look at what limiting home game television coverage did to the Chicago Blackhawks after they stopped winning and started drawing 10,000 fans a game. Ownership eventually relented in the last couple of years. Limiting viewership will not help the Blue Jays right now, when things are just starting to get good again. It’s not like they’re challenging gate totals or fan interest of 1993 yet. Moving them to the far end of the spectrum on TV will not draw interest, even if they do draw great crowds from Red Sox fans.
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