Friday, December 21, 2012

Political discourse in Northumberland -- Happy Holidays!

I checked the following list twice. In a 201 word exchange (Dec 20)  between leftist progressives, I was able to distill their political eloquence to the following basic puerile components:
“Smarmy B*****d”
“shiny faced geek”
“foul mouth”
“unpleasant disposition”
“vulgar man”
“Smarmy B*****d”
“cloying c********r”
“Smarmy B******S”
“looks like David Frum”
“Smarmy B******D”

Tuesday, November 13, 2012

Path Imperfect by Grahame Woods

Woods’s poetry is a wonderful weave of visceral narrative and evocative irony. His poems display a textuality that is crisp, clear and clean. More ...

Tuesday, October 23, 2012

Caring Canadian Extremely Intolerant of Pro-Lifers



DebO in a Burd Report article excoriated two Diamond Jubilee Medal recipients thusly: “Law-breaking anti-choice zealots … broke the law … their efforts to break the law … their actions to break the law … charged and incarcerated … illegal activities … deluded law breakers.

Wow! Talk about zero tolerance for law-breakers! The above seven reiterations is the sole reason for the cause of DebO’s renown Friday night rile-ups. By her own reasoning, she also would have to renounce medal recipients busted for pot, but I’d wager that she wouldn’t. It’s not about principle (no law-breakers), but about politics wearing a fig leaf of principle. She just doesn’t like them because of their political beliefs. DebO believes, as do I, NO STATE INTERVENTION ON REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS.

However, I depart from DebO’s demonizing these women. One woman has accumulated over ten years in jail. She is 64 years old. She has served more time behind bars than many others convicted of violent crimes, including murder, rape, manslaughter. The woman has been convicted of violating a court order that places a proximity bubble around abortion clinics. Gasp! She has never been cited for harassment. She stands silently holding a placard with photo of a crying baby bearing the same message, “Why mom, when I have so much love to give?” Gasp! Say it ain’t so! Horrors. Scary people.

It’s a “travesty” declares DebO. “Anti-choice zealot,” declares DebO.  “… these guys play dirty,” declares DebO. This attack on the woman’s character is as disproportionate as 10 years of imprisonment for such a meagre offence.

DebO declares, “…anti-choice folks think they’re on some sort of holy mission to impose their own values on everybody else…” regardless of the fact it is DebO’s values and my values that are currently being imposed on everybody else, whether DebO realizes it or not. Pro-choice prevails, and will continue to do so for a very long time to come.

DebO declares that the issue of reproductive freedom “has been long settled.” This is a cliché bandied about by self-declared Progressives. It indicates dogma. Those who believe dogma, and defend dogma from being questioned by unbelievers are those who have attached religiosity to secular matters.

Science is never settled. Everything is open to question. But then again, DebO has declared more than once how she ain’t gonna change. She’s a dogmatist. Although I vote for pro-choice, I enjoy being exposed to arguments by those who are pro-life. So far the arguments have been unsuccessful in persuading me to relinquish my pro-choice choice.

By being tolerant of those holding views contrary to my own, I have come to appreciate the profound sincerity of many pro-lifers. Think of it. Pro-life. They believe in life. They believe that life is sacred. They believe that life begins at conception. What is so terrible about that? Ten years imprisonment for silently standing on the sidewalk with a placard within 60 feet of an abortion clinic, that’s what.

DebO, your abusive intolerance in this instance sadly undermines your caring Canadianism.

Friday, October 19, 2012

Poetry Textravastanza at The Meet



The Poetry Performances sponsored and organized by the Cobourg Poetry Workshop, delivered a diversity of eloquence last night at 66 The Meet that was roundly appreciated by Cobourg’s better poems and garden set. It was a textceptional evening.

Catherine Owen, dressed in darkly demure metal-petal ambiance, bearing whispers of Goth around her throat, sang and throated and brought the assembled poetariet into a love poem, into a dark poem, back to love and life again, heavily accented in medieval and modern (modieval?)

Daniel Tysdal, whom I met for the first time, face2face, and I looked up to him, a bit; 6’1.5” to his 6’2.5”. A man with a natural alpha male body bearing bon mot textosterone poetry, interactive, distributing his voice through several other voices, and ending with a call for poets to deliver a line … Now that’s texterity.

Grahame Woods, a well-awarded wordie amongst The Local Lot, launched his first book of poetry; Path Imperfect. Grahame gives good mic with soft-spoken ease.

Diversity on Display; three genres of eloquence spread over 90 minutes is more than one could normally expect out here in Cobourg. A lot of books were sold. I will review them in the coming days, beginning first with Grahame Wood’s book. Cuz he’s local, just like me.

Books bond.

