s h ! n d ! d

420: The term 420 originated at San Rafael High School, in 1971, among a group of about a dozen pot-smoking wiseacres who called themselves the Waldos, who are now pushing 50. The term was shorthand for the time of day the group would meet, at the campus statue of Louis Pasteur, to smoke pot. Intent on developing their own discreet language, they made 420 code for a time to get high, and its use spread among members of an entire generation. So there ya go, someone’s parents out there invented the term 4/20.

Vancouver is very very proud of it’s B.C bud. April 20th, 2008 saw the celebration of all things Mary Jane related. I was shopping for DVDs when I stumbled upon 6,000 odd people and a smelly smoke cloud over the Vancouver Art Gallery (VAG - for short!). I had no idea how open Vancouver was about weed until I got here… I’d say it’s attitude is probably only second to Amsterdam with it’s cafes and all. I don’t have fancy photos like on Tim’s site, but my camera phone is handy.

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Joshua Allan Harris is ingenious. Now that’s what I call sustainable art.

This time it’s a spontaneous MUSICAL! I wish this was life, all the time!

I bought myself a radio last night. One of those doo-dads that let you play and charge your ipod too. At the time I thought it a wise investment - to improve my efficiencies as a punctual worker and an informed citizen of the world and what not. Big mistake.

I discovered (after sifting through Punjab, Chinese and French local stations) 94.5FM (one of the biggest commercial radio stations in Van). It was largely repetitive screaming by the female DJ telling millions of listeners about her meeting with David Beckham (Becks is here playing against one of the local teams or something). She was so annoying! Like listening to a 13 year old bicker and outdo her friends on who is the best! Drove me crazy! Who really cares if you think he’s “top-notch” or whatever (after the 4th time)?? Can I get some music? News? I seem to have very little alternative to listen to from my room. I did however, hear the new Britney Spears… Is that really the quality of pop right now?
I then woke up to advertising this morning, and that totally killed me. Can’t stand commercial radio, my head hurts. I want the J’s. In small doses.

Also yesterday, I tried to read a free local paper or two. All they did were depress me. The local lefty critical community paper was all about keeping your child’s brain away from the government’s dirty standardised skills tests and telling me how counter-culture is the new and last culture. I have half a mind to write a letter! Other papers were similar and the gang-wars of Vancouver right now don’t help. The news is so infuriating and depressing!

I guess I am starting to get back in touch with the world after having disconnected with it for the first time. I can now look from the outside and say “I don’t like it all that much”.
But then, I don’t want to be that person that shits allover everything. Infact, I think I am quite the optimist… haha… no, really.

I believe in the inherent good of most people.
I believe people are mostly, at least capable, of being smarter than what we are informed with.
I believe in a nearly cyclic human history. That is, yes we will repeat past mistakes (in varying forms), but will learn from it again and again. Becoming smarter and raising standards each time.
I believe there is no end. Someone is always going to have seen, felt, thought what you have; and that there is always someone better than you, and worse off at the same time. Someone will always pick up where you left off. The “revolution” is not over, it was never an event to start and end. That’s the problem. Maintenance. That’s the challenge.

I’m finally here. After all that stressing about cash, the immigration people didn’t even bother to check my bank balance. Phew!It’s cold in Canada. I’m all nice warm and dry in the hostel for the time being. Currently in Quebec City in the province of Quebec! I walked this evening judging how much longer I could stand a soggy left foot, when I looked up and there was a beautifully lit citadel towering above me! Very Disney… but better and real.

It’s so cold here, as I walked to the city centre I saw snow on the footpath! I think it was a plowed pile, cos that was all there was of it. It’s been raining - trickles of rain the whole time I’ve been here. Need new shoes and coat. I’m getting wet. I also need a haircut.

Whilst walking the main street of Kingston a woman stopped me and handed her salon’s business card with an offer of a discount. Do I look that bad and poor? I am very inspired to get my hair done in trendy ole Canada.

Canada is a very intelligent, cultured, cosmopolitan and a very liberal country so far. People in this part speak French, and English with a French-Canadian accent. People communicate a lot, love gourmet food, care about their hair a lot, wear smart glasses and big warm coats. Unlike most of the USA there are interracial couples and same-sex couples everywhere everyday. It’s amazing how different things are here to the US. It’s also unbelievably natural, beautiful, old and European!

I stayed low key watching films and going to exhibitions in Montreal - saw the Museum of Contemporary Art and chuckled with artistic jealousy at the work of Vik Muniz. Watched Into the Wild, the true story of adventurously spirited Chris McCandle aka Alexander Supertramp as he lived in the wild in Alaska. I was very inspired to do the same as I fear I have so many of the same beliefs, but none of his aptitude or will - especially when it comes to hunting, skinning and gutting your own food… egh. Also, Brand upon the Brain a new super 8 silent film narrated by Isabella Rosellini. Quirky!

On a spur of the moment with no accom or tickets, I decided to see Tegan and Sara in nearby Kingston. Tickets sold out, but I lucked out at the door with strangers. Cheap too! Got real close. Sara looks too skinny. Got pics. They’re better with a home audience.
Seemed like a Tegan fueled night - as I suspected the new album was. Kicked off withCall it Off and lots of new stuff followed by Under Feet Like Ours stuff by an emo 18 year old Tegan. Then a mix of stuff (all my faves were played!). Then they did a crazy New Order-esque keyboardy version of Rhiannon’s Umbrella! It was actually really good! I hope there’s a good bootleg somewhere. I wished they had recorded it!

Giggled to their silly sibling bickering and useless everyday anecdotes about getting haircuts and going to illegal parties in your twenties. I like musicians who share stupid regular stories on stage… like John Mayer. They played at the Sydenham United Church which turned out to be a pride church… I didn’t know they existed! Crazy Canadians! It was very bizarre seeing pride colours in a church, let alone a band!

Kingston is a small town - mostly uni students (there are two unis). Lots of nature and old buildings. I walked with a frog at night. Scared I might run into a bear soon… What does one do in that situation?

In New York saw the Guggenheim, the Museum of Natural History, For the Bible Tells Me So, Romance and Cigarettes, Bloc Party at Madison Square Gardens, Arcade Fire, Les Savy Fav, LCD Soundsystem and Blonde Redhead (check them out!) - to add to the already long list of things I did culturally.

The End.

First The Ramones, then Guns ‘n Roses. Now it’s Nirvana’s reprise.

My Faves:
- About A Girl
- Heart Shaped Box
- Come As You Are
- Lithium