Bonjour Qwee-beck?

I now have permission to not go to school on Oct. 7th, so we can go to Qwee-beck. That should be fun. I am looking forward to going, very much so. It will take 5-8 hours to get there. Maybe we can even peruse Mon-reAL. cool.
St. Joseph's Oratory, Montreal Botanical Garden, the Subway there (oCooloCool!)
The St. Lawrence River at Lac Saint-Pierre; an ocean mammel summer hang-out, and through downtown Montreal in Lachine, where it becomes quite rapide! We could also go on a cruise, go shopping downtown, or view some of the many art galleries there.

There's even a "Festival de la canneberge" (Oct 5-9) in Villeroy. We can visit some of the cafés, restaurants, and art galleries of Trois-Rivières, which is in the Lanaudière region, just North East of Montreal. There are many hiking trails there just at the banks of the St. Lawrence River. Lots of water fowl, and picnicing space too.

There is also the Canadian Centre for Architecture;
"The CCA's dynamic and provocative exhibition program addresses themes that are of interest to a broad and varied public. Focusing on the CCA collection, exhibitions engage fundamental issues like the nature of the city, the relationship of architecture to landscape, the interplay between architecture, art, science, and the media, and its impact on political, social, and economic conditions. Exhibitions and related publications draw out contemporary issues inherent in historical debates and invite new critical inquiry on these fundamental themes."

Of course, that's all very vague so far, but if I do a little research each week, I might even know a thing or two about our neighbouring province!

America the Poor

On this day of prayer, I did pray. I am also writing a blog on this article; entitled "Why I won't open my wallet for Katrina" by Susan G. Cole of NOW magazine. "Why wouldn't I extend some help to these victems of deep poverty and America's history of slavery?" Some of Susan's friends ask her. In times of such trial, the affected city/state/area looks just as bad as any poverty stricken tsunami stricken part of the world. Those people there are suffering tremendously. And I have every faith that America the rich will be able to care for it's own people. America the kind and gentle and caring, America the "we have such generous purses from the abundance of money we have, and we are very willing to share them with our own people".

America has called soldiers back from places around the world to help out on home soil. "WalMart President Sam Walton has already pledged $23 million to the effort, more than twice as much as the Clinton/Bush team generated for Tsunami refugees." As Susan says, "keep it coming guys, we know the dough is there."

This reaction has, in part, to do with every country being able to take care of itself. Even if every country can't take care of itself, one of the richest and most powerful countries in the world definit-the-hell-ly can. I believe that each country has the ability to recognize discrimination within its own walls, and put forth an effort to solve these problems, and show its true kindness and humanity in the face of a disaster. I just think America is too self-absorbed to believe it can open its wallet to really help anyone, including itself, unless it gets a huge tax break.

Susan is right. Nature can't be planned. Look back into history and check out what nature can do to things. It just sweeps right on through eliminating everything in its path. Its mercilessness can also teach us lessons if we are willing to hear them; look around you, think and act locally when the call comes, and you will earn brownie points where ever you are going next in life.

David Mack's Kabuki

Now I am going to discuss David Mack and his work with Kabuki with you. Volume four in his seven volume series is entitled Skin Deep. After reading its description on his website I have a feeling I haven’t read the entire volume, but I do have a snippet of it, and even before I read his bio, which proves him to be a very creative storyteller, I was in awe. This was over a year ago, maybe even two. Now it’s my turn. Back to my “Beginnings” blog, I have done an incredible amount of research since, both on the topic of the content of my book, and how to create and present a story in such a way that it captivates my audience. I like well-designed books, and picture books besides. I want reading to be an interactive experience, with several layers of information and discussion. That’s what makes me want to pick up a book and read it.

In order to design a book -- if you play both the role of author and designer -- you need to consider not only the existence of your characters or topic, but the book itself as a sentient being. For me personally, David Mack’s work, or the sample I have of it, would be one of my best practice case studies. There are others, but this is the example I have currently chosen.