Catherine Owen Takes the Oath of Allegiance to Poetry


Tuesday, October 16, 2012

Marie Dressler Puts Cobourg in the Star


COBOURG, ONT.—Three actors: one just starting out, one well into her journey, the third a Hollywood legend who’s been gone almost 80 years.
Yet there’s a bond that connects the two young women and Marie Dressler, who was once the movie industry’s best-loved, highest-paid star, earning more than Greta Garbo or Mickey Mouse: All three hail from the Cobourg area ... (more here)

Sunday, September 30, 2012

Name Sensory Garden After Local Cultural Achiever



Northumberland Today columnist and poet, Grahame Woods, has written an excellent piece concerning Victoria Park in Northumberland Today. I am troubled only by his suggestion that the Sensory Garden be named after some obscure duke from the 1700’s who had never known of Cobourg in any manner.

We have Victoria Hall, Victoria Street, Queen Street, Victoria Park, and other royal references. Enough already. Let’s turn our heads to celebrate and honour our own.

Aside from royalty, other municipal buildings, streets, parks in Cobourg have been named after administrators, bureaucrats and politicos. Not a hero, nor colourful character amongst them. Dull role models.

Not a musician, nor acrobat, nor artist, nor poet, nor composer, nor novelist, nor actor, nor anyone of a cultural character that has touched Cobourg in one way or another has a street, park, building, garden, or roundabout named after them. Pity.

I had brought up an idea back in January 1988, to namestreets after poets. Interestingly, I suggested that recipients of the Governor-General’s Award for Poetry be applied – we lo and behold, Cobourg has such a recipient since that proposal was made. First, Second and Third Street should be renamed after an individual of cultural achievement.

Thursday, September 27, 2012

A Reply From MP Rick Norlock's Office

This afternoon, a message was left on my voice mail. It was in response to my OPEN LETTER sent the previous day. There was banter about the "satirical" video and of the situation of Alber Saber. The most important message was this assertion:

"Mr Norlock will be keeping it in mind as he discusses this issue with his caucus colleagues and the responsible minister."

So far so good. I await the consensus of the Caucus in "this issue."

Wednesday, September 26, 2012

OPEN LETTER TO MP RICK NORLOCK



Member of Parliament for Northumberland – Quinte West
Mr Rick Norlock
House of Commons
Ottawa, Ontario
September 26, 2012

AN OPEN LETTER

Dear Mr Norlock

I write this letter with deep concern for the safety of my fellow Canadians.

The Prosecutor-General of Egypt announced that warrants were issued, charging two Canadians, Coptic Christians, with blasphemy crimes for their alleged involvement in the making of a satirical video. By naming and outing these two Canadians, the Prosecutor-General of Egypt has ostensibly targeted these two men for the benefit of murderous assailants. The two men advised CBC that they are in fear of their lives and the lives of their families.

If the Prosecutor-General of Egypt fails to provide any evidence supporting the charges, then it would appear that the two men are nothing more than political scapegoats for the Muslim Brotherhood regime to play into the hands and demands of the militant Islamists. It is well known to Canadian authorities that Coptic Christians endure lethal discrimination in Egypt.

January 7, 2011, Foreign Affairs declared that "Canada condemns the attack on Coptic Christians in Nag Hammadi. We extend our deepest sympathies to the families and friends of those killed and wish a speedy recovery to the injured. That the victims were innocent civilians congregating for a religious celebration makes this attack especially tragic.”

Recently a young Coptic Christian dissident blogger in Egypt, Alber Saber, was arrested on charges of blasphemy relating to the satirical video, Innocence of Muslims. He has been beaten, tortured and imprisoned. He will be standing trial this coming October 3.

(1) I request that Canadian authorities consider laying slander charges against the Prosecutor-General of Egypt.

Ghulam Ahmad Bilour, a cabinet minister for railways in the Pakistan govt, explicitly offered $100,00 to anyone who kills those involved in the making of the satirical video. This is “head money.” It is counselling murder. It is incitement to murder the two Canadians who have been unjustly listed by the Muslim Brotherhood regime of Egypt.

(2) I request that Canadian authorities should consider laying charges against that Pakistani cabinet minister for counselling murder against two innocent Canadians. Canada should request his extradition, or demand that he brought to trial in Pakistan on charges of counselling murder. He still remains a cabinet minister.

Furthermore, Mufti Mohammad Yousuf Kasuri, chief of Jamiat Ahle Hadith Party for Sindh Province, added his own reward of approximately $105,000 "for the one who will hand exemplary punishment to the blasphemer."

(3) I request that Canadian authorities should consider his extradition or demand he brought to trial on charges of counselling murder.

Producing and distributing a lowbrow satirical video is free speech, as protected by our Charter of Rights and Freedoms, and Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Counselling murder is NOT free speech; it is a crime.

Free speech is under attack by the forces of theological tyranny. It is time that all Western nations refuse to apologize for our constitutionally protected free speech.

(4) Lastly, I request that the law of blasphemous libel be removed from Canada’s criminal code. It is hypocritical and weakens Canada’s position vis a vis blasphemy and free speech when we oppose the second stage effort by the 56-nation OIC to impose shariah planet-wide. In this contest there will be only one winner: FREE SPEECH, and more of it.

