Critical Mass in Vancouver is a very mellow affair. Although there are sometimes incidents, it is predominantly peaceful and generally treated with equanimity. Not so in New York City, where a police officer assaulted a cyclist on Friday:
Contrast this with Vancouver, where Critical Mass is escorted by two police motorcycles who pace the rear of the pack, keeping cars from crowding the cyclists. The police even block traffic to allow the riders to congregate briefly on the bridges:
Obviously a single officer does not represent the entire NYPD, nor indeed his region or country, but the contrast is as striking as the assault. These attitudes and actions do not exist in a vacuum: they reflect the direction and values of the leadership and the society at large. The relationship between Critical Mass and the police is fairly representative of impressionistic differences between the East and West coasts of North America, and of the North and South divide between Canada and the US: senseless repression and harassment vs tolerance. I consider myself rather fortunate at times to live in the North and the West.
29 Jul 2008
Bechdel's law: women as props in film
Charlie Stross wrote today about what he calls "Bechdel's Law" on movies:
Alison Bechdel's blog features the 1985 cartoon where The Rule entered the mass consciousness, and explains the origin. I've been a big fan of Dykes To Watch Out For since I was just a wee budding queer, reading Southern Voice (the "Lesbian Home Journal" on actual newsprint) and scratching my head over Mo (who irritated me greatly). Bechdel has always stayed on my mind over the years, her characters sticking to me even more than Ethan Green (which became a movie?!?) and Hothead Paisan. Bechdel's Fun Home was also a fantastic read.
But back to the subject at hand. Stross continues:
I immediately thought about Iron Man, which we saw last night and greatly enjoyed – and of course it fails the test. So does basically every single film made in Hollywood: the only exceptions that come to mind are Sex and the City (which I haven't seen yet, but I presume they talk about anal beads or something other than Mr. Big at least sometimes), The Hours, Mamma Mia!, and maybe Notes on a Scandal... and I'm done – as far as I know, that's it.
- Does it have at least two women in it,
- Who [at some point] talk to each other,
- About something besides a man.
Alison Bechdel's blog features the 1985 cartoon where The Rule entered the mass consciousness, and explains the origin. I've been a big fan of Dykes To Watch Out For since I was just a wee budding queer, reading Southern Voice (the "Lesbian Home Journal" on actual newsprint) and scratching my head over Mo (who irritated me greatly). Bechdel has always stayed on my mind over the years, her characters sticking to me even more than Ethan Green (which became a movie?!?) and Hothead Paisan. Bechdel's Fun Home was also a fantastic read.
But back to the subject at hand. Stross continues:
From now on I intend to start applying this test to my fiction before I embarrass myself in public. And (I realize this is offering up a huge hostage to future fortune) if anyone ever offers me a movie or TV deal, I am going to hold out for a clause in the contract requiring a scene lasting at least 30 seconds per hour of running time that passes Bechdel's test. Because? What hurts my fellow humans hurts me, and I can in conscience no more lend my implicit support to an anti-feminist backlash than I can lend my silence to a racist or homophobic campaign.What a guy. Not only do I greatly enjoy his books, I think he's a swell person, and I think his response to Bechdel's Law is a very good idea. Maybe this could spread to other authors? Hel-lo, writing workshops everywhere?
26 Jul 2008
Dell laptop has crappy construction, visible wires
I got a new Dell Latitude D630 laptop at work, and it is a piece of shit. The quality of construction is as bad as a 1979 GM vehicle. The parts barely fit together. You can see actual wires through the hinges.
Not only does it look like crap, it continually locks up, losing keyboard and mouse (at least once a day). A co-worker with the same model has the same issue.
Is there a conspiracy between PC manufacturers and Microsoft to destroy the PC industry? Between the bad design of today's commodity hardware and the utter crappiness of Windows Vista, there's no hope for this market to save itself. It'll be overtaken by cell phones and web tablets.
Sorry Dude, you got a Dell.
Not only does it look like crap, it continually locks up, losing keyboard and mouse (at least once a day). A co-worker with the same model has the same issue.
Is there a conspiracy between PC manufacturers and Microsoft to destroy the PC industry? Between the bad design of today's commodity hardware and the utter crappiness of Windows Vista, there's no hope for this market to save itself. It'll be overtaken by cell phones and web tablets.
Sorry Dude, you got a Dell.
Vicious garlic press designed to slice your palm
This garlic press pinches your palm when you squeeze it, making it painful to use. Did they try using the damned thing even once before they started manufacturing it? So much for German engineering.