This is a very interesting story. On the first spread, there are only 64 words in the conventional comic book font. Some writing looks like it was written using the left hand suggesting a child’s mind at work. Some writing is done in a much more mature hand, like Akemi’s “letter”, and some “writing” is very visually oriented, like doodling.
There are so many levels of information in this story; symbols, visuals, words, and the design layout itself, that are repeated and re-used.
The grid system is sometimes seamless between reality and Akemi’s diary and cartoons. Sometimes the grid system is used to reveal things; it acts as a logical classifying system with strict vertical and horizontal lines as Akemi talks about the doctor classifying and deconstructing her. It is also used to portray progression; shadow puppets, a conversation, an origami creation. On one page, the grid system is used as a plane for conversation; a 2D representation of an abstract phenomena that can only occur in the spaces of the 3D world. Here, time is separated into tiny squares with faces and speech/thought bubbles. On another spread, the subject; the dream of the dancers, is drawn in the background, behind the conversation, taking over as the writer engulfs you in the dream, and eventually the conversation becomes invisible.
On yet another level, further in the background, the story unfolds, oblivious to the characters who are telling the story. There is no narration. The story is up to the readers to figure out, and so it left me with a puzzle of how to put together the pieces.
That’s one inspiration for how I want to build my story. It won’t be as fascinating as David’s but his style is pretty incredible!

The Power of Touch

I was discussing touch today. I don't know exactly how the topic of it came up, and I do know that for some people it is a painful topic. For others, it is a wonderful topic. Yet for more, at a conscious level, it's neither here nor there.

I went and did mini-research on the topic, and came across Sandra Blanton's paper to satisfy the requirements of her doctorate degree in Philosophy. It is well-written, and brings up some interesting points. And that was just in the beginning.

Did you know that for a 150lb (73-ish kg) person there is 20ft square of skin? Here's a quote:
"Skin is the most important organ in the sense of touch. Through the skin we differentiate warmth, cold, pain and touch. A touch, a kiss and an embrace causes friction to produce electric currents which are transmitted to the brain by millions of nerve endings of the skin. On our skin are produced major electrical storms in the electricity of love (daSilva, 1984).
...
Why the need for touch? There is a need for positive solutions for countering the effects of the growing depersonalization of our times. To all of us with bodies, in an increasingly disembodied world, we need a passionate reminder that touch is essential to health and happiness. We need documentation that the terrain of our touch-starved culture gives concrete suggestions on how to be more in touch with ourselves, and therefore with others. Survival is based on our receiving affection. Only then can we develop, love, survive and thrive. Learning about our need for touch could bring unusual insight and wisdom to understanding the nature of human ... love ... Can we agree that touch is not just for lovers? What is the comparison between sensual touching and healing touch? Why does bonding matter to human babies who are born helpless? This is an area which requires more investigation in order to answer our need for conducting this Meta analysis."

And so she continues to unfold her study.
So I start thinking; touch has seemed to be a more "feminine" thing. Y/N?
Can you make a list of the kinds of touch physical you are aware of between humans, and the range of emotions they represent?
I guess so.
I could go on forever, but here are a few:

Touching fingertips, fingers, brushing a hand or arm ...
Mother/Daughter hug or kiss
Son/Mother hug
Son/Father hug
A comforting embrace for someone going through an emotionally difficult time
Giving a hug in greeting/parting
Giving an Italian, English, or "Eskimo" kiss
Fighting for the ball in soccer, rugby, football, etc
Scrimmage in front of the net in hockey
The victory pile-on in any sport
Contact martial arts
Boxing
Fists-only bar fights
Fully sober fist fights

The list is endless, but above is an example of how touch can exhibit a range of emotions, and each example makes the situation "memorable", as in, whether good or bad, you remember the situation better based on that touch.
Touch can be a stand-alone phenomena, but often it is also surrounded by other issues, such as respect. How do you handle touch as a subject. If someone touches you, or reminisces on times when contact has been made, how do you react? Or does touch stand as a private language on its own, requiring no interpretation? I think touch is a confusing and personal enough topic that it is extremely beneficial to bridge the topic of touch in communication verbally, as well as just in silence. That doesn't mean talk to your bestest friend about why you hug "hi", but to invest in building a strong bond or relationship with those you are in contact with, for the purpose of bringing that relationship of touch to a higher level, all-round. This goes for bf/gf, to Mother/Daughter, to Husband/Wife, to sports relationships. Each relationship needs to include a communication level that goes above the physical level. Look around your world. How does touch affect you?