Sincerely
Wally Keeler
Unit D4 – 135 Chapel Street
Cobourg, Ontario, K9A 1J5
905-372-8379

Monday, September 24, 2012

Blogger Ben Burd Footsies With Fascists




It must be heartening for Mr Burd to learn that the Prosecutor General of the Muslim Brotherhood regime of Egypt has issued an arrest warrant for the “redneck preacher” Terry Jones, charging him with “harming national unity, insulting and publicly attacking Islam and spreading false information. The office said they could face the death penalty, if convicted.” The credo of the Muslim Brotherhood is "Allah is our objective; the Quran is our law, the Prophet is our leader; Jihad is our way; and death for the sake of Allah is the highest of our aspirations."

Also charged with the “redneck preacher”, are seven Coptic Christians, two of whom, are Canadians. Coptic Christians in Egypt face lethal discrimination: sacked churches, burned villages, forced conversions of Christian girls, countless assaults and rapes and the everyday fear of being accused of blasphemy. No wonder they fled Egypt to safer lands where free speech is protected.

Two Canadians have been outed by the Muslim Brotherhood as perps in the making of the satirical Mohammed video. To use Ben Burd’s reasoning, “…if he hadn't [made] the [video] nobody would have died, has not even faced the suggestion that he committed a crime – inciting murder.” So if the two Canadians were perps in the making of this Mohammed video, then it would be consistent that Ben would be onside with laying incitement to murder charges against them as well as the “redneck preacher”. The Muslim Brotherhood charged the Canadians with offences that carry the death penalty.

(There is no chance that Canada will hand these two Canadians over to Egypt, even if it were proven that they were deeply involved in the making of the sophomoronic satirical video. Canada deports no one who faces a death penalty in another country.)

Canada must demand from Egypt that they put up or shut up. Egypt must present the evidence linking the two Canadians to the satirical video. Failure to do so is tantamount to a lethal slander against the two Canadians. They have been outed. A target has been painted on their backs, and on the backs of those near and dear to them.

A cabinet minister of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan held a press conference to announce that he was placing a $100,000 bounty on the heads of the video producers. The Minister declared that it was an Islamic “sacred duty”. This is counselling murder. It appears that that is acceptable free speech in that part of the world; note no street demonstrations against a ruling class politician counselling murder. Indeed contracts for murder seem to be all the rage. Mufti Mohammad Yousuf Kasuri, chief of Jamiat Ahle Hadith Party for Sindh Province, added his own reward of approximately $105,000 "for the one who will hand exemplary punishment to the blasphemer."


And Ben Burd wrote about the “Quran-burning American priest” with these immortal words: “… if he hadn't burnt the book nobody would have died…” How sickenly similar this local progressive blogger is with the voice of theological totalitarianism.

Below is a montage of catch phrases from the Holy Head Honcho’s theological epistle: “wicked enemies of Islam … deep malice … insulting the Holy Prophet … idiotic and disgusting movie …increasing brilliance of Islam and the Holy Quran in the world today... the holiest person in all of creation … disgusting nonsense … disgrace … great crime and sin…wicked movie … hostile policies … America and other leaders of the arrogant powers, who are vainly trying to make young generations in the Islamic world lose respect for what is held sacred and to extinguish their religious sentiments … American politicians … should duly punish the perpetrators and the financial backers of this hideous crime, who have filled the hearts of Muslim people with pain…”

How touching! Within hours of the Holy Honcho delivering his religious rant, an Iranian religious foundation headed by Ayatollah Hassan Saneii, raised the bounty on novelist, Salman Rushdie’s head. Ruling class theocrats counselling murder is acceptable free speech in the 56 nations of the Organization of Islamic Co-operation, but satirical cartoons lampooning an imaginary god, well, that cannot be countenanced.

Georgeous George Galloway, is someone Ben Burd gushes over in the same manner that Burd Report co-moderator, DebO, gushed over the family dictatorshit of the Castro brothers. George Galloway shares the same feelings about the satirical video as the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution.

This is the montage of similar catch phrases from George Galloway’s tirade on PressTV, owned and operated by the Islamic Republic of Iran: “… obscene videos … obscene atrocious attack on the prophet Mohammed, on Muslims and the religion of Islam … remember those vicious hateful cartoons, the hate drawings, that first emanated in Denmark, well, they’re back. They are in a French magazine called Charlie Hebdo. Now what could have possessed such a magazine to disinter those particular cartoons? Well, it’s obvious. They want to capitalize on the number of hateful sectarians that are out there, and the number of islamophobes that are out there, as we have seen in the relish of which some sectors of Western society have gloried, glorified to use the term in British law… hate cartoons against Muslims, and against the prophet of Islam … obscene hateful caricatures of the prophet Mohammed … insulting in the most obscene and pornographic terms the prophet Mohammed, the Muslims, Islam.”

Wow, George seems clearly upset about any negativity about (1) Muslims, (2) Mohammed, (3) Islam. Again, George reflects a sickening similarity to the Supreme Leader's religious rant. Hmmm.