25 Jul 2008
Hedy Fry on C-61, the Canadian DMCA
Members of the Canadian government are on the take from US media interests who are trying to criminalize, well, everybody. My MP, Hedy Fry, is a wonderful woman and I like her very much on most issues, but given that the film industry is a big deal here in Vancouver I expected the worst on copyright. Since she wouldn't comment when I asked her about her own party's copyright bill (C-60), I was surprised when she offered an opinion about Bill C-61. Although the Conservatives are only going a little farther than her own party in selling out Canadian citizens, she says that "This Bill does not serve either consumer or creator well," and that she would not support it without amendment. Some notable highlights:
Dear Mr. LeDuc:
Thank you for your correspondence concerning Bill C-61, An Act to amend the Copyright Act.
As you are aware the previous Liberal government had tabled a Bill on this issue but it did not come to debate because of the election. The current Conservative Bill has been eagerly awaited since they announced their intentions, in December 2007.
Canada has signed two World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) treaties, but has not yet ratified them. The last time the Canadian Copyright Act was amended was in 1997 but these amendments did not address the WIPO treaty agreements. In the interim, communications technology has expanded rapidly. Everyone is in agreement that the Copyright Act has to be amended to reflect the impact of digital technology.
Bill C-61 should strike a balance between the right of creators to be reimbursed for their creative, intellectual property and the desire for consumers to have access to these creative works.
Indeed digital technology serves both the creator and the consumer well. It increases the reach and distribution of creative works as never imagined, before; which is precisefy what creators need and it gives consumers easy access to creative works that can entertain, enrich, and educate.
This Bill does not serve either consumer or creator well. It prescribes narrow, punitive solutions to a complex problem. In fact the Bill could well have the effect of curbing the use of digital technology, to the extent that it becomes useless. This would be a pity! As well, implementation of the measures in the Bill would be nearly impossible, unless one abandons all privacy rights or imposes locks on the digital technology that severely limits its application. How to monetize digital technology to reward the creator and allow free and open use by the consumer is challenging
- 2 -
As Liberals we believe that there should have been extensive consultations with legal experts, creators, distributors and conventional and digital media industries to find the right balance of solutions. It is typical of the Harper government that they do not consult but impose.
Liberals intend to begin these consultations over the course of the summer so that when the Bill comes to the House we can propose appropriate amendments. Moreover we believe that the Bill should be further subject to public scrutiny if it ever gets to committee stage. It could be that after we consult with the expert groups they believe that Bill C-61 is unsalvageable, in which case one would have to vote against the Bill and rewrite a new one.
These are exciting and challenging times in media communications technology that can broaden the consumption of arts and cultural products, in a manner unheard of since the invention of the printing press. The challenges seemed impossible then but solutions were found that led to a Renaissance of art and culture. We are at a similar point in history, now. We must not use a sledge hammer.
Once again, thank you for writing. Please feel free to contact my office if I may be of further assistance.
Sincerely,
(signed)
Hon. Hedy Fry, M.P.
Vancouver Centre
And finally, a scan of the letter:
"Everyone is in agreement that the Copyright Act has to be amended to reflect the impact of digital technology."Really? Everyone?!?
"How to monetize digital technology to reward the creator and allow free and open use by the consumer is challenging"...and it would be a challenge to finish that sentence, since it makes no sense whatsoever. Maybe "utilize" was the verb you were looking for?
"[...] since the invention of the printing press. The challenges seemed impossible then [...]"The text follows. Errors are hers (this letter is a mess). Proofreading, anyone?Which challenges were those? The challenges of the established order keeping people under control and in continued ignorance? I do see a strong parallel, but it's not an auspicious parallel.
| CONSTITUENCY OFFICE 106-1030 Denman St. Vancouver, B.C. V6G 2M6 Tel.: (604) 666-0135 Fax.: (604) 666_0114 |  HOUSE OF COMMONS CHAMBRE DES COMMUNES OTTAWA, CANADA K1A 0A6 | OTTAWA OFFICE Room 583 Confederation Bldg. House of Commons Ottawa, Canada K1A 0A6 Tel.: (613) 992-3213 Fax.: (613) 995-0056 | ||
| Hon. Hedy Fry, P.C., M.P. Vancouver Centre | ||||
Chuck LeDuc Vancouver, BC |
|
Dear Mr. LeDuc:
Thank you for your correspondence concerning Bill C-61, An Act to amend the Copyright Act.
As you are aware the previous Liberal government had tabled a Bill on this issue but it did not come to debate because of the election. The current Conservative Bill has been eagerly awaited since they announced their intentions, in December 2007.