Charlie Hebdo is a “French satirical weekly newspaper, featuring cartoons, reports, polemics and jokes. Irreverent and stridently non-conformist in tone, the publication has a strongly antireligious, left-wing and anarchist slant.” The images are as outrageous as the Fabulous Furry Freak Brothers cartoons of hippie dippie days. Recall the infamous November 2011 issue of Charlie Hebdo which was ‘guest edited’ by Mohammed. The cover illustrated Mohammed saying, “A 100 lashes of the whip if you don’t die laughing.” Charlie Hebdo was firebombed for its satirical humour.

(Galloway is slovenly with his logic. Charlie Hebdo published original cartoons – it did not reprint the Danish cartoons as Galloway accuses it of having done.)  

It appears that Ben Burd and his progressive ilk, have allied themselves with the right-wing facists of theological totalitarianism who oppose homosexuality, sexual liberation, oppress women, etc. George Galloway is a closet Muslim who does not support gay marriage, does not support women’s rights, but does support theological totalitarians.The progressive left and their ilk are dupes, plain and simple.

After all is said and done, Ben can stand with bimbo George Galloway, but I will stand with comedian George Carlin who wrote, “I think it's the duty of the comedian to find out where the line is and cross it deliberately” and “Religion is just mind control¨ and finally, “When it comes to BULLSHIT...BIG-TIME, MAJOR LEAGUE BULLSHIT... you have to stand IN AWE, IN AWE of the all time champion of false promises and exaggerated claims, religion

Thursday, September 20, 2012

Poet James Clarke Reads @ 66 The Meet Tonight



A Memoir and Poems
Author: James Clarke
Publisher: EXILE Editions, 259 pages
ISBN 978-1-55096-260-4

Before James Clarke arrived in Cobourg to become a poetry-recitingTown Councillor, he began his life in Peterborough where his wartime experience of childhood becomes the subject of this rich and compelling memoir.

Our culture is chock-a-block with books about dysfunctional families written by victims, railing on about their celebrated parents dereliction of parental duty. This unrelenting glut of grief fuels tv ‘reality’ shows and book sales via the Ms O.

James Clarke’s memoir avoids all of the pitfalls of such a book. There is no trace of maudlin sentimentality, nor embedded bitterness in this book. There is no milking for sympathy. There is no wisdom being proselytized. It is neither cold nor clinical, but warmly human.

Canadian poet, (and Cobourg resident) Ross Stuart, in his recent book of stories, Buying Cigarettes For the Dog, wrote, “you never know where life’s journey is going to take you, like you never know how the years are going to shove you around.

James Clarke narrates his childhood turbulence from parental alcoholism. He describes incidents that shoved him this way and that with clarity and compassion. All too often, life’s most memorable lessons derive from arbitrary injustices.

Mr Clarke went on to practice law in Cobourg and became the first Town Councillor to make a motion in rhyme. He was letting his inner poet out bit by bit.  Even more impressive, is that Mr Clarke is now a retired Judge of the Superior Court of Ontario.

Mr Clarke’s childhood experiences informed him rather than deformed him. This, in turn, provided for the honest clarity of his book, as well, I am sure, for his judicial decisions when another life that had been shoved around by the years and ended up in the prisoner’s box bound by testimony.

It is the realm of tragedy.

After a lifetime of service to truth and justice, James Clarke looks back over the horizon to his childhood and to his father, and how the years dealt with him. The Hon R Roy McMurtry, former Ontario Chief Justice, Attorney-General and High Commissioner to Great Britain, wrote the Introduction for this enlightened book. Mr McMurtry highlighted the power of Mr Clarke’s prose-poetry by citing:

“Dad and I had lost each other in the shadow of each other’s silences. Dad, another child in the house, never did learn the language of touch. He spurned embraces and other displays of affection. It was as if after his experiences of war he had built a box and, gathering all his hurts and silences, had curled up inside it like a shivering dog, leaving us to pear in through the slats to glimpse his face in blades of light, to listen to the slow shrivelling of his heart.”

Mr Clarke took a different route. He emerged from the cocoon of his childhood and took flight into law and poetry. His memoir ends as he leaves Peterborough to go to university. Fortunately, the book does not end.

The book ends with a flourish of selected poetry that addresses his relationship with language as a judge and then as a poet. Mr Clarke is adroit with language, and he dazzles with simplicity.

READ THIS BOOK!

PS: James Clarke is reading at The Meet, 66 King St E, 7pm, Thursday, Sept 20







Tuesday, September 11, 2012

Cobourg Poet Laureate Reviews Textual Artivity



TEXTUAL ARTIVITY by TED AMSDEN

Artist and poet-vocateur, Wally Keeler is having an art/poetry show at the Human Bean during the month of September.
        Talking to Wally Keeler, well, you need patience. The man is his own entertainment centre. He remakes the basic nuts and bolt words of daily usage into ammunition for his Imagine Nation of the Peoples Republic of Poetry. 
        You have to be careful how you throw words around in his presence because they will be re-born, - on the spot - as poetential building blocks for use in the uni-verse according to Wally. All is fodder in his galaxy. You need to give yourself a little time to catch up to his way of thinking. The patience isn't for him, it's for you as you get up to his speed.
        Spoiler alert for Keeler's upcoming show at the Human Bean during the month of September. Keeler's uni-verse is humorous. Keeler definitely doesn't think the way the rest of us do and that is part of his charm. Keeler is a senior who enjoys playing at the child's level while ensuring that the resulting images and words are very much for adults.
        "I utilize poetic licence to achieve poetic justice. The enemy of the Imagine Nation is mediocrity. This bloated bland gland debris culverts out of the mouths of politicos and bureaucrats and gets distributed by the plainstream media."
        Clearly, Keeler has a bit of edge leftover from the seventies when he accomplished some impressive feats of street and political performance that prefigure today's flash mobs. Keeler's, "1st Interm Report of the Commission of the Causes and Manifestations of Divergent Think Procedure Concerning the 1st 10 years of the History of the Peopls Rpublic of Poetry" book document's those days. Written, or rather assembled in Cobourg, it is an amazing record of Keeler's ability to manifest his poetic universe.
        Keeler is a free speech advocate, no doubt due to experiences like these, "During the 1970’s I experienced interference in my freedom by the Security Service of the RCMP intercepting and withholding my mail, wiretapping my residence, interfering with my employment and tenancy…Interestingly this led to connections being developed with the creative, dissident class in Eastern Europe during the cold war. It was an exhilarating pleasure to contribute to the subversion of totalitarianism by smuggling the manifestations of creativity in and out."
        Now Totalitarianism hasn't been seen on this side of the Atlantic, officially, for as long as anybody can remember but there is still an enemy out there according to Keeler. He says language and poetry in particular is "under attack by mediocrity". Society's obsessive concern with correctness has "commissions watching everyone’s words and enforcing nicespeak. Nicespeak is the new Newspeak, which is Nospeak at all." Engage Keeler deeper on this topic and it's plain he has much to say.   
        Older, wiser, but still playful, these days Keeler's stage is smaller. There are images in this show from his series: Child's Play. They "consist of configurations of children's wooden alphabet blocks on mirrors and other surfaces." that spell out the words liberty and freedom in English and other languages. In large prints, toy trucks, soldiers and lettered building blocks have been Photoshopped into Cobourg images. There are also Freedom of Speech posters.
        In other images, Keeler uses material objects like Scrabble letter tiles and again children's building blocks and arranges them according to the rhyming scheme of Shakespearean Sonnets which makes for some interesting non-literary understanding of the Bard's craft.
         Other images consist of ‘news’ stories from the series: All the Muse That’s Fit to Print. These stories represent some of the news coming from the Image Nation of the Peoples Republic of Poetry. Satirical and poetic, the stories are a careful blend of literary fact and fiction and are probably the most accessible productions of Keeler's show for those who find Keeler's universe and bit unusual.
        This show will be a bit of a home coming and a premiere event for the poet. "I have exhibited or performed in Poland, Hungary, England, Germany, New York, Toronto, Ottawa, Montreal, but never in my poemtown. Only a handful of close friends and acquaintances from Cobourg knew the kind of poetic work I manifested in Toronto since the early 70s." He has been active in the poetry scene in Cobourg since returning to Cobourg and regularly incorporates it into activities at Cobourg's Ecology Garden where he is the Chair.
================

The image below was sold. I miss it already. It was one of my favourites and graced my wall for the past three years. It now has a wonderful home with a hot-sauced poet. 
 


Wednesday, August 29, 2012

Cobourg District Collegiate Institute West records on Wally Keeler


October 15, 1963, Teacher, M C Daniel, Offence Report,
“Disturbing class”


January 16, 1964, Teacher, D. Sutherland, Offence Report,
“The class seemed particularly noisy today. I told Wally to stay in after school for talking. He told me he already had a detention so their (sic) seemed to be nothing else to do but to send him out.

January 16, 1964, Vice Principal, R. A. Graham, Offence Report,
`Keeler is a repeat offender, He was counseled on the ultimate result of this behaviour. Given three one-hour detentions.

Jan, 1964, unsigned teacher comment:
Persistently resists authority. I warned about talking. Continued to talk. Was given a detention to be served tonight. Went to S R Cafeteria. Was warned about talking; completely disregarded the warning. I do not believe we are obliged to put up with Keeler`s insubordination.


March 19, 1965, letter from `C.G.King, Principal, CDCI-W to Wallace Keeler,
``When I suggested to you a week ago that you get your hair trimmed up, I had no feeling that this was a personal matter. Rather it was to my way of thinking, merely one facet of my duty to our pupils.