Canada has signed two World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) treaties, but has not yet ratified them. The last time the Canadian Copyright Act was amended was in 1997 but these amendments did not address the WIPO treaty agreements. In the interim, communications technology has expanded rapidly. Everyone is in agreement that the Copyright Act has to be amended to reflect the impact of digital technology.
Bill C-61 should strike a balance between the right of creators to be reimbursed for their creative, intellectual property and the desire for consumers to have access to these creative works.
Indeed digital technology serves both the creator and the consumer well. It increases the reach and distribution of creative works as never imagined, before; which is precisefy what creators need and it gives consumers easy access to creative works that can entertain, enrich, and educate.
This Bill does not serve either consumer or creator well. It prescribes narrow, punitive solutions to a complex problem. In fact the Bill could well have the effect of curbing the use of digital technology, to the extent that it becomes useless. This would be a pity! As well, implementation of the measures in the Bill would be nearly impossible, unless one abandons all privacy rights or imposes locks on the digital technology that severely limits its application. How to monetize digital technology to reward the creator and allow free and open use by the consumer is challenging
As Liberals we believe that there should have been extensive consultations with legal experts, creators, distributors and conventional and digital media industries to find the right balance of solutions. It is typical of the Harper government that they do not consult but impose.
Liberals intend to begin these consultations over the course of the summer so that when the Bill comes to the House we can propose appropriate amendments. Moreover we believe that the Bill should be further subject to public scrutiny if it ever gets to committee stage. It could be that after we consult with the expert groups they believe that Bill C-61 is unsalvageable, in which case one would have to vote against the Bill and rewrite a new one.
These are exciting and challenging times in media communications technology that can broaden the consumption of arts and cultural products, in a manner unheard of since the invention of the printing press. The challenges seemed impossible then but solutions were found that led to a Renaissance of art and culture. We are at a similar point in history, now. We must not use a sledge hammer.
Once again, thank you for writing. Please feel free to contact my office if I may be of further assistance.
Sincerely,
(signed)
Hon. Hedy Fry, M.P.
Vancouver Centre
And finally, a scan of the letter:
4 Jul 2008
Sous le Grand Chapiteau
We went to see Cirque du Soleil's Corteo this afternoon. It was a very good show, of course: they do beautiful work.The last time I saw Cirque du Soleil was in 1991: Nouvelle Expérience in Atlanta, to which my mother invited me. That show was a revelation to me. It was also a very different time for that organization: just a small circus company, not the "entertainment empire" as it is described today. Then, it was just one touring show; now it has fourteen touring companies and six resident shows.
It was also distinctly non-English then, with very few words spoken at all, and the French nature of the show very distinct. Today they sing and mumble in a eurotrash polyglot (which probably reflects the many nationalities involved) and speak in English. It somehow now feels safe where the show used to feel somewhat subversive: two nearly naked men doing a hand-to-hand show was practically a felony in Georgia, and although speaking French hadn't yet reached the depths of infamy it later did, it was certainly different for that place and time.
Inevitably, that which is good and cutting edge eventually becomes mainstream. Even when the quality remains the same (or gets better, to be perfectly honest), it often doesn't feel that way. After all, middle age is when nostalgia blossoms. But age has some consolations: at least I no longer affect a little black fez with gold embroidery (some photos will never be scanned).
1 Jul 2008
BoingBoing's credibility crisis
Bloggers have been crowing about their increasing relevance and importance, and it's hard to argue. I certainly get more news through RSS feeds than ever, although I also read newspapers (online). But blogs are a relatively new phenomenon, and there isn't exactly a strong code of journalism. They're making it up as they go along, and sometimes that's painfully obvious.BoingBoing.net is caught up in a dramafest, having purged its archives of all articles containing references to a fellow blogger who apparently "displeased" an editor. No explanation or criteria is forthcoming, although all arrows point in one direction: Xeni Jardin (a very serious journalist).
Now I ask you, if A.M. Rosenthal had ordered the destruction of all articles in the NYT archives containing references to Truman Capote because, well, Abe was jealous of Truman's shinier head, would that fly?
Blogs will soon overtake what they call the "mainstream media" and if so, people will hold them to something resembling journalistic standards. They can't use the "Daily Show" argument to try to wriggle out of accountability: when they raise serious issues, they're serious about them. BoingBoing wields tremendous referential power, and they've been caught exercising it poorly. Credibility is a hard thing to build, and such an easy thing to throw away.
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