As you know, we offer pupils an education in what I call `bookish` subjects and training in certain manual skills. But there is more to it than these two features. There is also that sphere of preparation for the transformation from the school society to the business world. For this change I think that pupils must be made to realize that a certain conformity in dress, deportment and physical appearance is necessary. The body should be clean, the dress should be neat and the hair should be trim – I do not necessarily mean in brush-cut fashion like mine – but all the outward appearance should be acceptable to the potential employer when the pupil makes the transition from school to society.

I have noticed that you have made some attempt to have your hair trimmed. I hope that you have begun to appreciate good grooming and will continue with the proper care of your personal appearance.

In closing may I say that I realize the pressures, some good, some bad, facing young people today. I hope that you will have the sense and the courage to separate the right ones from the wrong, and to follow the former.``


September 13, 1965, Guidance office note,
``Wally had difficult year and has tried to assert self through non-conformity, long hair, feeling of right to do as he pleases, insubordination, etc, have made life hard.``

September 29, 1965, Teacher, Gerry Lawless, Complaint Report, sent to office,
``unsuitable running shoes after two warnings.``

October 1, 1965, Teacher, Gerry Lawless, Complaint Report, sent to office,
``No PE uniform for the 3rd time in the week. No proper uniform for several months of PE``

October 25, 1965,  Detention Regulations:
``Wallace Keeler - Ford Blow - Chas. McGinn
Richard Rupert - Ross Dudley - Robert Labrash

Cafeteria privileges , including visits to the lunch counter, are discontinued indefinitely for the above-named students. Until further notice, the students will have lunch as per the following time-table:

MONDAY – Period 6A – Room 202
WEDNESDAY & FRIDAY – Period 6A – Room 204
TUESDAY & THURSDAY – Period 6B – Room 204

When the lunch period is 6A, the student will be at the assigned lunch room at 12:00 sharp; five minutes is allowed to visit the washroom and pick up lunch. When the lunch period is 6B, the student will be in the lunchroom at 12:35 sharp. Each day the student will stay in the lunch room in the seat provided. Until the five minute bell at the end of the said period.

Failure to comply with any one of these regulations or conduct deemed unworthy by the administration will result in immediate suspension``
-- Vice Principal, Mr Graham

October 28, 1965, letter from Principal, C. G. King to Mrs Keeler.
``I regret to report that we have reached the limit of our patience with your son, Wallace. Having been implicated in, or connected with, an egg-throwing episode in the Cafeteria (He did not throw it) he has been assigned a room and a seat wherein to spend his lunch period. He is also denied activity period.

Today he was taking part in a noisy disturbance at the end of lunch period outside a room where a grade 13 lesson was being taught. This is the limit. If he is guilty of any more misconduct he will be suspended.``

February 8, 1966, Teacher, J W McGrath, Complaint Report;
``Insolence. he said (after I had given an answer) `How do you know – were you there?` Wallace must apologize before I will permit him to re-enter my class.``

March 19, 1966, letter from Principal, C. G. King to Mrs Keeler:
``I am sending Wally home on suspension for insubordination in that he completely disregarded instructions about talking, …… to him by Mr Graham. Before he is permitted to return I would like you to come to see me ….. In the meantime he is ….. back until Monday at the earliest.``


September 2, 1966, Note by Vice Principal, R. A. Graham,
``As per instructions from Mr King, W. Keeler was sent home (and directed to turn in all school books) for an indefinite period.

February 9, 1966, letter from Principal, C. G. King to Mrs Keeler:
Your son Wallace Keeler, 4A12, was suspended indefinitely today for insolence to a teacher.

It is quite apparent that Wallace is not sufficiently interested in his own future, that his presence is a detriment to the progress of his associates and that his behaviour cannot be further tolerated. 

It will be in Wallace`s interests to obtain employment. If he wishes to obtain information concerning the content of any course, the teachers will provide same on application to the office. If Wallace wishes to write the examinations, he may do so on application, and the administration will arrange for a fair evaluation of his answer papers.

Again it is strongly advised that Wallace obtain employment.``

UNDATED NOTE, UNSIGNED NOTE, reads:
"Write this paragraph twenty times; sign your name after each writing. Write in ink. Write neatly. Number each 1, 2, 3 etc.

Regulations are necessary in any school. A regulation in this school directs the student to be in his room when the final bell rings; the student will then sit in his proper place immediately. This behaviour on the part of any student indicates a desire to cooperate. Students who refuse to cooperate are contesting the authority of the principal. Repeated refusal to cooperate on the part of any student should result in the suspension of the student.``


Monday, August 27, 2012

Open letter to Cobourg Town Council


August 26, 2012

Dear Mayor and Town Councillors

Last week I left a memory stick at the Town Hall containing photos and a five minute video clip pertaining to Ribfest in Victoria Park. I requested that it be given to Councillor Larry Sherwin and that he, in turn, forward it to the town arborist.

The photos and video display how heavy vehicles run over the roots of the park’s cottonwood trees, and park their weight on top of these same roots, for five days, from set up to take down.. The roots are shallow, that is to say, they run along just inches below the surface, and in some instances, the roots are visible on the surface.

The photos will also show that a number of these roots, visible on the surface, had been spray painted with florescent orange paint. Only the roots had been painted. That did not diminish the traffic of heavy vehicles running over them.

Victoria Park lost six mature trees so far this year -- and a sapling recently died. Two were brought down by wind damage, two by Dutch Elm disease, two were brought down by other unhealthy factors.

Those cottonwoods have been providing canopy services for generations. Their height and maturity lend an ambience of grandeur to Victoria Park. I would appreciate Town Council considering the notion of a protective perimeter around those trees.

Victoria Park is not just any Cobourg park. It is smack in the middle of the heritage district. Those cottonwoods are living heritage. 

Extending the life span of those cottonwoods is the goal. Any activity that jeopardizes that life expectancy should be prohibited. Please obtain expert advice about this concern.

Secondly

The bylaws concerning Victoria Park includes the following under the heading Organized Gathering and Picnics, "5.3(b) While in a park, no person shall: (b) Have a picnic within a twenty (20) metre radius of a Cenotaph of Remembrance."

I measured the distance from the main pillar of the Cenotaph of Remembrance to the fence. It was 6.5 metres. The grease pit cookers are parked within that 20 meter radius. That bylaw does not concern itself with any health or safety issue, which is the normal motivation that creates bylaws. The above bylaw was created to respect and honour the Cenotaph of Remembrance.

Question: When issuing a permit to an organization to hold an organized gathering where food is cooked and eaten, is bylaw 5.3(b) suspended? If it is not suspended, will it be enforced in the future?

All good things
Wally Keeler

TEXTUAL ARTIVITY @ The Human Bean

The state of mind popularly known as the Imagine Nation of the Peoples Republic of Poetry invites you to the opening of “TEXTUAL ARTIVITY’.

This is Wally Keeler’s debut exhibition of his graphic wordwork in his poemtown: Cobourg.

Reception is September 5, Wednesday, 6pm – 8pm, Human Bean, 80 King Street West, Cobourg.

Wally plans to perform one poem: THE RANT.

This exhibit is sponsored by FREE SPEECH, a division of the FREEDOM FORCES. FREE SPEECH; a sustainable decongestant against Suppression, Oppression, Repression.

The gathering will be invited to participate in the making of a propaganda video selling the brand: FREE SPEECH.
What do we want?
“Free Speech!”
When do we want it?
“Always”
LOUDER! 
What do we want?
FREE SPEECH!!
When do we want it?
ALWAYS

And, of course, the chanting of the ubiquitous POETRY IS POETENCY.

Sunday, August 19, 2012

Trees & Traffic in Victoria Park

A video to be forwarded to Cobourg Town Council, with recommendation that it be forwarded to the town arborist.

Dances With Winds

A video sonnet in Shakespearean rhyme scheme

Northumberland Ribfest & Victoria Park cottonwoods




Tuesday, July 3, 2012

POETRY TAKES TO THE STREETS, THOUSANDS CHEER

                                  muse@11

POETRY boldly took to the streets in Cobourg Ontario this past Canadada Day. The Imagine Nation of the Peoples Republic of Poetry, in accordance with the “primary policy of poetry proliferation”, sponsored the event, POETRIOTS ON PARADE.

Cobourg’s third Poet Laureate, Ted Amsden, led the way in a sleek Porsche convertible; beauty and power of a well-engineered poem. This was in high contrast to the local political dignitaries perched on more, how shall we say it, prosaic convertibles at the front of the parade.

Poet Amsden, our poetical dignitary, was caboosed by the end of the parade, imbedded into the Santa Claus position, far away from the farces of mediocrity. This led one local wit to comment that Poet Amsden should portray himself as Sonnet Claus.

Poet Amsden was provided with a bag of poetry, neatly folded into stealthy paper airplane poems, armed with surface to sentence similes. They were launched towards the poetariet lined along the route. Back to the poem age.

Now is the rhyme for all good poets to come to the aid of poetry

A spontaneous act of dipoematic poetnership between the Peoples Republic of Poetry and the folkistas of the Shelter Valley Folk Festival allowed more placards of wit and poetry to be displayed along the streets of Cobourg. An accompanied sedan blasted out that ole 60’s one hit wonder by Johnny Tillitson, Poetry In Motion.

For once poetry was the litter de jour on the streets. Stanzas drifting down the street on random breezes, airy somethings in our local habitation.

Poet Laureates of Canada: ARISE. Our brand is POETRY. Sell it! OUT LOUD!!!

Tuesday, June 26, 2012

Poetriots On Parade



The Imagine Nation of the Peoples Republic of Poetry invites everyone to a Poetry Picnic at the Cobourg Ecology Garden on the afternoon of Canada Day, July 1.

Cobourg Poet Laureate, Ted Amsden, will lead the way in the Canada Day Parade. Just as political dignitaries get convertibles to wave to the crowd, so also the poetical dignitaries of the Imagine Nation. Our Cobourg Poet Laureate will be ensconced in a convertible Porsche, a vehicle that is a clear demonstration of poetency: power, grace, presence.

He will be followed by a pick-up truck holding a sound system blasting out Johnny Tillotson’s early 60’s hit, Poetry In Motion. Rockin’ behind the truck will be a contingent of poets and poetry lovers bearing poetic placards of unbridled word wit.

Canada Day Parades across this great nation contain bands, acrobats, dancers, musicians, float artists, etc. For no known reason, poetry and poets have never been in such a Parade. Cobourg will be the first. From the prosaic to the poetic.

The poetry shelves of our libraries are the least visited shelves. Music concerts, art gallery openings bring in the people, but not poetry readings regardless whether the venue is a backroom bar or faux salon. If people don’t come to poetry, then poetry must come to the people. Poetry takes to the streets.

Poetry began as an oral art. Narratives were passed down from generation to generation, and communities noticed who had The Eloquence. Cobourg has been an exemplary community in recognizing the place of poetic eloquence within the community. The Cobourg Ecology Garden provides the serenity of a natural environ meant for oral poetry presentations.

Cobourg’s first Poet Laureate, Eric Winter, (now Emeritus) will read his poetry, which  weaves words with both the intricate delicacy and strength of spider webs. It captures your attrention. Mr Winter has been the seed bed for the growth of poetry in this community.

Cobourg Poet Laureate, Ted Amsden, will also be performing at the Garden. Mr Amsden’s poetry is not your regular rhyme schemer. His poetry is enriched with his animated, oral performance, and his ability to adopt performance to whatever any particular subject requires.

Linda Hutsell-Manning, renown for her children’s stories, has made a solid claim as an adult novelist with the recent publication of That Summer In Franklin. Her poetry has a wide range of presentation, from child-charm to adult muscularity that she handles with wise adroitness.

There will be an open mic for any other passing poets in the community. Cobourg’s poets will also be selling their books. A bard table will be set up next to the Cobourg Ecology Garden for the Bard Sale.

The great Persian poet, Omar Khayyam, (1048–1131) penned the following well-known quatrain:

"A Book of Verses underneath the Bough,
A Jug of Wine, a Loaf of Bread--and Thou
Beside me singing in the Wilderness--
Oh, Wilderness were
Paradise enow!"

Almost a thousand years later, his verse remains ensconced in the hearts of romantics everywhere, So, come to the Poetry Picnic at the Cobourg Ecology Garden, an oasis of wilderness in our urban sprawl. Spread a blanket. Bring a flask of fluids. Bring apples, oranges, celery, olives, bananas, all sorts of vegetation to eat. But most of all; bring your Imagination.

Wednesday, May 30, 2012

Cobourg Beach Society Walks the Walk

Ashley MacIsaac to live in Cobourg

Ashley MacIsaac, Canada's wildest fiddler, announced that he will be moving from Windsor to the Feel Good town of Cobourg. A recent CBC interview revealed that the Cape Bretoner is moving to Cobourg to be near his true love.

Feel good?

Stuart Ross, a Canadian literary legend of small press and peculiar poetry that will take your breath away with its audacious premises, moved to Cobourg a couple years earlier, also for love.

Hot spot.
Feel good.
YESSSSS.

Monday, May 21, 2012

Garden Safety Workshop at Cobourg Ecology Garden


Spring unfolds from the softened ground. Likewise, gardeners unfold from winter restrictions to head outdoors to create their gardens afresh. This is the season when gardening safety should take precedence to ensure an injury-free growing season.  

The Cobourg Ecology Garden is hosting a workshop on safe gardening techniques by a professional physiotherapist from We-Fix-U, which recently won Best Wellness Centre in Northumberland, as well as best Physiotherapy and Foot Health Staff for ten years running.

Learn the recommendations of the Canadian Physiotherapy Associations (CPA) tips and techniques to get the most out of the gardening season. Gardening can cause muscle strain to the lower back, shoulders, knees and arms, especially after a sedentary winter.

The workshop begins at 11 am Saturday, May 26, at the Cobourg Ecology Garden at the foot of Hibernia Street. The workshop will include a warm-up demonstration, followed by CPA recommendations for safe and healthy raking or hoeing, weeding or planting, digging or shovelling, lifting or carrying, pruning or trimming, and everything else in between. There are also easy methods to modify garden tools to accommodate our various abilities.

Learn how to enjoy an injury-free gardening season at this Garden Safety Workshop.

The Cobourg Ecology Garden is also holding its annual spring plant and yard sale the same Saturday morning beginning at 10am. This is the main funding event for the Garden. All Northumberland gardeners are invited to support gardening organically, without the use of chemicals or other artificial means. This year will feature birdhouses made at the Brookside Youth Centre.

The Cobourg Ecology Garden will also be honoured with a brief pit stop of solidarity by the Bike For the Planet riders circa 10:15am. Come and applaud clean green transportation energized by the human body.